Author: J.M. Coetze
Topics: Animals, Violence, Desire, Vengeance
After this novel, I'm left puzzled. I'm not exactly sure what I thought about it. This was not the best follow-up to "Say You're One of Them" since at its core Disgrace can be described as a story about violence in Africa. Two of these in a row is not something I would suggest.
Disgrace was odd, and the characters were put in heartbreaking and awkward situations, so for me it was hard to focus on the page. I think that the author managed to capture an unusual reality, but the dialogue seemed a little too contrived for my liking: I found it hard to focus on the characters when there were such bizarre things coming out of their mouths.
David reminded me a little of the protagonist in Richard Russo's Straight Man: academic on the edge of a breakdown, trapped in his need to philosophize and having difficulty coming to terms with the harsh reality of his situation, and of those around them.
