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Youth
by J. M. Coetzee | category Literature & FictionRegistered by Deepswamp of Björkhagen, Stockholm Sweden on 12/30/2008
11 journalers
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11 journalers for this copy...
The narrator of Youth, a student in the South Africa of the 1950s, has long been plotting an escape from his native country: from the stifling love of his mother, from a father whose failures haunt him, and from what he is sure is impending revolution.
Studying mathematics, reading poetry, saving money, he tries to ensure that when he arrives in the real world, wherever that may be, 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. An awkward colonial, a constitutional outsider, he begins a dark pilgrimage in which he is continually tested and continually found wanting.
Set against the background of the 1960s - Sharpeville, the Cuban missile crisis, Vietnam - Youth is a remarkable portrait of a consciousness, isolated and adrift, 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.
#34 1001 Books
Studying mathematics, reading poetry, saving money, he tries to ensure that when he arrives in the real world, wherever that may be, 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. An awkward colonial, a constitutional outsider, he begins a dark pilgrimage in which he is continually tested and continually found wanting.
Set against the background of the 1960s - Sharpeville, the Cuban missile crisis, Vietnam - Youth is a remarkable portrait of a consciousness, isolated and adrift, 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.
#34 1001 Books
Journal Entry 2 by Deepswamp at A fellow BookCrosser, A RABCK -- Controlled Releases on Monday, March 2, 2009
Released 15 yrs ago (3/2/2009 UTC) at A fellow BookCrosser, A RABCK -- Controlled Releases
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CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Firar 3 år med bookcrossing!
Celebrate 3 years with bookcrossing!
The Ultimate Challenge 2009
RABCK challenge 2009
Firar 3 år med bookcrossing!
Celebrate 3 years with bookcrossing!
The Ultimate Challenge 2009
RABCK challenge 2009
Journal Entry 3 by kingfan30 from Somewhere in Lincs 🤷♂️, Lincolnshire United Kingdom on Friday, March 6, 2009
Many thanks for sending this to me, I look forward to reading it x
26th March 09 - Quite enjoyed this book and found it a good example of how life does not always turn out the way you hope it will.
26th March 09 - Quite enjoyed this book and found it a good example of how life does not always turn out the way you hope it will.
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Been sent to likestoreadinFL as a RABCK, hope you enjoy it.
Been sent to likestoreadinFL as a RABCK, hope you enjoy it.
Was on my doorstep when I arrived home. Looks like the perfect distraction from studing for finals.
I had been looking forward to reading something by J.M. Coetzee for some time. I though he did an excellent job convincingly descriging this young man's life. The main character isn't particularly likeable, but he seems so real that you just want to reach through the pages and shake him!
Journal Entry 7 by 1001-library from Helsinki, Uusimaa / Nyland Finland on Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Thanks so much for your donation likestoreadinFL!
This book is now part of the 1001-library. If you want to take this book from the library but don't know how to proceed, please refer to the 1001-library bookshelf.
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Enjoy!
Enjoy!
received today in the mail, thanks for sending it to me!
This book is now back on the 1001 library bookshelf and can be borrowed by PMing svoight:)
If you want to take this book from the library but don't know how to proceed, please refer to the library bookshelf.
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Released to Katrinat!
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Released to Katrinat!
Welcome to BookCrossing!
Thank you so much for picking up this book. Please make a journal entry here on this page if you haven’t already done so to let me know that this book has found a good home. You may choose to remain anonymous or to join (it is entirely free).
If you choose to join, please consider using any previous reader of this book, or me, SVOIGHT, as the member who referred you.
I really hope you enjoy the book you found! When you’re done reading it, you can make another journal entry with your comments here to let me know what you thought of it. You can keep the book forever and ever or pass it on to someone else. If you’re giving it to someone directly, make another journal entry saying so.
If you choose to leave it somewhere “in the wild” for anyone to catch, make release notes that indicate where you left it. If you register, you will be alerted by e-mail each time someone makes another journal entry.
It’s all confidential (you’re known only by your screen name and no one is ever given your e-mail address), free, and spam-free. Then you can track this book as it goes on its journey!
Have a great day and Happy BookCrossing!!!
Journal Entry 12 by katrinat from Southend-on-Sea, Essex United Kingdom on Tuesday, February 16, 2010
This arrived today, looking forward to reading this one. I'll mark this as available straight away, if anyone wants it next pm me and I'll read it double quick and send it straight on its way
This book is now back on the 1001 library bookshelf and can be borrowed by PMing Katrinat:)
If you want to take this book from the library but don't know how to proceed, please refer to the library bookshelf.
I finally got around to reading this one as no one had requested it in the mean time.
I enjoyed almost the gentle feel of the novel, the gradual passing of his days, his dreams and self slowly fading away as he got older.
I'll be putting this back into the 1001 but with the view of sending it out in either Soffitta1's bookbox or VBB, unless someone requests it first. At least it should start travelling again.
I enjoyed almost the gentle feel of the novel, the gradual passing of his days, his dreams and self slowly fading away as he got older.
I'll be putting this back into the 1001 but with the view of sending it out in either Soffitta1's bookbox or VBB, unless someone requests it first. At least it should start travelling again.
Journal Entry 15 by 1001-library at Helsinki, Uusimaa / Nyland Finland on Thursday, January 20, 2011
This book is now back on the 1001 library bookshelf and can be borrowed by PMing katrinat:)
If you want to take this book from the library but don't know how to proceed, please refer to the library bookshelf.
Taking this from the library to put in Soffitta1's 1001 UK book box where hopefully it'll find a new reader. Box will be posted out next week.
travelling from Monday
Taken from the 1001 book box. I have wanted to read this for some time.
I really enjoyed reading this. It was interesting to see London through a South African youth's eyes.
Posted on. Hope you enjoy the book.
Journal Entry 21 by blackwidow1971 at Winchester, Hampshire United Kingdom on Thursday, September 22, 2011
Safely received from the 1001 VBB - thank you!
Journal Entry 22 by blackwidow1971 at Winchester, Hampshire United Kingdom on Thursday, December 1, 2011
Read this a few weeks ago and forgot to journal it. The main character, John, isn't particularly likeable and it's not the cheeriest of reads, particularly the rather sudden ending.
I found myself wondering what the "J" in "JM Coetzee" stands for (no doubt I could Google it, but I was on the train and don't have a fancy phone) and how much it might have been based on his own life.
Going into the Euro 1001 VBB.
I found myself wondering what the "J" in "JM Coetzee" stands for (no doubt I could Google it, but I was on the train and don't have a fancy phone) and how much it might have been based on his own life.
Going into the Euro 1001 VBB.
Thanks for sending me this, I do enjoy reading Coetzee's books.
This book is now back on the 1001 library bookshelf and can be borrowed by PMing soffitta1:)
If you want to take this book from the library but don't know how to proceed, please refer to the library bookshelf.
Finally sent, sorry for the delay.
The footnote contains a spoiler so, if you haven't read the book yet and still wish to, skip the insert below the line and go to the next journal entry.
JM Coetzee has a way of describing someone's life so convincingly that it leaves one with the belief that somebody like that must exist in real life1. In this book he tackles the conflict between one's dreams and the way reality shapes those. He also very successfully describes the impact a foreign environment can have on an individual, especially if isolated for one reason or another.
I'll return the book to the library. Let me know if you're interested.
1 After writing the above, I had a look at the wikipedia entry on the author and his work, and discovered that this book was in fact a fictionalised memoir. Only he will know to which extent it reflects his own life.
This book is now back on the 1001 library bookshelf and can be borrowed by PMing stoepbrak:)
If you want to take this book from the library but don't know how to proceed, please refer to the library bookshelf.
If you want to take this book from the library but don't know how to proceed, please refer to the library bookshelf.
Released 11 yrs ago (8/29/2012 UTC) at Cape Town, Western Cape South Africa
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
On its way to Horinkie.
Gotcha! Amazing books that you can find in beautiful Cape Town.
Thank you, Stoepbrak.
Thank you, Stoepbrak.
I truly felt invited into a scriptorium. It was a pleasure to spend time with Ezra Pound, Ford Madox Ford, Samuel Beckett and many others on the not so easy way to writing poetry. Exciting to see the first ideas shine through all the misery and interesting views of poetry and love.
A very atmospheric narration.
A very atmospheric narration.
Journal Entry 32 by 1001-library at Helsinki, Uusimaa / Nyland Finland on Tuesday, November 27, 2012
This book is now back on the 1001 library bookshelf and can be borrowed by PMing horinkie:)
If you want to take this book from the library but don't know how to proceed, please refer to the library bookshelf.
If you want to take this book from the library but don't know how to proceed, please refer to the library bookshelf.