I have, of course, known about JM Coetzee's novels for quite some time (Disgrace is still waiting on my shelf), but even so I didn't really know what to expect from Youth.

This semi-autobiographical novel is written from the perspective of a young South African in the 1960s who moves to London after finishing his degree in Cape Town.

While being excellently written, I found the uncertainty and agonising of the main character somewhat frustrating to read; more so because the book is written as a first-person stream-of-consciousness. In all I found it rather reminiscent of JD Salinger's Catcher in the Rye, and frustrating for the same reasons (although even this frustration must attest to the quality of the writing).

I look forward to reading more of Coetzee's works.