slow man

the second book i have read by nobel prize winner (literature) j m coetzee
this one based in adelaide with a lot of references to familiar places in that town
the title of the book would seem to refer to the physical condition of the central character
a man by the name of paul rayment struck by a car when riding his bike
the opening chapter vividly describes the accident and the subsequent leg amputation
so a major change in lifestyle is forced upon the leading character
he's not a young chap and is already dealing with some regrets in his life
particularly the conspiring of circumstances which sees him childless
so when he now finds himself without a right leg it seems it's all downhill from here
he is advised and agrees to take on a day nurse to attend to his injuries
a lady formerly from croatia then becomes his daily visitor and companion
the nature of his injuries requires that he submit to some close physical contact
at the same time she tells him more of her own life in an australian city
with a displaced technician husband forced to work in a car factory
and 3 children of croatian descent but adopting australian values
so for a man already sensing some emotional voids
he allows his emotions to run unchecked and falls in love with marijana
which naturally is not what she requires and so complications arise
about this time another woman arrives in his life from it seems nowhere
her name is elizabeth costello and the subject of another of j m coetzee's novels
she is an author and before long our amputee is on to her motives
he believes her arrival in his life is purely predatory as she seeks another character
another person she can observe, manipulate and document for a future novel
she is one very sharp lady both in observation and in verbalisation
from here we learn the real meaning of this book's title as she continuously berates her host
in her opinion he moves too slowly in decisions and action and nicknames him the tortoise
this as her reaction to the announcement that paul has sent a letter to his love (nurse)
a letter, another letter! what is this - a game of postal chess?
we will all die of boredom before we have a resolution
this is not the age of the epistolary novel paul - go and see her!
contront her! have a proper scene! stamp your foot! (i speak metaphorically)
which in many ways sums up the various themes encountered in this book
a man clinging to his past and tradition and grappling with his current circumstances
a woman very clear about how to deal with situations and pushing the man forward
and so a very general concept worked into a very specific situation
stepping back a little from the details and complexities of the relationships in this book
i found that the author had successfully discussed some very contemporary issues
certainly the issue of loneliness, ageing and regret is a constant in the book
the multi-cultural society also is a theme with the croatian family adapting to their new home
similarly there's a thread running through the book of inter-generational issues and problems
but most prevelant is the issue of differences in the male and female psyche
and in this case handled with respect, candour and good humour
which makes the book very readable
slow man
him
me
or
all
of
us
?