Book Review: Slow Man

Slow Man by J.M. Coetzee

Coetzee is a really wonderful writer and every line reveals as much. He puts his protagonist in a situation that is bound to bring him trouble. Unfortunately, he does meet trouble as does the novel when Elizabeth Costello arrives. What was a bit depressing and contemplative turns at first intriguing then annoying. Costello has the ability to know things that she shouldn't, but very little is given to examining the cause of this, let alone the necessity. She fiddles around, pushing a course of action that neither the protagonist nor I want the whole thing to go. Again, it seems that a novelist has run into trouble and has thrown in some other complication to hopefully enliven the book. I'd have been happier if Coatzee had confined her to her own novel.