Disgrace by JM Coetzee

[mmack]

Has anyone else read this? I'm at a loss as to how it won a Booker Prize. David Lurie is one of the most unpleasant characters I've ever come across. I'm guessing that there was something deep and meaningful about the dog shelter that went over my head. I wouldn't have finished it if it wasn't on my list of modern classics.

I read it a few years back. Yes he is unpleasant and I found the book very depressing but also very good and well written. Didn't know it won the booker prize. I don't remember everything but it did not put me off reading him. But not if I want something cheerful, obviously.

Yes, I read this. Liked it though not in a 'wow, best book of the year!' sort of way. I imagine it won because people felt like the issues it dealt with were important ones at that particular moment.

I can't remember a huge amount about the story but I do remember finding it incredibly well written and very powerful. I still have it and plan to reread it at some point.

that is a dark dark book.... I thought that the doghouse thing was a metaphor for how the black community of that country are trapped (we are all trapped)... and the book (as I recall it) is about layers of abuse and subservience. The teacher/professor (can't remember his name) takes advantage of youth/beauty/innocence in the same way that our 'civilised' world has taken advantage of and (virtually) 'raped' the countries of Africa/South America. It's about innocence, and animal behaviour (on many levels) in the guise of level-headed authority etc .. at least that's what I thought. Absolutely chilling. Graham Greene - The Quiet American ... another one - I couldn't finish it because it was so sinister in such a quiet way. Are we all just animals at the end of the day?

(these are just the things that I read into the book - have just checked the Wikipedia entry though - all very interesting and I'm glad that I saw your post OP .. it's had me thinking for a bit...)

and now - on to Good Housekeeping for MY bedtime reading....

Read it ages ago & liked it. Remember it as v bleak but can't remenber much of the story. Symbolism sounds familiar but not I my best books list either

I agree that David taking advantage of a student represents the history of South Africa but then having his daughter raped and taken advantage of by black men was so heavy-handed. Then David just continued on by taking advantage of Bev even though she and her husband had been kind to him but somehow his helping with the dogs is supposed to be some kind of redemption. I also just hated the way he sort of made peace with the student's father, but he didn't seem too bothered about the girl. Also there are so many negative descriptions of the female characters appearance. It was a mean-spirited book.