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A review by svetlanasterlin
Foe by J.M. Coetzee
5.0
"It is the home of Friday" - a sentence that had me breathless. The whole sequence to which this fragment belongs is incredible, and almost cinematic. Reading this book was a visceral experience.
I think that more important than the tale is the writing. The narrator/s tell the most unique stories from unique perspectives. Their voices are distinct and unusual.
The originality and new take on Robinson Crusoe is refreshing and clever. Readers are challenged and encouraged to think and consider, even though the reading itself is easy. The author constructs sentences in a seamless, flowing manner. I never found myself pausing to make sense of an awkward phrase, or distracted by sloppy punctuation, or rereading paragraphs until my brain processes them.
I am very glad that I read this book, and I feel much more informed for it. The insight offered readers by the narration widens the restrictions that society places on our minds. The sophistication, grace, and skill with which the story tellers impart their knowledge and experiences on readers make the experience of reading enjoyable.
The story itself is also engaging and interesting. From the first page, I felt immersed in the happenings of the story, the adventures of Susan, Friday, and Cruso. All of the characters intrigue me and are revealed to be complex, clever, and a little mysterious.
The author is very conscious of his words, of the language choices that he can make, and he wields words with such authority that I was unaware of the repetition of key phrases and emphasis of plot points until I finished reading the novel.
I highly recommend this book to everyone - seriously, this is an important book.
I rate this book 9.5/10.
I think that more important than the tale is the writing. The narrator/s tell the most unique stories from unique perspectives. Their voices are distinct and unusual.
The originality and new take on Robinson Crusoe is refreshing and clever. Readers are challenged and encouraged to think and consider, even though the reading itself is easy. The author constructs sentences in a seamless, flowing manner. I never found myself pausing to make sense of an awkward phrase, or distracted by sloppy punctuation, or rereading paragraphs until my brain processes them.
I am very glad that I read this book, and I feel much more informed for it. The insight offered readers by the narration widens the restrictions that society places on our minds. The sophistication, grace, and skill with which the story tellers impart their knowledge and experiences on readers make the experience of reading enjoyable.
The story itself is also engaging and interesting. From the first page, I felt immersed in the happenings of the story, the adventures of Susan, Friday, and Cruso. All of the characters intrigue me and are revealed to be complex, clever, and a little mysterious.
The author is very conscious of his words, of the language choices that he can make, and he wields words with such authority that I was unaware of the repetition of key phrases and emphasis of plot points until I finished reading the novel.
I highly recommend this book to everyone - seriously, this is an important book.
I rate this book 9.5/10.