| An old lady is told that she has cancer, it has affected her bones. She has got a daughter who is now living in the United States, far from South Africa, where she was born and where her mother is living now. The story is developed when Apartheid regime is taking place. The very same day the old woman gets to know about her illness and has a feeling of deep loneliness, she meets a black man, homeless, who has found a place to sleep in her property.
A close relationship starts between them. They are no friends, no lovers but they spend together those difficult personal and historical times. Through his fine and delicate narrative, Coetzee deals with the violence that takes place in South Africa during these times and with its impact on human beings. | ||
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Plot & Themes Tone of book? - depressed Time/era of story - 1980's-1999 Political/social activism Yes Plotlet: Ethnic/Regional/Religion Struggle over Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book Ethnic/regional/gender life Yes Pearls of wisdom from homeless? Yes Main Character Gender - Female Profession/status: Age: - long lived adults Ethnicity/Nationality Main Adversary Identity: - society How sensitive is this character? Setting How much descriptions of surroundings? - 7 () Africa Yes Kind of Africa: - Black Africa Writing Style Amount of dialog - significantly more descript than dialog |
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