bettyvd's review against another edition
4.0
Heel erg van genoten.
De gekende stijl van Coetzee: uitgepuurd en droog. Maar ook nu weer het elegante spel met de perspectieven. Een roman over een biografie over een schrijver die misschien ook de auteur zelf is, maar misschien ook niet...Het boek doet nadenken over in welke mate het mogelijk is om iemand of jezelf te kennen. Een aanrader.
Gelezen in het Engels.
De gekende stijl van Coetzee: uitgepuurd en droog. Maar ook nu weer het elegante spel met de perspectieven. Een roman over een biografie over een schrijver die misschien ook de auteur zelf is, maar misschien ook niet...Het boek doet nadenken over in welke mate het mogelijk is om iemand of jezelf te kennen. Een aanrader.
Gelezen in het Engels.
harleyburch's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
hollymarshall's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
mazza57's review against another edition
3.0
The concept of someone writing his biography whilst it being auto biographical is clever. The use of just 5 people who knew him to tell his own story. All describe cooetze as a loner, poor at integration some take a stronger stance and say he is autistic. A good but not riveting read
davijar's review against another edition
4.0
A fictionalized biography, this book seems to obfuscate as much as it reveals. It features some beautiful prose, but the main draw is the way in which Coetzee interrogates every character in the book, including himself. The main issue revolves around the difficulty in communicating just about anything effectively: all characters struggle and fail to understand one another. This process gives us glimpses of truth, but only glimpses.
In this dance of confusion is found a very honest portrayal of human life. At the centre of the book is Coetzee himself, but whether we really get to know him is questionable. His actions and his life are interpreted by several rather tertiary players. We are left to wonder if this is Coetzee as he knows himself, as he feels others interpret him, or something else altogether. As with much of his work, these questions will never be answered.
In this dance of confusion is found a very honest portrayal of human life. At the centre of the book is Coetzee himself, but whether we really get to know him is questionable. His actions and his life are interpreted by several rather tertiary players. We are left to wonder if this is Coetzee as he knows himself, as he feels others interpret him, or something else altogether. As with much of his work, these questions will never be answered.
iammandyellen's review against another edition
3.0
to be read in conjunction with Coetzee's essay "Confession and the Double" fresh in the mind. have put it aside for the moment...
hannahn775's review against another edition
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.75
ninabensch's review against another edition
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
qdony's review against another edition
5.0
Difícilment podría haver començat l'any amb una lectura millor. Vintage Coetzee.
Properament escriuré una ressenya una mica més explícita.
Properament escriuré una ressenya una mica més explícita.
anutoon's review against another edition
4.0
I was pleasantly surprised with the approach and style with which this book was presented. It is part autobiography but written in such a refreshing manner that it actually kept me gripped till the end. The book takes you through the various interviews conducted with his lovers, relatives, colleagues and through their voice wonders about the fascination with the author's very ordinary life and personality. The nuances in the answers of the interviewees is wonderfully captured. Enjoyable.