Reviews tagging 'Colonisation'

Disgrace by J.M. Coetzee

9 reviews

calcijade's review

challenging reflective tense medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Rape, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Colonisation and Racism

Minor: Pregnancy

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

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Content Warnings

Minor: Colonisation, Sexual content, Misogyny, Rape, Violence, Racism, and Animal death

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.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Animal death, Violence, and Colonisation

averytiredfox's review

challenging emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• 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

One of the most well written, poignant books I've ever read, do not read it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fatphobia, Racism, Sexual violence, Colonisation, Animal cruelty, Sexual assault, Infidelity, Violence, Sexism, Animal death, Rape, Sexual content, Grief, and Emotional abuse

Sexual violence is at the forefront of this book. It may not be gratuitous (depending on opinion) but it is a major theme throughout.

happyfeet's review

challenging dark slow-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Fire/Fire injury, and Rape

Moderate: Colonisation

bookshopvampire's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Colonisation, Violence, Racism, Sexual assault, and Animal death

bingereading's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• 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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Violence, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, and Animal cruelty

Moderate: Fatphobia, Lesbophobia, and Racism

Minor: Abortion and Colonisation

librarymouse's review

challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

I have so many feelings and questions about this book. It's so beautifully written. I caught some of the extra detail in the book, but I know there are hundreds of details and references sewn into the book that I've missed on this first read through. One instance that was particularly impactful was the mention of verbena and jonquil on page 177 and pine on page 178, after his visit with the Isaacs. Their respective meanings of prayer or a request to pray for an individual; forgiveness or a desire that affection be returned; and endurance, piety, and hope in adversity add so much to the characterization of David, yet the description of flowers scenting the air fits so neatly into the scene setting that they could comfortably be ignored. David Lurie is intensely easy to dislike, yet there are instances in which he is not quite redeemed, but is humanized and brought out of his self-reflective/self centered stupor. He has a main character complex to the point of near delusion. Despite his continual fall towards lust, he does seem to learn something, though I'm not sure what. He learns loss and grief, learns that he is incapable of compromise in many ways but is capable of letting go of what he cannot control. Coetzee does a fantastic job with these characters and their individual and collective shames.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fatphobia, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual content, Animal death, Body shaming, Sexual assault, Stalking, Grief, Medical content, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual violence, Rape, and Confinement

Moderate: Colonisation

Minor: Abortion and Lesbophobia

teddywinter's review

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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Misogyny, Racism, Sexual violence, Pedophilia, Injury/Injury detail, and Colonisation