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Good Night
Nov. 28th, 2019 12:01 am
Nov. 28th, 2019
J.M Coetzee "Life And Times Of Michael K" (Secker & Warburg)
Michael K is a gardener in civil war South Africa. He's not very bright but seems to be happy as a gardener. His mom gets fired, Michael is about to get fired, and they decide to go back to the countryside where his mom was born. They can't get a permit to travel, they can't travel by train, so Michael puts his mom in a wheelbarrow and starts walking. In Stellenbosch, mom dies, leaving Michal alone with his wheelbarrow and her ashes. He decides to go to Prince Albert, the village where his mother was born, to at least bring her back. But he's afraid of people, he doesn't eat for days or even weeks and doesn't manage.
It's hard to identify with Michael, because every time you think he found a place where at least he can recover, he walks out of it, back into solitude and hunger. He's a simpleton, with only one thing on his mind: freedom. He'd rather not eat than depend on others. I'm not sure that this is the message Coetzee wants to give us, but that's the message I got from the book.
Coetzee's dry style came across a bit bland, and whilst it is a good story, it is not a well-told one.
Michael K is a gardener in civil war South Africa. He's not very bright but seems to be happy as a gardener. His mom gets fired, Michael is about to get fired, and they decide to go back to the countryside where his mom was born. They can't get a permit to travel, they can't travel by train, so Michael puts his mom in a wheelbarrow and starts walking. In Stellenbosch, mom dies, leaving Michal alone with his wheelbarrow and her ashes. He decides to go to Prince Albert, the village where his mother was born, to at least bring her back. But he's afraid of people, he doesn't eat for days or even weeks and doesn't manage.
It's hard to identify with Michael, because every time you think he found a place where at least he can recover, he walks out of it, back into solitude and hunger. He's a simpleton, with only one thing on his mind: freedom. He'd rather not eat than depend on others. I'm not sure that this is the message Coetzee wants to give us, but that's the message I got from the book.
Coetzee's dry style came across a bit bland, and whilst it is a good story, it is not a well-told one.
Just Wondering
Nov. 28th, 2019 11:20 pmWhat is/was for dinner tonight?
What are your feelings on mistletoe?
Are all your nails about the same length?
What are your feelings on mistletoe?
Are all your nails about the same length?
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