This is the fourth novel I’ve read by Coetzee and the third that I’ve completed for my 50 Year Project. I read this novel a few years ago and found it disturbing. Since I have the rule that I have to read or reread all of the books on the 1001 list in order to complete the book portion of the challenge I reluctantly checked this book out of the library recently. I’m trying to read more books that I’m not super excited about so the remaining 100 on the list aren’t all stinkers that I’m dreading.
Surprisingly I enjoyed this novel more the second time. Maybe it was due to the fact that I knew what was going to happen and I prepared myself mentally for the upsetting elements of the novel. The novel was published in 1999 and it won the Booker Prize. Four years later, Coetzee was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature. If you haven’t read any of his novels, I do recommend him. Brace yourself though. He writes about difficult subjects. So far his novel Youth was the easiest one to get through. Not once did I feel traumatized. But it was depressing.
Now for the plot of Disgrace. David Lurie is a professor of English at a university in Cape Town. He is twice-divorced and is dissatisfied with his job. David is not a hero by any stretch of the imagination. He seduces one of his female students. The young woman is rather fragile, which makes David’s actions even more despicable. The university finds out about the affair and holds a meeting to discuss it with David. The dishonorable professor is given the opportunity to apologize for his actions. He adamantly refuses to do so leaving the university no option but to dismiss him.
The disgraced David heads to his daughter’s farm in the Eastern Cape. At first the reader may think that his time on the farm will give him time to cope with his decision. However, the story drastically changes when three men assault him and rape his daughter. How will David and his daughter deal with the aftermath of the attack?
Many of the scenes in this novel are difficult to read. At times I found myself closing one eye in anticipation of what was going to happen. Yet, with the second reading I was able to focus more on his writing style and not just on the plot. I found his writing hypnotic at times. Even during painful scenes his words compelled me forward. He uses words sparingly, which in a way protected me from the brutal aspects of the novel. I’m not saying l didn’t get a sense of the violence, but it isn’t so forceful that I had to slam the book shut in disgust. I should note that I didn’t read a lot of this novel at one time. Usually when I read a book, I’m in the midst of other books as well. I would read ten or so pages and then pick up something else. Before I recommend this novel I would like to add that in addition to violence towards women another topic might be difficult for some readers: animal rights and suffering. I won’t go into too much detail about this. Animal suffering has always been a difficult theme for me. However, he handles the subject in a way that really adds to the story and to the development of David’s character. You just have to read it to understand what I mean.
Again, I am hesitant to recommend this novel to everyone. He’s a fantastic writer, there’s no denying that. He has ten novels on my 1001 list. He’s won the Booker Prize twice. As mentioned earlier, he’s been awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature. Yet, I don’t think his novels are for everyone. I have seven more to go for my challenge. Maybe when I complete all of them, I can recommend the less intense novels. As of now, I’m only going to say he’s a brilliant writer that pushes the reader out of his or her comfort zone. You decide if that is something you want to take on.
This photo has nothing to do with the novel. However, when I read, Miles has to find other ways to entertain himself. He’s cleaning Moose, or what’s left of Moose. Miles is very hard on his toys. You can see the remnants of Weasel in the background.
50 Year Project 
Wow, out of a thousand books covering all of literature, ten of them are by J.M. Coetzee?! Is he really that amazing?
Coetzee and Charles Dickens both have 10 books on the list. That’s the most by any authors. Coetzee is brilliant–just hard to take.
It sounds harrowing but you have me interested.
He is a good writer and some will like the novel. Think about it.
He is an intense writer or describer. I tried to read it in English but I could not read it to the end. Afrikaans is better to understand his way of writing!(Read it in Afrikaans)
Only if I could read Afrikaans 🙂
It’s my mother tongue that’s why I can enjoy it in Afrikaans 🙂
Perfectly understandable.
I totally agree with you, it’s a very disturbing book and yet greatly written. I’m glad to have read it and yet, I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone unless they ask for it themselves. I think your description is very accurate Good luck with your challenge.
Thanks. I’ve completed 70 books so far. Slowly I’m making a dent into the 1001.
It doesn’t sound like my kind of read, but very well reviewed.
Thanks. this book isn’t for everyone. I understand.
I read it last year and wrote a related post. In the context of the violence against women, I found it very relevant and a must-read….. It was depressing, but a superb book. Here’s a link to my post
http://ramblinginthecity.wordpress.com/2012/10/09/violence-is-an-easy-answer-when-real-issues-go-unaddressed-cases-of-south-africa-india-oct-9-2012/
wow, some depressing stats for sure. Yes his book is depressing but he does raise awareness to issues that still plague society today. It’s hard to turn a blind eye and I applaud is efforts.
I read this book a few years ago. Like you, I felt it was well written, but it was quite hard going at times because of the content. He is a good writer.
Have you read any of his others?
i read this for a book club, and most of our time was -as i recall- spent discussing the main character’s character. or lack of it. it made for fascinating discussion.
David, for the most part, is a frustrating character. By the end I liked him a little more, but not much. I think I understood him a little better.
You are so brave to reread this! Not sure why you have to read books more than once for your project? There are only a few books I could stand to reread and this is not one of them. The fact that Coetzee has 10 books on the list is very impressive, however.
For my challenge I have to read all the books and watch all the movies during the 50 years I’ve set aside. All the books and movies that I read or watched previously have to be tackled again. I don’t have this rule for the countries considering the expense and time.
Oh, OK. That is challenging, especially if you didn’t like a particular book. I do admire your fortitude.
Thanks. I’m really dreading rereading his Waiting for Barbarians. That one, in my opinion, was harder to handle than Disgrace.
I can’t imagine! Thanks for the caveat.
Miles would make a great character!
oh he is a character. Right now he’s desperate to get my attention.
Hi
I bought and read Disgrace on the mention of it by a blogger; maybe it was you, first time around. It was disturbing and often, as I have lived most of my life in South Africa, found myself closing one eye and thinking; no! he is not going to go there!! But he does. We are funny people, I have not recommended it yet either. But good writing!
Liz
Sometimes I have to laugh at myself for closing an eye when I read, but my instincts kick in. When I watch scary movies I usually have my hands in front of my face and I’m whispering, “What’s going on?”
So funny, but braver than me. I don’t do scary movies!
Liz
I don’t watch a lot of them. The better half loves them. so I’ve compromised, October we watch a ton of them. Then I have 11 months to recover.
Thanks to you I am getting acquainted with a lot of authors and their works, which I might not have otherwise known about.
I must lay my hands on one of Coetzee’s works.
I’m glad I can help. I hadn’t heard of him until I saw this list. Then when I was in Cape Town, I noticed a lot of booksellers featured his works.
Sounds interesting anyway. Thanks for the review.
I find that pets are usually rough on their toys.
Miles loves to tear them apart.