A review by _f_rancesca_200_2
Disgrace by J.M. Coetzee

challenging dark reflective sad slow-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

2.5

This is exactly the kind of book that I feel would really benefit from a reader or short op-ed to accompany it. Up until the end of the book, I was doing alright and invested in how the story would conclude, but was left thinking "What's the dying dog supposed to represent??" which I think is never a good sign. It felt like the book was missing a couple of scenes, or even an extra chapter.  Had I found the final chapter more engaging I would have given this maybe 3.5 stars, because it is a very interesting book. The plot at times moved very quickly and there were some reveals where I could not put the book down. I really hated the main character - which you're absolutely supposed to - and found him misogynistic, predatory, narcissistic and frequently racist. However, the author does a great job of forcing you to root for him as he attempts to unravel mysteries surrounding a genuinely heinous crime and try and seek justice for his much nicer daughter - you're rooting for him for the sake of her, until she reminds you that she has a will of her own and actually doesn't always want her father's input and interference. This book is also interesting because it feels like you're watching a man's very believable psychological breakdown. Perhaps the (for me) unclarifying, confusing and anticlimactic ending ensures that the main character does not reach some clear character arc of moral redemption, which he does not deserve. This is not a book about learning to change your ways. It is an insight into how the legacy of South Africa's history gets overlayed on top of and refracted through modern interpersonal conflicts. For a non-South African that was a big positive, and I would cautiously recommend this for anyone willing to sit with a chauvinistic male narrator and an ambiguous ending.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence

Moderate: Racism and Rape

Minor: Rape

The daughter of the main character is raped in a violent attack in her home. This event is not described, but is frequently returned to the main character's mind. The main character is also violently attacked and this fight is described in detail. The main character displays predatory sexual behaviour, engaging in a coercive relationship with a university student whilst a professor, and at one point (in my opinion) raping her - although this event is told from his perspective, and he does not label this as such. The passage describing this event is also short.