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A review by brona
The Childhood of Jesus by J.M. Coetzee
4.0
David was one of the most annoying children I've ever met. He was arrogant, petulant, naïve, attention-seeking and demanding. A spoilt brat.
But I still found this story compelling. I basically read it in three sittings.
The chaos and uncertainty of 'where are we, what's going on?' kept me riveted. The philosophising stevedores were adorable and annoying at the same time. The bland, passionless world became more frightening as the story progressed.
I give you one paragraph (from one of the philosophising stevedores) that for me sums up some of the layers of this story...about the nature of the novel, what is real and how we know if something is real or not...
" 'Consider now history. If history, like climate were a higher reality, then history would have manifestations which we would be able to feel through our senses. But where are these manifestations?' He looks around. 'Which of us has ever had his cap blown off by history?' There is silence. 'No one. Because history has no manifestations. Because history is not real. Because history is just a made-up story.' "
Lots to ponder....
I suspect I will want to reread this one day.
Full review here - http://bronasbooks.blogspot.com.au/2013/05/the-childhood-of-jesus-by-j-m-coetzee.html
But I still found this story compelling. I basically read it in three sittings.
The chaos and uncertainty of 'where are we, what's going on?' kept me riveted. The philosophising stevedores were adorable and annoying at the same time. The bland, passionless world became more frightening as the story progressed.
I give you one paragraph (from one of the philosophising stevedores) that for me sums up some of the layers of this story...about the nature of the novel, what is real and how we know if something is real or not...
" 'Consider now history. If history, like climate were a higher reality, then history would have manifestations which we would be able to feel through our senses. But where are these manifestations?' He looks around. 'Which of us has ever had his cap blown off by history?' There is silence. 'No one. Because history has no manifestations. Because history is not real. Because history is just a made-up story.' "
Lots to ponder....
I suspect I will want to reread this one day.
Full review here - http://bronasbooks.blogspot.com.au/2013/05/the-childhood-of-jesus-by-j-m-coetzee.html