Reviews

Disgrace by J.M. Coetzee

drakewroth's review against another edition

4.0

Harrowing. Heartbreaking. Must-read.

jcc23's review against another edition

4.0

Novela muy dura de leer pero disfrutable, no apta para personas sensibles. Trata temas como el abuso del poder y la problemática de si debemos resignarnos a las injusticias o hacerles frente y combatirlas. Excelente el arco del personaje principal. Me hubiera gustado que la historia se extendiera varias páginas más. Del autor he leído también Foe, El hombre lento y sus novelas autobiográficas, todas recomendables, pero esta sin duda las supera.

whoareyouhannah's review against another edition

3.0

3.5*

lulu665's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

shes_book_obsessed's review against another edition

2.0

Vanære
⭐️⭐️

Så mange refleksjoner og referanser jeg ikke orker å holde styr på.

siggerella's review against another edition

3.0

Masterful writing; extremely hard to read subject matter. As a reader, I was torn between utter disgust at the main character, David Lurie, and awe at Coetzee’s skill in writing characters that embody the complexity of post-apartheid (and, more generally, post-conflict) life. A part of me was compelled to finish this book; another part of me wanted to avert my eyes from the volatility and turmoil that fills the plot. I can’t say I enjoyed this novel but I will admit to admiring it.

dmsehnert's review

challenging dark reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

this book has been on my to-read list for a few years now and i’m eager to read more coetzee in the future!

whew. incredibly heavy. lots of complexities relating to sexual violence, abuses of power, and generational divides - all underneath the backdrop of a post—apartheid South Africa. 

poor, poor lucy. i’m devastated that we don’t know the rest of her story - i hope she was able to find some peace.

the following lines made me nearly drop my book and i think will haunt me for the rest of my life:

“you are a man, you ought to know. when you have sex with someone strange - when you trap her, hold her down, get her under you, put all your weight on her - isn’t it a bit like killing? pushing the knife in; exiting afterwards. leaving the body covered in blood - doesn’t it feel like murder, like getting away with murder?” 

maruijuana's review against another edition

dark reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

byp's review against another edition

4.0

I've read that Coetzee is really interested in animal rights; he thinks that in 50 years we will view the way we currently treat animals in the same way we view slavery, that it will be a source of shame. This book's depiction of animal rights is interesting, I think, even though it's hard to read.

abisam's review against another edition

challenging dark tense

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

wonderful book but it is so terribly dark and disturbing