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embla_sigun's review
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal death, Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Sexual content, Violence, and Colonisation
rosevint's review
challenging
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
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, and Pregnancy
slowlychloe's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Medical content, and Abortion
oz2021's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Rape, Sexual assault, and Fire/Fire injury
willowbiblio's review
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
"This is my life. I am the one who has to live here. What happened to me is my business, mine alone, not yours, and if there is one right I have it is the right not to be put on trial like this, not to have to justify myself- not to you, not to anyone else."
---------------------
This was such a complex book and reading experience for me. I *loathed* David. He abused his power, raped his student, and then acted like he was morally superior when he was forced out of his university. When his daughter was assaulted he wanted to direct her experience and was completely blind to how he had engendered the same experience in his student. He was absolutely full of the audacity. His entire persona was the embodiment of doublethink.
Coetzee used the language of violation: "forced", "exposed", "girl", "averted", "confused", in regards to the student, making it clear he also felt this was wrong. However, David's whole diatribe on the burgeoning opera was weird and I couldn't see how it aligned with the plot/text. I felt a little bit like Coetzee was trying to redeem or engender sympathy for David at the end, which I didn't like.
Despite how deeply uncomfortable much of this book made me, I could see how excellent Coetzee's writing was. I'm glad I read it, but I probably won't revisit it. Last note that I think there was less attention paid to the role of race in all these dynamics than I expected, which was sort of surprising since it was a massive part of the power dynamics/conflict at play.
---------------------
Coetzee used the language of violation: "forced", "exposed", "girl", "averted", "confused", in regards to the student, making it clear he also felt this was wrong. However, David's whole diatribe on the burgeoning opera was weird and I couldn't see how it aligned with the plot/text. I felt a little bit like Coetzee was trying to redeem or engender sympathy for David at the end, which I didn't like.
Despite how deeply uncomfortable much of this book made me, I could see how excellent Coetzee's writing was. I'm glad I read it, but I probably won't revisit it. Last note that I think there was less attention paid to the role of race in all these dynamics than I expected, which was sort of surprising since it was a massive part of the power dynamics/conflict at play.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Rape
enjojolras's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Physical abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Rape
zahrahazmi's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
cgdppl's review
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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
1.75
There are more things that I truly despised to its core in this book than I liked. The sexist and misogynist descriptions of characters, the poorly written dialogues and lack of acknowledgement for the rape done by the main character. This book is extremly gross in terms of how women are treated and presneted.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Violence
Moderate: Misogyny and Sexism
yenthemaria's review against another edition
dark
emotional
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
4.5
Very conflicted on how many stars I should give this book. I think it tells an important story and everyone might also read something else into it or take other lessons from it which makes it a strong book, but the main character was enraging to me and it did make me want to put the book away a lot. But I guess that’s exactly what a good story does, it gives you a lot of feelings and makes you think.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Rape, Violence, and Colonisation