Journal Entry 1 by jamondro on Friday, September 17, 2004

This was my first time reading Coetzee, and I was a bit disappointed. The novel is composed largely of long lectures the main character gives about writing, animal rights, and other subjects. I found my focus wandering often, and I didn't feel like I really knew the main character.
 

Journal Entry 2 by schwester from Wien Bezirk 03 - Landstraße, Wien Austria on Monday, January 10, 2005

Picked up at Pickwick´s as a part of my read-a-book-of-every-Nobel-prize-winner-project.
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Feb 2005: Maybe I just don´t get it. What is this book about?! The back of the book reads:
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Elizabeth Costello is an Australian writer of international renown. Famous principally for an early novel that established her reputation, she has reached the stage where her remaining function is to be venerated and applauded.
Her life has become a series of engagements in sterile conference rooms throughout the world - a private consciousness obliged to reveal itself to a curious public: the presentation of a major award at an American college where she is required to deliver a lecture; a sojourn as the writer in residence on a cruise liner; a visit to her sister, a missionary in Africa, who is receiving an honorary degree, an occasion which both recognise as the final opportunity for effecting some form of reconciliation; and a disquieting appearance at a writers´ conference in Amsterdam where she finds the subject of her talk unexpectedly amongst the audience.
She has made her life´s work the study of other people yet now it is she who is the object of scrutiny. But, for her, what matters is the continuing search for a means of articulating her vision and the verdict of future generations.
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At first Kurt Tucholskys "Langweilig ist noch nicht ernsthaft" came to my mind... but while reading on I got annoyed. I think this book is an absurd compilation of prejudices, misanthrophy and arrogance.
I sure am no expert on literature, so it´s rather possible that I simply don´t get the books "greatness" (or whatever) - just for me: I don´t like it. May someone else have more insight!
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This book is travelling with me to Budapest, Hungary to be released somewhere in the city. I´ll write the release note as soon as I´m back home. 

Journal Entry 3 by schwester at Stadion Hotel in Budapest, Pest Hungary on Sunday, February 13, 2005

Released 7 yrs ago (2/13/2005 UTC) at Stadion Hotel in Budapest, Pest Hungary

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

on a chair in the lobby