Disgrace

Un profesor universitario, en la Sudáfrica actual, vive una vida anodina y su único interés es, de vez en cuando, acallar sus deseos carnales con una prostituta. Cuando deja de poder encontrarse con ella, decide liarse con una alumna, con las consecuencias que desatarán la historia del libro. El cinismo con el que el protagonista inicia, se va desmoronando lentamente cuando le estalla en la cara la realidad de una sociedad profundamente dividida racial y culturalmente.
El libro es profundamente desconsolador, la desgracia en la que cae el protagonista y su actitud ante la misma es cuestionadora para el lector. Sin emitir juicio alguno, provoca a una profunda reflexión sobre distintas posiciones del lector ante la vida. Quizá lo que más me impactó a mi es la poca introspección (¿egoísmo?) que refleja el personaje al no encontrar el evidente paralelismo de su abuso y el otro abuso descrito en la historia y las justificaciones que se da para evitar, a toda costa, un arrepentimiento, que podría llevar a un reparo personal de daños.

Triste por donde se vea, escrito de manera magistral, Desgracia es un libro que vale la pena leer y quizá dar una segunda lectura con el tiempo.

A veces la evaluación de una obra está muy influenciada por las expectativas con las que uno aborda su lectura y creo que este es uno de esos casos.

Esperaba ver en Desgracia una historia que expusiera las complejidades de la Sudáfrica del post fin del apartheid y me encontré con que el autor eligió una historia que no parece la más apta para vehiculizar dicha exposición.

La historia del protagonista, el profesor universitario David Lurie, bien podría suceder en cualquier otro país. Y la historia de Lucy, su hija, a través de la cual Coetzee parece querer exhibir la realidad social sudafricana de la época parece un tanto irreal. En cierta forma, los prejuicios del protagonista incluso aparecerían como justificados ante el carácter extremo de la trama.

I can understand why this book might leave people feeling uncomfortable and anxious. But I think a lot of people falsely equate this to alack of quality. This book is utterly brilliant. it is supposed to make you uncomfortable...you are supposed to get angry. the protagonist is deeply flawed by design. I can honestly say that this book will have a lasting impact on my life.

This book. My gf loved it, so I thought I'd give it a go, since she'd been on a roll lately. So I read it. This man can write.

The novel begins as our main character, David Lurie, a professor, is having a meeting with his favoured escort. He feels great affection for her. When he sees her around town with her sons, things become awkward, and she leaves the escort service and refuses to see him. So then he turns to one of his students. This ends up costing him his job, so he goes to stay with his lesbian daughter in the country. Horrible things ensue–rape, animal butchery, strained relations with his child. Even the ending isn't exactly what one would call happy.

Coetzee is South African, and this book came out in 1999, I believe. It deals with racism, sexual politics, sexism, and animal welfare issues. Quite a heady mix for a little book just over 300 pages (a very fast-paced 300 pages too). I'm always pleased and a little surprised when a man is sensitive to these issues, particularly in regards to sexism. Tough and angering things happen in this book, and I don't find the answers satisfactory; but that is perhaps a good thing.

Lurie is actually a dynamic character, even if he doesn't necessarily realize it about himself. He begins having seriously horrible expectations of women. That doesn't miraculously change, and part of why he does is that he beings to feel mortatlity creeping in. But he starts becoming more open, more aware of the humanity of the normal women, the woman who is not a nubile young thing. He becomes more aware of the need for mercy and concern for animals. He becomes aware of the racial tension that exists in every day life. He becomes a little less of a douche. Although, that being said, Coetzee is such a good writer that I didn't hate David even when he was being a tool. Because, like most tools, he's not JUST a tool. He's a complex human being who resists change and yet somehow finds himself changing, even if he doesn't realize it or admit to it.

Terrifyingly, however, one of the characters reminded me of my boss's father. shudder

There are many reasons a reader may not like J.M. Coetzee's Disgrace. For starters, the subject matter is difficult. Some may find the book lacking in story. The writing is very Bookerish—it's sophisticated, it taps the emotions through the cerebral. One could say the novel is racist. Sexist. Disturbing—definitely disturbing.

The novel borders on many of these things, but I feel Coetzee does a fabulous job handling the matter with grace. His prose is tight and evocative. Every time a lag is foreseeable in the narrative, Coetzee turns up the tension. Given the book's size and delicate pace, it is amazing in the end how much ground is actually covered.

Readers of well-crafted literature should love this story. Aside from the brutality, the bleakness, the possibly offensive social commentaries, what is not to love?

I'm beginning to really enjoy Coetzee's spare, elegant style. I didn't enjoy this as much as I did Elizabeth Costello, but I don't think this book was necessarily less good than Elizabeth Costello. Disgrace is more masculine, and even as I understand the novel to be an exploration of gender roles and masculinity, I still found the protagonist to be off-putting. Intentionally so, and well done, but I didn't LIKE the book as much. You know? Okay good.

I found this book to be extremely compelling. I feel like Coetzee really weaved an interesting, complex tale about gender, neo-colonialism, race, and literature. I'm not sure I really liked this book, or if I just felt really strongly that it is an important book. I'd be interested in reading Waiting for the Barbarians or one of his other works as well.

SPOILER ALERT!


College professor has affair with student. Resigns. Goes to live with daughter. He and his daughter are attacked by three men; she is raped and he is set on fire. The daughter becomes pregnant and the father begins to help in the animal clinic. Thoughtful yet not preachy.