Diary of a Bad Year
March 22nd 2008 23:31
The reading of a novel is normally a straight forward thing. One opens the book, reads the pages from beginning to end and draws from it what they will – at times much, other times nothing at all. Either way there is very little decision made as to how one would go about reading said novel. Rarely would you, for example, read from back to front, or alternate pages or every other chapter.
Then enters J.M. Coetzee’s new novel Diary of a Bad Year, which is the story of an aging author (affectionately refer to as ‘Senor C’ by his young Filipino typist), writing his thoughts on today’s social issues. This is the manuscript that is delivered on the first half of each page. But Senor C has a life outside of his book and his relationship with Anya, the typist unfolds along side the manuscript. This actually works nicely, as we can read what Senor C is writing and then what he is actually living. But before long Anya herself gets in on the act and begins narrating her own story introducing her Australian lover and their precarious affair, so we now have three separate novels running on each page.
Within the first twenty pages I am wondering … should I read all of the manuscript, then go back and read the other narratives, each in turn, or do I keep reading page by page.
So you can see the dilemma faced here. I for one have never come across this before but it certainly drew my interest … I just had to see if it worked! Eventually I went for the page by page approach and it was a challenge doing it this way, but I found Senor C and Anya’s story too compelling to leave behind, so I swallowed it all in one big bite.
Coetzee’s characterisations are at times painfully honest (eg. David Lurie of Disgrace), but always laudable. He is unique in drawing personalities to the page, forming people from language until they stand before you, demanding attention. This is the kind of writing that needs no action, no solution, no surprises. And you will find none of these here, but as the relationship of these three people unfolds you will find your self caught up in the very human trait that makes us all dependant on each other. Basically, the need to care.
There is some insightful musing from Senor C and he has plenty to say about the state of today’s politics, education, literature and beliefs. Set in Australia’s current social climate, it releases popular (and unpopular) perceptions that alone can create great topics for discussion. But, as Coetzee is trying to tell us, along side all of these issues are real people just trying to survive in a world where those who care lie prey to those willing to substitute a conscious for what constitutes as wealth in today’s society.
Want a new reading experience? Try this one.
Within the first twenty pages I am wondering … should I read all of the manuscript, then go back and read the other narratives, each in turn, or do I keep reading page by page.
So you can see the dilemma faced here. I for one have never come across this before but it certainly drew my interest … I just had to see if it worked! Eventually I went for the page by page approach and it was a challenge doing it this way, but I found Senor C and Anya’s story too compelling to leave behind, so I swallowed it all in one big bite.
Coetzee’s characterisations are at times painfully honest (eg. David Lurie of Disgrace), but always laudable. He is unique in drawing personalities to the page, forming people from language until they stand before you, demanding attention. This is the kind of writing that needs no action, no solution, no surprises. And you will find none of these here, but as the relationship of these three people unfolds you will find your self caught up in the very human trait that makes us all dependant on each other. Basically, the need to care.
There is some insightful musing from Senor C and he has plenty to say about the state of today’s politics, education, literature and beliefs. Set in Australia’s current social climate, it releases popular (and unpopular) perceptions that alone can create great topics for discussion. But, as Coetzee is trying to tell us, along side all of these issues are real people just trying to survive in a world where those who care lie prey to those willing to substitute a conscious for what constitutes as wealth in today’s society.
Want a new reading experience? Try this one.
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