| HOME | BESTSELLERS | NEW RELEASES | PRICE WATCH | FICTION | BIOGRAPHIES | E-BOOKS |
J M Coetzee's Disgrace: review competition winner
07 July 2010
A fascinating review about a superb novel by JM Coetzee wins our June review competition.
Disgrace is set in post-apartheid South Africa, when the social and political landscape is rapidly shifting. David Lurie is a dissatisfied university professor who has a fling with one of his students. Lurie is cynical and unemotional when he is confronted about his misdemeanour and is dismissed from his job. He seeks refuge with his daughter on her run down farm, but the balance of power is changing and although he has gained comfort from his new life in exile, he senses their vulnerability. Events on the farm take a dramatic turn and David is forced to confront his physical and emotional frailty.
Coetzee won the Booker Prize in 1999 with 'Disgrace', and deservedly so, for Coetzee is a deeply philosophical thinker who is able to express his insights in his descriptive prose. Coetzee tackles a number of issues around the use and abuse of power, at many levels, viewed through the eyes of mature and obdurate intellectual.
Chris M has written a comprehensive review about this important modern geo-political narrative, and quite correctly illuminates the distinctly South African flavour of the novel but highlights the universality of the lessons.
In achieving the Booker Prize with Disgrace, Coetzee distinguished himself as the first novelist to win the prize twice, having first achieved the prestigious award in 1983 with his book, Life and Times of Michael K. He was nominated and shortlisted again in 2009 with Summertime, but being the bookies favourite was an unlucky omen and Hilary Mantel achieved her first handle of the prize, with Wolf Hall.
Our thanks here at find-book go to Chris for the comprehensive review. A £50 Amazon voucher is on its way to you.
Don't forget to get your reviews in this month; with the booker prize shortlist announced at the end of July, your tips and reviews of this year's publications will be gladly awaited, and you will have the opportunity of winning the £50 Amazon vouchers.
Use our services to compare prices on J M Coetzee's or any other of our comprehensive catalogue of paperbacks, Hardcover's and audio books.
