Reviews

Barndom by J.M. Coetzee

caladium's review against another edition

3.0

I was hoping to find a good and entertaining book, but I found one kind of dry and depressing. Nevertheless it's well written, it's interesting, but it leaves you a strange taste in your mouth, sour, like the character of the boy. I'll be reading another Coetzee book in the future, but I will not recommend this one to start reading him, as it was for me.

jubjubbird's review against another edition

reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

cy_clops_'s review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

5.0

judygold's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Well written and somewhat interesting, but I wasn't gripped. Maybe if I knew more about the author and his works I would have found it more interesting? 

jupitersmoons's review against another edition

4.0

i dont get it... i get it but... i dont

mog261's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

billieqvam's review against another edition

adventurous emotional reflective fast-paced

3.0

2manybooks_'s review against another edition

reflective slow-paced

3.5

softandcrunchy's review against another edition

4.0

A fantastic exploration of childhood that doesn't flinch at those dark, swirling, confused thoughts and emotions that are our companions from such a young age.  Dislocation, shame, failure. The constant pull between wanting and rejection that is the human condition, but laid bare through the mind of a child that is every child. 
I love the way he positions this brutality of the mind alongside the harsh and threatening landscape of apartheid South Africa. 

stephanieroc's review against another edition

reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5