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A review by claire_fuller_writer
The Good Doctor by Damon Galgut
4.0
Frank is a middle-aged doctor in an isolated, run-down rural hospital in the homelands of South Africa just after the ending of apartheid. He is solitary, set in his ways, moving through life in a dream. A young newly qualified doctor, Laurence arrives at the hospital full of enthusiasm, ideas, and ideals. Frank is forced to share his room at the hospital. Laurence believes that Frank is his friend, but with barely concealed scorn and irritation, Frank refuses to change.
There's not a lot of plot, but the writing is wonderful and the novel - from Frank's point of view - has a dreamy quality full of absence and inaction.
Frank and Laurence's relationship is a metaphor for pre-apartheid South Africa and the post-apartheid country. They don't understand each other. he older is worn down and resents change. Frank is shocked when he sees his father's black maid on her hands and knees picking up dropped flower petals while his father points out one after another, but not understanding how his one-sided relationship with a local black woman demeans her as much as the maid having to pick up petals. And the new: full of eager enthusiasm, moving too fast to change the views and habits of others, and ultimately, putting himself in danger.
I enjoyed this very much. Maybe not quite as much as The Promise, which is short-listed for the Booker.
There's not a lot of plot, but the writing is wonderful and the novel - from Frank's point of view - has a dreamy quality full of absence and inaction.
Frank and Laurence's relationship is a metaphor for pre-apartheid South Africa and the post-apartheid country. They don't understand each other. he older is worn down and resents change. Frank is shocked when he sees his father's black maid on her hands and knees picking up dropped flower petals while his father points out one after another, but not understanding how his one-sided relationship with a local black woman demeans her as much as the maid having to pick up petals. And the new: full of eager enthusiasm, moving too fast to change the views and habits of others, and ultimately, putting himself in danger.
I enjoyed this very much. Maybe not quite as much as The Promise, which is short-listed for the Booker.