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3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
I really enjoyed this book, I distrusted the main character and narrator of this novel, written in the style of a memoir. Immediately I found him to be an unreliable and egotistic, which makes for a fascinating read. This book involves death, insanity and possessiveness masquerading as love. The book was long and my hold lapsed when I was about halfway through, though I was able to pick it back up rather easily. Though most of the book is rooted in a reality, there are delusions which feel like a comic farce. This was the first book I’ve read by this author and I look forward to reading more.
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Great bedtime reading material…which makes it bad for book club reading I think. But super hilarious at parts.
A truly marvellous read. Murdoch’s vast vocabulary and humorous prose dazzles in this book.
dark
funny
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The novel starts off at a slow pace. Charles Arrowby has given up a career in theatre and moved to a house by the sea. The novel is his "memoir-novel", the narrator himself is not sure what the writing is. We get to know Charles' habits and bits and pieces from his past, notably Hartley, the first woman he loved and loves still.
The plot picks up when Charles realises that Hartley lives in the village near his house. He sets about trying to win her back.
I thought this slow build and then sudden start of the plot worked very well. There was a slow buildup which was then rewarded with the appearance of Hartley. After that, however, the plot was a bit all over the place. Characters turned up at the house and stayed to cause chaos. The later revelations seemed to make less sense as the novel went on. Charles' writing itself also gets less coherent towards the end. This last is, I think, done purposefully to show his state of mind, but I could have done without some of the weirder plot points. Some of them were just bizzare and pulled me out of the story.
The writing is excellent throughout and Charles is an interesting character. Apart from the plot problems I also thought the novel was too long.
The plot picks up when Charles realises that Hartley lives in the village near his house. He sets about trying to win her back.
I thought this slow build and then sudden start of the plot worked very well. There was a slow buildup which was then rewarded with the appearance of Hartley. After that, however, the plot was a bit all over the place. Characters turned up at the house and stayed to cause chaos. The later revelations seemed to make less sense as the novel went on. Charles' writing itself also gets less coherent towards the end. This last is, I think, done purposefully to show his state of mind, but I could have done without some of the weirder plot points. Some of them were just bizzare and pulled me out of the story.
The writing is excellent throughout and Charles is an interesting character. Apart from the plot problems I also thought the novel was too long.
Savored every bit of meandering, unsatisfactory explanation, loose end - such as life so often asks of you.
Murdoch is a master of contradictions, the reality and the unreality. She can show you what a character is thinking or feeling, and how they may act in direct opposition to that. It gives such a deep understanding of very human complexities.
This shows up most to me in the plots (Sea, Unicorn, Black Prince) that include one character believing they can and even ought to rescue another from the circumstances of their life. That despite the resignation or resistance, all it takes is a few calculated steps from someone who believes they know best to undo a lifetime.
Murdoch is a master of contradictions, the reality and the unreality. She can show you what a character is thinking or feeling, and how they may act in direct opposition to that. It gives such a deep understanding of very human complexities.
This shows up most to me in the plots (Sea, Unicorn, Black Prince) that include one character believing they can and even ought to rescue another from the circumstances of their life. That despite the resignation or resistance, all it takes is a few calculated steps from someone who believes they know best to undo a lifetime.
This book wants to be psychological so badly but the psychology is all so artificial and the plot is sooo annoying. I liked it until halfway through and then the plot got too ridiculous for me. It did creep me out at points, to the extent where I was unhappy I was home alone at night. But for the most part I just couldn't believe how ridiculous everything that was happening was.
oh to be so charming someone who knows i am never capable to love them is ready to be my housewife, cooking and cleaning, just to be in my presence... (arrowby core)
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
relaxing
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
iris murdoch’un daha önceki kitaplarında gördüğüm ve sevdiğim ironi dozu yüksek trajediyi bu kitapta pek fazla göremedim, hatta bir ara kısaca göz attığım yemek tariflerine tekrar dönüp daha dikkatli okumayı düşündüğüm bile oldu: acaba o ana yemeğin yanına yakışan şeyin haşlanmış soğan olduğunu söylerken ironi mi yapıyordu? yorumları okuyunca fark ettim o incelikli ironiyi: yaş kemale erince dinginleşmeyi uman ve hiçbir şekilde kemale erme emaresi göstermeyen ihtiyarın hayatının hiç planlamadığı halde sirke dönmesi ironisi, başta çizdiği otoportresinden fersah fersah uzakta oluşu. hay allah ya, sanırım olayların gidişatı romanın baş kısmındaki uzun uzadıya betimlemeleri unutturmuş ve ben hâlâ öküz altında buzağı aramışım. hâlâ bir şeyler eksik kaldı, sanırım ne olursa olsun bir şaşırtmaca bekliyordum sonunda. şaşırtmaca yaptığı şey, iyi anlamda sürprizin olmaması oldu galiba.
sanırım zamanı gelmemiş kitabın benim için, birkaç sene sonra tekrar okuyup yorumlayabilirim inşallah, yahut
sanırım zamanı gelmemiş kitabın benim için, birkaç sene sonra tekrar okuyup yorumlayabilirim inşallah, yahut