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Bill Kerwin's Reviews > Disgrace
Disgrace
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This short novel, written in spare, economical prose, tells the story of a not particularly likable middle-aged Capetown college instructor who falls into "disgrace" because of an affair with a student and is soon reduced to living with his daughter in the bush and working as a euthanizer at the local animal shelter. A violent incident occurs, and "disgrace" takes on another meaning.
The novel is both merciless and compassionate (not an easy combination to achieve), and is also incisive in its portrayal of the changing world of South Africa.
by
This short novel, written in spare, economical prose, tells the story of a not particularly likable middle-aged Capetown college instructor who falls into "disgrace" because of an affair with a student and is soon reduced to living with his daughter in the bush and working as a euthanizer at the local animal shelter. A violent incident occurs, and "disgrace" takes on another meaning.
The novel is both merciless and compassionate (not an easy combination to achieve), and is also incisive in its portrayal of the changing world of South Africa.
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Reading Progress
Started Reading
July 1, 2008
–
Finished Reading
July 22, 2008
– Shelved
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Geoffrey
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Nov 30, 2015 12:43AM
That's about the way I felt about this novel, too.
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I felt the same way. I think Disgrace is a masterwork.
I’ve been wanting to read this. He’s a great writer, who unfortunately like many accomplished South Africans emigrated to Australia.
I saw the movie based on this novel. It was pretty good.
Bill, I'm puzzled by this one. It was an unpleasant read but I have a question: do you think the "disgrace" was that the Professor's daughter will always have to live with what was for the Professor a mild diversion, but for her was a life/mind-altering event that could happen to her again? A "the sins of the father" kind of thing?
Hard hitting, revelatory, horrifying and yet empathetic.
