Diary of a Bad Year (Thorndike Press Large Print Basic Series) - Hardcover

Coetzee, J. M.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1410407144 ISBN 13: 9781410407146

Publisher: Thorndike Pr, 2008

Synopsis

An eminent, seventy-two-year-old Australian writer is invited to contribute to a book entitled Strong Opinions. It is a chance to air some urgent concerns. He writes short essays on the origins of the state, on Machiavelli, on anarchism, on al Qaida, on intelligent design, on music. What, he asks, is the origin of the state and the nature of the relationship between citizen and state? How should the citizen of a modern democracy react to the state's willingness to set aside moral considerations and civil liberties in its war on terror, a war that includes the use of torture? He is troubled by Australia's complicity with America and Britain in their wars in the Middle East; an obscure sense of dishonour clings to him.

In the laundry-room of his apartment block he encounters an alluring young woman. When he discovers she is 'between jobs' he claims failing eyesight and offers her work typing up his manuscript. Anya has no interest in politics but the job provides a distraction, as does the writer's evident and not unwelcome attraction toward her.

Her boyfriend, Alan, an investment consultant who understands the world in harsh neo-liberal economic terms, has reservations about his trophy girlfriend spending time with this 1960s throwback. Taking a lively interest in his affairs, Alan begins to formulate a plan.

About this title

Review:

a Coetzee is one of the English-speaking worldas great tragic storytellers. . . . [This novel] offers exciting formal evidence of a literary artistas capacity to keep up with the chaotic malfunctions of our time.a
a"O, The Oprah Magazine"
a J. M. Coetzeeas novel Diary of a Bad Year is something of a self-managed funeral, but a lavish one: mordant, funny and wise. Mr. Coetzee writes circles around any attempt to pin him down.a
a Richard Eder, "The New York Times"

Coetzee is one of the English-speaking world s great tragic storytellers. . . . [This novel] offers exciting formal evidence of a literary artist s capacity to keep up with the chaotic malfunctions of our time.
"O, The Oprah Magazine"
J. M. Coetzee s novel Diary of a Bad Year is something of a self-managed funeral, but a lavish one: mordant, funny and wise. Mr. Coetzee writes circles around any attempt to pin him down.
Richard Eder, "The New York Times"

? Coetzee is one of the English-speaking world's great tragic storytellers. . . . [This novel] offers exciting formal evidence of a literary artist's capacity to keep up with the chaotic malfunctions of our time.?
?"O, The Oprah Magazine"

? J. M. Coetzee's novel Diary of a Bad Year is something of a self-managed funeral, but a lavish one: mordant, funny and wise. Mr. Coetzee writes circles around any attempt to pin him down.?
? Richard Eder, "The New York Times"

Review:

`Coetzee's format is not without frustrations, but cleverly affords dramatic space, and poignance, to his moral and emotional flourishes'

About this edition

• Publisher: Thorndike Pr
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 1410407144
• ISBN 13: 9781410407146
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 376