Literature

Recommended Reads: Disgrace

Written by The Reader, 2nd November 2011

Today's Recommended Read comes from our PR and Marketing Administrator Jessica Reeves, who has been exploring male desire in J. M. Coetzee's Disgrace.

Disgrace is about a university lecturer who is having or perhaps has always been having a mid-life crisis, never able to commit or indeed seem able to mature mentally and accept his advancing years with any dignity. The story covers David’s time spent with a prostitute, his satisfaction with one session per week with this women with no need on his part for anything more intimate.

This is ruined by a chance encounter on a regular shopping trip and David decides to move his attentions over to a student of his; this in turn leads to him resigning from the university and moving in with his daughter who lives in a small-town, rural community which initially he despises. I am really enjoying this book, it’s very charming in its own way although really quite crude at times. I can’t wait to read on and understand the character of David a little more!

J. M. Coetzee, Disgrace, Vintage (2000).

3 thoughts on “Recommended Reads: Disgrace”

davecookson says:

2nd November 2011 at 3:44 pm

This is one of my favourite books of all time, it is incredibly powerful, but that’s the nature of Coetzee. I’ve read four of his books and three of them have a male mid-life crisis at some level, but each feels different. Emotionally this is incredibly demanding but it is a rewarding read nevertheless.

Colin says:

14th November 2011 at 8:02 am

Finished reading ‘Disgrace’ last week but can’t get it out of my head. A disturbing exploration of despair. Keep up the recommendations.

Jen says:

18th November 2011 at 10:32 am

It is utterly disturbing, isn’t it? I’ve not read it for a few years but the despair in that book is haunting.