"Get a Life" is the story of a white South African family going through several crises.The protagonist is a 35 years old man named Paul, is an ecologist in South Africa , battling against installation of a planned nuclear plant.He is detected with life-threatening thyroid cancer and undergoes treatment for it. He is prescribed a treatment that makes his body radioactive for a few days .He moves in with his parents to protect his wife and young son from radiation. His wife Benni is an executive in an advertisement agency , promoting development.Paul suddenly , in his fragile state, realises the contradiction in values between his work as a conservationist and the work of his wife in the advertising agency for the firms that would degrade and pollute the very environment that he fights to protect. After this life threatening experience, neither Paul , nor his relationship with Benni is the same as before.There is some gap in the intimacy.
Paul's experience not only changes his own life , but also the lives of people around him.
The novel describes the realisation of a changing relationship between the parents of Paul , Adrian and Lyndsay, perhaps due to the traumatic experience of Paul , vicariously experienced .The mother( Lyndsay ) is a competent lawyer and the father Adrian who earlier chucked his own career as an archaeologist to promote Lindsay's as a lawyer, now drift apart .Ultimately , Lindsay becomes a judge but their life and relationship undergoes a sea change.
Paul survives the cancer and thus gets a new but different life .The title" get a life" has a dual meaning.The first is encouraging to do some thing in your life.The second is to understand your life .The first is easier to accomplish, the second is almost impossible.
The novel is quite dark and can dampen the spirits beneath the bluest skies.The author explores the darker regions of human nature , which most people experience in their worst moments.This book , though thought provoking and by a Nobel Prize winner writer, should not be read by those who want to read something light and cheerful.
Paul's experience not only changes his own life , but also the lives of people around him.
The novel describes the realisation of a changing relationship between the parents of Paul , Adrian and Lyndsay, perhaps due to the traumatic experience of Paul , vicariously experienced .The mother( Lyndsay ) is a competent lawyer and the father Adrian who earlier chucked his own career as an archaeologist to promote Lindsay's as a lawyer, now drift apart .Ultimately , Lindsay becomes a judge but their life and relationship undergoes a sea change.
Paul survives the cancer and thus gets a new but different life .The title" get a life" has a dual meaning.The first is encouraging to do some thing in your life.The second is to understand your life .The first is easier to accomplish, the second is almost impossible.
The novel is quite dark and can dampen the spirits beneath the bluest skies.The author explores the darker regions of human nature , which most people experience in their worst moments.This book , though thought provoking and by a Nobel Prize winner writer, should not be read by those who want to read something light and cheerful.
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