Lisa read and liked Leandra Cate's review of Disgrace (Penguin Essential Edition):

"Think of Lolita without the clever veil of first person narration or the subtle wit. Think of Philip Roth without the pulsing phrases and humour. Think of a book inspired by these literary models but completely lacking their gift for loading a sing...more Think of Lolita without the clever veil of first person narration or the subtle wit. Think of Philip Roth without the pulsing phrases and humour. Think of a book inspired by these literary models but completely lacking their gift for loading a single image or event with multiple valences. Savor that flavorless idea for a minute and you have Disgrace. This guy won the Nobel prize for Literature. Are you kidding me? I didn't find any particular gift for phrasing and language in this book, the only one I have read by this author. I found it, frankly, misogynist and lacking that surprising vision that, in a good book, catches you off guard and changes your mind. (less) "