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Youth

By John Maxwell Coetzee

(48)

| Others | 9780099452041

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Book Description

A searing portrait of a young colonial in early 1960s London -- from the two-time winner of the Booker Prize.

Youth’s narrator, a student in 1950s South Africa, has long been plotting an escape from his native country. Studying mathematics, reading poetry, saving money, he triesContinue

A searing portrait of a young colonial in early 1960s London -- from the two-time winner of the Booker Prize.

Youth’s narrator, a student in 1950s South Africa, has long been plotting an escape from his native country. Studying mathematics, reading poetry, saving money, he tries to ensure that when he arrives in the real world he will be prepared to experience life to its full intensity, and transform it into art.

Arriving at last in London, however, he finds neither poetry nor romance. Instead he succumbs to the monotony of life as a computer programmer from which random, loveless affairs offer no relief. Devoid of inspiration, he stops writing and begins a dark pilgrimage in which he is continually tested and continually found wanting.

Youth is a remarkable portrait of a consciousness turning in on itself. J.M. Coetzee explores a young man’s struggle to find his way in the world, with tenderness and a fierce clarity.

3 Reviews

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  • 1 person find this helpful

    "You don't flip the pages of a Coetzee when you're under a loathing for mankind and the world at large," Asha Surkha told me once. "His books are ugly. but only when you know how ugly is an object and you still decide to love it, it's true love."

    Tis one of the few things Asha had told me. yes, thi ... (continue)

    "You don't flip the pages of a Coetzee when you're under a loathing for mankind and the world at large," Asha Surkha told me once. "His books are ugly. but only when you know how ugly is an object and you still decide to love it, it's true love."

    Tis one of the few things Asha had told me. yes, this was what she told me. When she was Asha

    Is this helpful?

    Paul Yeung said on Aug 11, 2010 | Add your feedback

  • There is a young man that travels through his youth using his ideal of poets and artists as an excuse for his fear, fear of doing really something, of taking responsibilities.
    He hopes to be equal to Eliot and Pound, but does not strive to be like them, using life as an excuse to be a terrible poet ... (continue)

    There is a young man that travels through his youth using his ideal of poets and artists as an excuse for his fear, fear of doing really something, of taking responsibilities.
    He hopes to be equal to Eliot and Pound, but does not strive to be like them, using life as an excuse to be a terrible poet and using poetry as an excuse for escaping from real life; the worst part being he knows all this himself.

    Is this helpful?

    Poyel said on Feb 2, 2012 | Add your feedback

  • It's a South African writer, this novel isn't the most famous one of his, but the style of writing is amazing!!

    Is this helpful?

    Amily said on Oct 2, 2009 about the Paperback edition | Add your feedback

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