927. Disgrace

Disgrace
J.M. Coetzee
1999
Around 220 pages

Stories about sexual violence against women are always upsetting reads. Stories about sexual violence against women written by men, with all the focus on the male voices are even worse.

David Lurie is a divorced professor at Cape Technical University in South Africa. He is a groomer and predator, and once his affair with a student is exposed, he takes refuge at his daughter Lucy's farm in the Eastern Cape. Father and daughter become victims of the rampant violence in post Apartheid South Africa.

Once again, women's bodies are used as symbols of exploitation and are pretty much robbed of their autonomy from start to finish. I understand the journey David needed to take, but I don't think finally having sex with somebody not physically attractive makes for awe-inspiring growth. 

J.M. Coetzee is a great writer though, so I have no complaints about pacing or style. Just really didn't another story like this, or another character like David in my life.

RATING: ***--

Interesting Facts:

Adapted to film in 2008.

Won the Booker Prize.

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