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The Life and Times of Michael K
Registered by Katisha50 of Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on 5/1/2006
This book is in a Controlled Release!
This book is in a Controlled Release!
10 journalers for this copy...
Different cover.
"The story of Michael K is the story of a man caught up in a war beyond his understanding, but determined to live his life, however minimally, on his own terms."
"The story of Michael K is the story of a man caught up in a war beyond his understanding, but determined to live his life, however minimally, on his own terms."
Arrived over the weekend, thanks Katisha50 for sending this my way I'm really looking forward to this.
Stubee has passed this one on to me as well to read while he finishes his other book.
This was a good book although I found it hard to read at times. This is the story of Michael K who lives in Cape Town and looks after his mother but when the war starts affecting them, Michael decides to take his mother back to where she grew up in the countryside to live in peace.
Unfortunately the war follows Michael wherever he goes and this is the story of how he moves from place to place, determined just to do his own thing and not have his life determined by others.
This is a powerful story and a well written book.
Unfortunately the war follows Michael wherever he goes and this is the story of how he moves from place to place, determined just to do his own thing and not have his life determined by others.
This is a powerful story and a well written book.
KT-J has given this back to me so I'll get on to this shortly I hope.
Listed in Peter Boxall's "1001 Books: You Must Read Before You Die"
Listed in Peter Boxall's "1001 Books: You Must Read Before You Die"
Thanks Katisha50 I’ve finally got round to reading this novel after almost two years! J. M. Coetzee is obviously a very accomplished author and I enjoyed his writing style, that being said however I found this novel very depressing.
On the back cover of the book The Evening Standard wrote ’This is a truly astonishing novel… I finished Life & Time of Michael K in a sate of elation, for all the misery and suffering it contains. I cannot recommend it highly enough.’
A state of elation???? What the… I find it strange how someone can be elated after reading this grim tale. A tale of a simple gardener who embarks on an often terrifying journey through a war torn South Africa, Michael K’s life is exhausting, terrifying, depressing but through it all he is what he is and in someway commands respect for not succumbing to what other people think he is! All in all an interesting read but not one to lift the spirits.
On the back cover of the book The Evening Standard wrote ’This is a truly astonishing novel… I finished Life & Time of Michael K in a sate of elation, for all the misery and suffering it contains. I cannot recommend it highly enough.’
A state of elation???? What the… I find it strange how someone can be elated after reading this grim tale. A tale of a simple gardener who embarks on an often terrifying journey through a war torn South Africa, Michael K’s life is exhausting, terrifying, depressing but through it all he is what he is and in someway commands respect for not succumbing to what other people think he is! All in all an interesting read but not one to lift the spirits.
Reserved for International Bookray, please PM me if you’re interested.
- The person before you will PM you for your address, please PM them back with your address
- Please make a journal entry once you've received the book
- Please put the book at the top of your TBR pile but under other rings/rays that arrived first
- Read the book (take your time and enjoy the book, try to finish it within one month)
- When you are close to the end, refer to the journal and PM the next person to get their address
- Once you finish the book, make another journal entry and let us know what you thought
- Please send the book to the next person on the list!
- If you are the last person please do whatever you like - release it into the wild, start another ring/ray or keep it if you want to!... Happy Reading!!
Participants (in mailing order [subject to change should new members join]):
fushmush - London, United Kingdom (Pref Europe/But can ship Int if required)
Starflash - Crawley, West Sussex, United Kingdom (pref UK/EU but can ship Int if required)
jellyfish67 - Burnley, UK (International)
Supertalya - Seoul, South Korea (International)
cat207 - Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia (Pref Australia/But can ship Int if required)
dolphin-au - Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, Australia (Australia only)
Miss-Owl - Sydney, New South Wales, Australia (Australia only)
The book has reached it's final destination and therefore the ray is at an end.
- The person before you will PM you for your address, please PM them back with your address
- Please make a journal entry once you've received the book
- Please put the book at the top of your TBR pile but under other rings/rays that arrived first
- Read the book (take your time and enjoy the book, try to finish it within one month)
- When you are close to the end, refer to the journal and PM the next person to get their address
- Once you finish the book, make another journal entry and let us know what you thought
- Please send the book to the next person on the list!
- If you are the last person please do whatever you like - release it into the wild, start another ring/ray or keep it if you want to!... Happy Reading!!
Participants (in mailing order [subject to change should new members join]):
fushmush - London, United Kingdom (Pref Europe/But can ship Int if required)
Starflash - Crawley, West Sussex, United Kingdom (pref UK/EU but can ship Int if required)
jellyfish67 - Burnley, UK (International)
Supertalya - Seoul, South Korea (International)
cat207 - Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia (Pref Australia/But can ship Int if required)
dolphin-au - Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, Australia (Australia only)
Miss-Owl - Sydney, New South Wales, Australia (Australia only)
The book has reached it's final destination and therefore the ray is at an end.
Received... thank you! Need to get on top of all these bookrays I'm receiving. I have 1.5 bookrays ahead of this.
Journal Entry 9 by fushmush from Sydney CBD, New South Wales Australia on Wednesday, August 13, 2008
I think one Amazon reviewer summed it up nicely when she said that it was a story of a struggle to exist. Exist in a civil war. Exist on his own terms. A struggle that is never-ending.
It's interesting that we never really learn what Michael K feels or thinks. We know him through his experiences and the other people he encounters. It's fitting then that I'm unsure about my own reaction to this book. I will have to ponder.
I have PMed Starflash and will send on as soon as I have an address.
It's interesting that we never really learn what Michael K feels or thinks. We know him through his experiences and the other people he encounters. It's fitting then that I'm unsure about my own reaction to this book. I will have to ponder.
I have PMed Starflash and will send on as soon as I have an address.
Journal Entry 10 by starflash from -- Somewhere in West Sussex, West Sussex United Kingdom on Friday, August 22, 2008
Arrived yesterday, along with 2 other rings after a period of quietness-I think everyone has been doing their holiday reading this month!
Journal Entry 11 by starflash at Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Saturday, September 13, 2008
Released 16 yrs ago (9/13/2008 UTC) at Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Sending this out today.
I'm not sure what to make of this book. I read it as the story of an adult with learning difficulties struggling to survive, with the second part of the book intended to reinforce the struggle I was having in interpreting the first half. The novel left me feeling uneasy but I'm not sure why. It was my first by this author, I want to read another to see what I make of that.
Thank you for sharing a new author with me.
Sending this out today.
I'm not sure what to make of this book. I read it as the story of an adult with learning difficulties struggling to survive, with the second part of the book intended to reinforce the struggle I was having in interpreting the first half. The novel left me feeling uneasy but I'm not sure why. It was my first by this author, I want to read another to see what I make of that.
Thank you for sharing a new author with me.
Journal Entry 12 by jellyfish67 from Burnley, Lancashire United Kingdom on Monday, September 29, 2008
Arrived safely 27 Sept
Released 16 yrs ago (2/18/2009 UTC) at
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Sorry for the delay. Now on it's way to supertalya. Enjoy!
Sorry for the delay. Now on it's way to supertalya. Enjoy!
Oooh, I forgot about this one. I have three bookrings in front of it, but I am reading fast! :-)
I am on the fence about this. I have cat's address here. I will send it ASAP.
I am on the fence about this. I have cat's address here. I will send it ASAP.
I got this in the mail today ---from my parents. I left this at home from my vacation. I will send it on its way. I am so sorry!!!
Journal Entry 16 by Supertalya at Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada on Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Released 15 yrs ago (9/15/2009 UTC) at Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Enjoy, sorry it took so long!
Enjoy, sorry it took so long!
Arrived in today's mail. Thanks Supertalya, and stubee.
Reinforces the 'need' to fit in - be like everyone else. Individuals don't have it easy.
And again I say "It's horrible what people do to each other!"
I've PMed dolphin-au for an address.
And again I say "It's horrible what people do to each other!"
I've PMed dolphin-au for an address.
Heading off to dolphin-au in tomorrow's mail. Enjoy. X
Journal Entry 20 by dolphin-au from Lake Macquarie, New South Wales Australia on Thursday, October 22, 2009
Arrived safely today. Thanks cat. I shouldn't be too long.
Journal Entry 21 by dolphin-au from Lake Macquarie, New South Wales Australia on Monday, October 26, 2009
This is quite a depressing sort of book. It certainly does not offer any hope of remaining succesfully independent in times of upheaval. Michael K does not stand much of a chance, living a more natural life does not offer any protection. The narrator in the second part does not fare much better, though he is an educated man. He gets more caught in the system than K, and probably won't escape unharmed either.
I guess this is the book that will stay in some dark corner of my mind, and will pop up every time I wil be reading about the misery of war and famine.
I'll send this on to Miss-Owl later today. Thanks stubee for organising the ring.
I guess this is the book that will stay in some dark corner of my mind, and will pop up every time I wil be reading about the misery of war and famine.
I'll send this on to Miss-Owl later today. Thanks stubee for organising the ring.
Journal Entry 22 by dolphin-au at nearest postoffice, Ring/Ray book -- Controlled Releases on Monday, October 26, 2009
Released 15 yrs ago (10/26/2009 UTC) at nearest postoffice, Ring/Ray book -- Controlled Releases
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Sent to Miss-Owl.
Sent to Miss-Owl.
Received - thank you, dolphin-au!
Apologies for the delay in journalling. I'm currently living in Thailand but the book arrived just before my visit to Sydney, so it worked out in the end :)
There's one book ahead of this one, and then I'll be onto it. Thanks for sharing this, stubee!
Apologies for the delay in journalling. I'm currently living in Thailand but the book arrived just before my visit to Sydney, so it worked out in the end :)
There's one book ahead of this one, and then I'll be onto it. Thanks for sharing this, stubee!
I'm sorry, I didn't realise I hadn't journalled this.
This book provoked a really interesting discussion about what makes a book depressing, or merely sad. For me, this book was depressing - it made me feel the state of humanity was just an irredeemable pit from which no ray of hope could be extracted. (Apologies for the very mixed metaphor, but it's been a long day!) I couldn't get into Michael K's head at all, or anyone else's, which just reinforced the sense of irremediable isolation this book made me feel.
Even more depressing, it's probably more true to life for many people than I care to admit.
Gah! Better end this review here :)
Bookmooched onwards. I hope it gets journalled!
This book provoked a really interesting discussion about what makes a book depressing, or merely sad. For me, this book was depressing - it made me feel the state of humanity was just an irredeemable pit from which no ray of hope could be extracted. (Apologies for the very mixed metaphor, but it's been a long day!) I couldn't get into Michael K's head at all, or anyone else's, which just reinforced the sense of irremediable isolation this book made me feel.
Even more depressing, it's probably more true to life for many people than I care to admit.
Gah! Better end this review here :)
Bookmooched onwards. I hope it gets journalled!
Journal Entry 25 by Miss-Owl at Bookmooch.com, A book trading site -- Controlled Releases on Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Released 15 yrs ago (2/3/2010 UTC) at Bookmooch.com, A book trading site -- Controlled Releases
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
On its way to Canada. Happy reading!
...Oops, that's not really appropriate for this book, is it? ;)
On its way to Canada. Happy reading!
...Oops, that's not really appropriate for this book, is it? ;)
