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3.67 AVERAGE
3.67 AVERAGE
A riveting, terrifying, hard to read story (avoid, if you're a dog lover).
dark
sad
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
challenging
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence
This was ok. Not entirely sure why it ended up winning the Booker prize and the Nobel prize. Interesting story and themes.
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
No
“You behave as if everything I do is part of the story of your life.”
I’m so confused by all the positive reviews of this book. It seems as though everyone thinks this book’s “disturbing” quality is genius, but personally I found it genuinely uncomfortable to read. The protagonist is vile, and I couldn’t deal with all the attempts to make him seem deep and interesting - especially with his whole Byron opera thing, WHAT was that about. The whole book just fell flat for me, and came off as a very shallow and failed attempt at depth, with the story just leading nowhere. Also don’t get me started on the depiction of women within the book, because it was frustrating to say the least….
I’m so confused by all the positive reviews of this book. It seems as though everyone thinks this book’s “disturbing” quality is genius, but personally I found it genuinely uncomfortable to read. The protagonist is vile, and I couldn’t deal with all the attempts to make him seem deep and interesting - especially with his whole Byron opera thing, WHAT was that about. The whole book just fell flat for me, and came off as a very shallow and failed attempt at depth, with the story just leading nowhere. Also don’t get me started on the depiction of women within the book, because it was frustrating to say the least….
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
That was a lucky choice, because I quite like the book and it 19s magic I can read it with the third volume of Game of Thrones waiting beside my bed table.
Eventually, I finished it on my ride to Craiova, and it 19s really strong. The writing is good, the feelings are real, the characters complex. I find its emphasis on animal suffering quite interesting, too.
Eventually, I finished it on my ride to Craiova, and it 19s really strong. The writing is good, the feelings are real, the characters complex. I find its emphasis on animal suffering quite interesting, too.
Coetzee is able to bring so much nuance, curiosity, and depth to the questions he poses through this novel. He was able to portray such sadness and explore deep nihilism without being cynical. We are all dogs when it comes down to it and that's just how it is.