Coetzee's "Youth"

Just started it this morning (even though I've still got a ways to go before finishing Sentimental Education). A reward for finishing up the school year in one piece.

Notables thus far:

1.) The Goethe epigraph:

Wer den Dichter will verstehen
muss in Dichters Lande gehen.

2.) The flame/fire metaphor which also stood out in Summertime (here applied to the artist not the educator).

3.) His mandate to read Pound's Cantos (maybe I'll move them to a "more pressing" mental notepad); his (and Pound's) advice to keep reading Flaubert. (Not sure Coetzee would still give the same advice as his youthful and autobiographical double.)

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