|
The Lives of Animals
By John Coetzee.
John Coetzee was visiting Sydney recently, giving public readings from a lifetime of his published work.
As is his nature, he refused any questions from the public but allowed his characters to speak on his behalf. The Lives of Animals is no exception.
His main protagonist here is Elizabeth Costello, a distinguished novelist, who has been invited to the United States to give a University lecture on animal rights (much the same way as the author had been invited to lecture at Princeton).
She meets with reactions that run from sympathy to skepticism and hostility.
The authors ability to mix philosophy and fiction makes for compelling reading. The issues from which he draws from are not black and white. As the book unfolds Elizabeth Costello also has holes in her argument which gives the book a realistic feel to it.
|
|
|
|
|