false 1377172 13 <B>A new work of fiction by the Nobel Prize–winning author of <I>Disgrace</I></B> <BR><BR> In this brilliant new work of fiction, J. M. Coetzee once again breaks new literary ground with a book that is, in the words of its main character, “a response to the present in which I find myself.” <I>Diary of a Bad Year</I> takes on the world of politics—a new topic for Coetzee—and explores the role of the writer in our times with an extraordinary moral compass. <BR><BR> At the center of the book is “Señor C,” an aging author who has been asked to write his thoughts on the state of the world by his German publisher. These thoughts, called “Strong Opinions,” address a wide range of subjects and include a scathing indictment of Bush, Cheney, and Blair, as well as a witheringly honest examination of everything from Machiavelli and the current state of the university to music, literature, and intelligent design, offering unexpected perceptions and insightful arguments along the way. Meanwhile, someone new enters the writer’s life: Anya, the beautiful young woman whom he hires to type his manuscript. The relationship that develops between Señor C and Anya has a profound effect on both of them. It also changes the course of Anya’s relationship with Alan, the successful, swaggering man whom she lives with—and who has designs on Señor C’s bank account. Through these characters, Coetzee creates an ingenious literary game that will enthrall readers and surprise them with its emotional power. Bold, funny, and sad, as well as intellectually clever and satisfying, <I>Diary of a Bad Year</I> is a journey into the mind and heart of one of the world’s most acclaimed and accomplished writers. 2321793 book 27 12 2007 Diary of a Bad Year total:670|5:131|4:245|3:223|2:57|1:14| 670 2432 1218 162 4 2 false false Tue Jan 13 00:00:00 -0800 2009 Mon Dec 29 04:39:25 -0800 2008 Tue Jan 13 05:10:50 -0800 2009 more...]]> 2 2 false false Fri Sep 14 13:27:43 -0700 2007 Fri Sep 14 17:07:15 -0700 2007 Elizabeth Costello was fascinating if only to watch coetzee wrestle with his objections to conventional narr...more...]]> 0 1 false false Thu Feb 05 09:53:40 -0800 2009 Thu Feb 05 09:53:40 -0800 2009 J. M. Coetzee, who won the Nobel Prize for literature in 2003 and is one of only two writers to win the Booker Prize twice, is clearly not content to rest on his laurels. In fact, most critics consider Diary of a Bad Year to be his most ambitious work yet. While the plot itself isn't particularly in...

more...]]> 5 1 false false Mon Dec 10 04:47:52 -0800 2007 Mon Dec 10 05:06:02 -0800 2007 more...]]> 3 0 false false Sun Mar 29 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Sun Mar 29 10:58:47 -0700 2009 Sun Mar 29 11:46:10 -0700 2009 is almost, but not really, once you accept his
concretismo terms of writing, irritating to read.
He sections off each page into three vantage
points of view by the three main characters.

The first sect...more...]]> 3 0 false false Wed Mar 11 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Sun Mar 15 02:42:24 -0700 2009 Sun Mar 15 03:10:23 -0700 2009 more...]]> 0 0 false false Fri Jan 11 00:00:00 -0800 2008 Fri Jan 23 15:20:33 -0800 2009 Fri Jan 23 15:22:36 -0800 2009 STOP SMILING review of Diary of a Bad Year:

J. M. Coetzee is a bit of a recluse — he persistently denies interviews and was not present at either of the Booker Prize award ceremonies held in his honor. For a man whose written word is so eloquent, he is famously tight-lipped in ...more...]]> 3 0 false false Mon Jan 05 00:00:00 -0800 2009 Thu Jan 08 21:36:08 -0800 2009 Thu Jan 08 21:44:50 -0800 2009
This novel has three sections on each page. The...more...]]> 5 0 false false Tue Dec 16 00:00:00 -0800 2008 Wed Dec 17 12:54:57 -0800 2008 Wed Dec 17 12:56:22 -0800 2008 more...]]> 3 1 false false Wed May 20 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Thu Jun 04 22:09:20 -0700 2009 Thu Jun 04 22:31:09 -0700 2009 more...]]> 3 0 false false Tue Jun 02 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Wed Jun 03 12:22:39 -0700 2009 Wed Jun 03 12:22:39 -0700 2009 more...]]> 5 1 false false Thu Jul 31 06:47:08 -0700 2008 Mon Aug 04 19:36:58 -0700 2008 more...]]> 3 0 false true Sun Mar 01 00:00:00 -0800 2009 Wed Mar 11 03:23:51 -0700 2009 Wed Mar 11 03:37:48 -0700 2009 more...]]> 4 0 false false Tue Dec 23 00:00:00 -0800 2008 Thu Dec 18 20:10:43 -0800 2008 Tue Dec 23 16:07:04 -0800 2008 more...]]> 4 0 false false Fri May 22 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Sun May 03 03:56:01 -0700 2009 Fri May 22 19:48:05 -0700 2009 more...]]> 5 0 false false Wed Apr 15 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Wed Mar 25 08:43:50 -0700 2009 Thu Apr 16 14:01:56 -0700 2009 more...]]> 4 0 false false Tue Jan 20 02:55:28 -0800 2009 Mon Jan 26 03:23:45 -0800 2009 more...]]> 3 0 false false Wed Dec 24 14:03:04 -0800 2008 Mon Dec 29 10:17:57 -0800 2008 more...]]> 3 0 false false Sat Jun 20 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Sat Jun 13 19:23:30 -0700 2009 Sat Jun 20 08:11:26 -0700 2009 more...]]> 4 0 false false Mon Jan 19 00:00:00 -0800 2009 Tue Jan 06 12:20:21 -0800 2009 Mon Jan 19 06:07:17 -0800 2009 By decidi...more...]]>