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3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
challenging
funny
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
First 100 pages of rumination were tough. Ridiculous and entertaining story. Unpleasant narrator
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It’s impossible for a book to get more five star than this. I felt everything. I was there for everything. Life, huh. Damn. It’s like that. It’s funny and you be stupid and then you get saddened by a sudden click of reality.
funny
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is to my straight male theatre friends what American Psycho is to finance bros.
In 1977, Stephen King wrote "The Shining." In 1978, Iris Murdoch fixed it for him. This supernaturally-tinged deconstruction of an overblown male ego is not a non-stop thrillride, but a horror as steady and relentless as the incoming tide. I can't believe I made it as far as I did into a literature degree, and to this age, without ever hearing the name "Iris Murdoch." In fact, I think it's a crime.
Beautiful, immersive writing about one of the most insufferable guys you can imagine. Sedate to start with but gripping once it gets rolling. I enjoyed the meticulous descriptions of food, nature and domesticity by the sea. Looking forward to reading more Murdoch!
“I struggled to get into this book at first andafter wondering why I realised I didn't like the narrating character, Charles Arrowby. He's an actor who has only ever made the small time but he has a much higher opinion of himself than he necessarily deserves. Some aspects of his personality are things that I don't like in people in my own life. I found him arrogant, self centred and very presumptuous about the people around him.
When he retires to his house by the sea, he bumps into his childhood sweetheart, Hartley. At this point she has already been married to another man for many years. Because he has been carrying this torch for her all these years he assumes that she must feel the same way, and that she has the same feelings for him that she had when a girl. Wht comes across to me as a reader is that she seems postively frightened of him and he just doesn't see it. The violence of his "affections" comes across as agressive and it's almost like he bullies the words out of her.
It's only towards the end, after an unsuccessful attempt at breaking up Hartley's marriage, losing the friends that have been with him throughout this ordeal, and the death of his cousin that he starts to appear more human.
He realises that the supposed love he has felt for Hartley all these years is more of a memory of what used to be. A ghost feeling if you like, that no longer exists. The friends that have held him in adulation and the ex lovers that have been held in his thrall are no longer under his spell.You start to admire his growing humility.
A very interesting and quite intense character analysise and a voyage of self discovery. Just make sure if you attempt this book that you're in the right mind set for some heavy duty literature!”
When he retires to his house by the sea, he bumps into his childhood sweetheart, Hartley. At this point she has already been married to another man for many years. Because he has been carrying this torch for her all these years he assumes that she must feel the same way, and that she has the same feelings for him that she had when a girl. Wht comes across to me as a reader is that she seems postively frightened of him and he just doesn't see it. The violence of his "affections" comes across as agressive and it's almost like he bullies the words out of her.
It's only towards the end, after an unsuccessful attempt at breaking up Hartley's marriage, losing the friends that have been with him throughout this ordeal, and the death of his cousin that he starts to appear more human.
He realises that the supposed love he has felt for Hartley all these years is more of a memory of what used to be. A ghost feeling if you like, that no longer exists. The friends that have held him in adulation and the ex lovers that have been held in his thrall are no longer under his spell.You start to admire his growing humility.
A very interesting and quite intense character analysise and a voyage of self discovery. Just make sure if you attempt this book that you're in the right mind set for some heavy duty literature!”
challenging
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes