Well writen, but too meandering and heavy-handed for my taste.

For decades the Magistrate has run the affairs of a tiny frontier settlement, ignoring the impending war between the barbarians and the Empire, whose servant he is. But when the interrogation experts arrive, he is jolted into sympathy with the victims and into a quixotic act of rebellion which lands him in prison, branded as an enemy of the state. Waiting for the Barbarians is an allegory of oppressor and oppressed. Not just a man living through a crisis of conscience in an obscure place in remote times, the Magistrate is an analogue of all men living in complicity with regimes that ignore justice and decency.

RELEASE NOTES:

June BC meet-up.

Well, it looks as if this journal entry is long overdue! My partner Erinne took this book from the meet-up, planning to read it. I thought he had journalled the book. Lately he decided that he doesn't have time to read this book after all, and he said I could release it. I tried making a journal entry, but couldn't at first, because the BCID did not match anything on the database. My partner now dimly recalls that the same thing probably happened when he first tried to journal, and then he gave up.

The sleuth that I am, I did not give up, but hunted the BCID down. (Well, just the end part, as that's the only public part of it.) And indeed, there was a number missing from the BCID written on the bookplate. So, that's why my partner did not journal at first - but he should have persisted! Or asked me to help him! He says he's sorry.

Anyways, Waiting for the Barbarians is not lost! It is now available, waiting for a reader or a chance of freedom.

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Will be released at the local meet-up. Happy reading!

Picked up at the meetup this evening as I'd like to read some J.M.Coetzee. Thanks Harmaja.

Wow - what a gut-renching book. This was designed to take the reader out of their comfort zone - and it worked. I felt and angry and slightly distressed when reading later portions of the novel. It not only decries torture, xenophobia and terror, but also the tacit acceptance of it by well-meaning individuals who only want to live their own lives in peace, harmony and kindness. There are no 'good guys', but plenty of 'bad guys'. But what is the answer for those who really want to take a courageous stance against evil? J.M. Coetzee provides few answers to that.

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Sent to perfect-circle who has it on her wishlist. Enjoy!

Arrived safely today, thanks very much!

A great read, as relevant (if not more so) today as it was when it was written. JM Coetzee writes about torture, xenophobia and what happens when people turn a blind eye. There are no answers though, but it doesn't make it any less of a good read.

This book is off to the Edinburgh Uncon as a surprise for someone's goody bag.

This was in my goody bag at the Uncon. I've read other Coetzee & its never an easy read but am looking forward to reading this one. Cheers!!