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theoreads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
This is one of those books that I really wanted to like, but wound up hating instead. Heavy subject matter aside, the writing is solid enough - good, but not great - and it kept me engaged. That said, I would pay actual money to unread this. I don’t usually mind unlikable protagonists, but this book had so many unredeemable, g-dawful characters that I couldn’t get past, which made it difficult to feel connected to what was happening. Wouldn’t read it again, going straight in my donation pile.
⭐️ 3.75 for writing
⭐️ 3.5 for “value in discussion” (I can see this being interesting in a seminar context re: its (allegorical) depiction of South Africa in the wake of Apartheid, although I’d imagine I’d get far too heated about how much I dislike this book)
⭐️ 1 for literally everything else
⭐️ 3.75 for writing
⭐️ 3.5 for “value in discussion” (I can see this being interesting in a seminar context re: its (allegorical) depiction of South Africa in the wake of Apartheid, although I’d imagine I’d get far too heated about how much I dislike this book)
⭐️ 1 for literally everything else
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Fire/Fire injury, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Death, Gore, Racism, Rape, Xenophobia, and Pregnancy
Minor: Stalking and Abortion
demo's review
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
4.5
cw: sexual assault, animal deaths, violence and gore
Disgrace is a punch to the gut. It is confronting, exasperating and uncomfortable. It offers no hero, no one you can truly get behind and rally for. The characters are flawed, disappointing, unappealing, destructive, and make terrible decisions, which is further emphasised when presented alongside the good and pure nature of animals. But instead of exploiting the characters' short-comings and their trauma for entertainment value Coetzee uses them with intent. This careful curation of the reader's discomfort is what makes the book so impactful.
Disgrace left me emotionally wiped for days after I finished it, borderline ill. I've never had such a strong physical reaction to reading a book before. It is a brilliant piece of writing but don't read it if you're in a bad place. It will do you no favours.
Disgrace is a punch to the gut. It is confronting, exasperating and uncomfortable. It offers no hero, no one you can truly get behind and rally for. The characters are flawed, disappointing, unappealing, destructive, and make terrible decisions, which is further emphasised when presented alongside the good and pure nature of animals. But instead of exploiting the characters' short-comings and their trauma for entertainment value Coetzee uses them with intent. This careful curation of the reader's discomfort is what makes the book so impactful.
Disgrace left me emotionally wiped for days after I finished it, borderline ill. I've never had such a strong physical reaction to reading a book before. It is a brilliant piece of writing but don't read it if you're in a bad place. It will do you no favours.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Gore, Rape, Sexual assault, and Violence