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| Plot Summary of Life and Times of Michael K |
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"When Michael K's mother dies during a journey back to her home he finds himself in an alien world, a black man in a part of South Africa patrolled by the army. When he is imprisoned anything seems better and he escapes back into the violence around him. This is a moving story that cries out against the sadness of a system in place where neither white nor black can emerge the winner. "
Penny , Resident Scholar
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"The story of Michael K is set in South Africa during the 70s when civil war is taking place. At first the reader could think that this is a book about racial conflicts but it goes beyond that, it is a story of a man who has been brought up as an outcast, someone who has no place in the turbulent society of those times. Michael has a hare lip and he is also a bit slow.
The story begins when he is 31 years old and he has to help his mother who is seriously ill. As her dream is to go back to the place where she spent her best moments of her life, Michael decides to make this come true. He builds a cart to take her there and leave the place where they are living. It will not be easy because they need permits to move there, permits they are not able to get.
Anna K, his mother, dies along the way. Michael does not want to resign. He wants to get there on his own and to get his mother's ashes there. "
Marta Garay, Resident Scholar
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| Review Analysis of Life and Times of Michael K |
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Our unique search engine provides a wealth of detail about books by breaking them down into many different literary elements, all of which are searchable (click here).
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Tone of book?
- thoughtful
Time/era of story
- 1960's-1970's
Political/social activism
Yes
Plotlet:
- minorities fighting for rights
Inside culture (main char)
- Black
Family, caring for ill
Yes
Who is sick?
- Mother
Culture clash?
- Being oppressed by outside culture
Is this an adult or child's book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Outside culture (society)
- South African
Ethnic/regional/gender life
Yes
Main Character
Gender
- Male
Profession/status:
- unemployed
- blue collar
Age:
- 20's-30's
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events?
Yes
Ethnicity/Nationality
- Black
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Dumb
Physique
- physically sick
Main Adversary
Identity:
- society
Age:
- 40's-50's
Profession/status:
- police/lawman
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- an average amount
How sensitive is this character?
- mean, arrogant
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
Physique
- average physique
Setting
How much descriptions of surroundings?
- 2 (a little)
Africa
Yes
Kind of Africa:
- Black Africa
Misc setting
- fort/military installation
Style
Person
- mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death?
- generic/vague references to death/punishment
- moderately detailed references to deaths
Amount of dialog
- roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
- significantly more descript than dialog
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
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