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.)