Disgrace

A Novel

De: J. M. Coetzee

Narrado por: Michael Cumpsty

The provocative Booker Prize winning novel from Nobel laureate, J.M. Coetzee

"Compulsively readable... A novel that not only works its spell but makes it impossible for us to lay it aside once we've finished reading it." —The New Yorker

At fifty-two, Professor David Lurie is divorced, filled with desire, but lacking in passion. When an affair with a student leaves him jobless, shunned by friends, and ridiculed by his ex-wife, he retreats to his daughter Lucy's smallholding. David's visit becomes an extended stay as he attempts to find meaning in his one remaining relationship. Instead, an incident of unimaginable terror and violence forces father and daughter to confront their strained relationship and the equallity complicated racial complexities of the new South Africa.

2024 marks the 25th Anniversary of the publication of Disgrace©2008 J.M. Coetzee; (P)2008 Penguin

Reseñas de la Crítica

“Disgrace is not a hard or obscure book—it is, among other things, compulsively readable—but what it may well be is an authentically spiritual document, a lament for the soul of a disgraced century.”—The New Yorker

“A subtly brilliant commentary on the nature and balance of power in his homeland…. Disgrace is a mini-opera without music by a writer at the top of his form.”—Time

“Mr. Coetzee, in prose lean yet simmering with feeling, has indeed achieved a lasting work: a novel as haunting and powerful as Albert Camus’s The Stranger.”— The Wall Street Journal

“A tough, sad, stunning novel.”—Baltimore Sun

Essential reading

Or listening…a work that transcends time and place, though it also helps the reader understand South Africa and that time. A work very much deserving of its acclaim.

Intense

I now want to read everything this author has written. Superb, but challenging

Great book - aptly named

"Disgrace" - That pretty much says it all, and such is the fate of the main character, professor David Lurie.
I read this book years ago, before it was available on Audible. Brought to life by the reader Michael Cumpsty this audio version is just as satisfying, if not more than the written version.
It is virtually impossible to empathize with David Lurie, who's narcissistic and selfish behavior make him his own worst enemy. Yet J.M. Coetzee offers no excuses for Lurie. He is simply a very flawed man, aging against his will, resigned to act according to life's forces that direct him to his own demise.
On it's face, the story is simple. However there are many complexities that weave throughout: Lurie's relationship with his daughter Lucy, his avocational project on Byron, his checkered past with females, his interaction with Lucy's neighbors, his reluctant volunteering at an animal clinic.
The story and writing are as stark as the arid South African landscape where it is situated. This concise book is brutally straightforward and masterfully crafted.
Highly recommended.

A Great Work of Literature

Clear and easy to follow, but ultimately profoundly ambiguous and thought provoking. The novel is beautiful despite being hopeless and dispairing in the end. It is anti-romantic and reminded me of Unbearable Lightness of Being turned on its head. Incredibly vivid despite sparse, understated language. The ending scene was literally stunning and I wasn't able to process it fully emotionally until the following day. One of the top ten novels I've read (listened) to.

A haunting story, well performed

Michael Cumpsty’s performance lends the edge to this haunting novel. He adds layers to the story contributing to a greater appreciation of the story (this is one of those novels to which reading and listening is valuable). With a well constructed plot, well developed characters, tight writing, the story propels forward compellingly. One draws its meaning as in a poem, profoundly. In the end, one feels viscerally the daunting significance in the silence, the emptiness

Nabokov Raised by Wolves

This is a masterpiece that shreds you up inside. If Donna Tartt, Ann Patchett, and Nabokov had threesome that produced a love child which they abandoned in South Africa and Cormac McCartney raised her in a garage full of wolves, classic works, and opera playing 24/7 on surround sound— that would this book.

Engaging from the start

I read the book on Kindle while simultaneously listening to the audio book. Occasionally I would go back and just read the text slowly to luxuriate in the writing. One comes away from the work still deeply thinking about the many issues the book raises. I have been meaning to read it for a long time and am glad that I did.

Captivating!

Captivating! Could not put it down! A thriller…I can see why it’s was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature

Understanding South Africa

There are two great books that I know of about life in South Africa: This one and Cry, the Beloved Country by Alan Paton (also on Audible.com and a terrific listen).

This is a powerful book, at some points I wanted to quit it because it was quite an emotional experience. But I am happy, very happy I kept with it.

I would say this book had great emotional impact as I have mentioned, plus it gave me an education on the people of the groups of South Africa and their character. Not always the pretty sight. I wonder if South Africa will ever "work".

The author is a Nobel prize winner for Literature in 2003. I learned a lot about him otherwise in the Wikipedia article on him, and highly recommend it. I believe part of the excellence of this book is the portrayal of life as it is in such a way that it could not be communicated in any other medium. Quite an achievement.

Hmm, it’s hard to rate this. Bleak but essential.

Some themes: Desire, Loss, Justice, Transitions, Death

I would recommend this book to those who are okay with very bleak/sad endings. This book might also be for you if you are okay with flawed and unlikable characters.

Something I can say that is easy about the book is that it is easy to read...it’s a page-turner, as they say.

The voice actor does a good job throughout the audiobook. Two thumbs up there.