J. M. Coetzee

A bleak, austere work from a master fiction writer. Coetzee conjures up a book that is part-allegory, part-captivating fiction, and part-news article. His vision of a wartorn South Africa in the mid-to-late 20th century is stark, with not a word out of place. Coetzee takes us to the essence of man, but also to the lives of low, rough individuals, caught by circumstance and cruel society. It's a reminder of the challenges facing people at the bottom of the pecking order, and the unrealistic expectations held by the rest of us towards them. But also an effective, scathing portrait of a society torn at every angle.… (more)

The story of a disgraced university professor in Cape Town South Africa. He takes advantage of a female student and is asked to apologise publicly but refuses because he believes it is his right not to. He leaves the uni in disgrace and goes to live in the country where his daughter runs a very small land holding growing flowers and vegetables for sale at the local market. The era is not spelt out specifically but seems to reflect the unrest during the period of apartheid. they are attacked by 2 men and a youth who rape his daughter and set him alight with methylated spirits. the relationship between father and daughter ends up fractured due to their differing views on how the incident should be dealt with. I found the focus he gave to his attempt to write an opera on Byron's life an unnecessary distraction from the relationship issues explored through the interactions he had with various people.… (more)