Reviews with content warning for Sexual violence - Disgrace

Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

Disgrace by J.M. Coetzee

21 reviews

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

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abookcaterpillar's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

The book draws you in with the first sentence. Lulling you into a serene landscape, it suddenly stuns the reader with a grotesque crime. It is heart-wrenching and contemplative simultaneously.

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babybatx's review

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense 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

3.0

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ina11's review against another edition

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dark reflective 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

0.5

This book is very small but very terrible.

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mzulli's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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teddywinter's review

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challenging dark reflective fast-paced

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

3.0

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2treads's review against another edition

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challenging sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

No doubt that this is very well written, but what kept running through my mind was the entitled predatory nature of this professor man who pursued a sexual relationship with his student ()she wasn't the only one). The depiction of the young lady made her seem vapid and detached. Her dialogue and actions seemed so engaged as if she was participating through some veil.

David Lurie is such a misogynistic prick. He behaves as if he had every right to take what he wanted when he wanted. The arrogance to recognize what he is doing but to go through with it anyway was despicable. Coetzee is clever in paralleling certain subjects that Lurie teaches with his actions in his personal life.

Has there ever been a more despicable human, every time we get some rumination that points to a reckoning with his lecherous and chauvinistic train of thought, here comes the sexist train to sweep him back unto the path he had barely stepped from.

He did not appreciate women who did not put any effort into their appearance; Her tight little body are just some of the stomach turning observances of this man. He is loathsome.

And yet all of this speaks to Coetzee's skill at depicting this man with such realistic clarity so that his readers react viscerally.

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