Helpful Score: 4
What a strange, strange book. In many ways, it was QUITE ridiculous, with the characters (the narrator especially) acting completely unbelievably. But, I suppose it was really the fact that of the seven people in the cast, all of them were sleeping around with the same few people, that made it rather unbelievable. I was quite surprised at the happy ending. It seemed more like a play than a novel, and I'm not quite sure what all the fuss about Iris Murdoch is. The only thing I can think of is that it was a surprisingly fast read and with the sex-crazy plot, a very modern novel for 1961 it seems.
Helpful Score: 2
Iris Murdoch is a more formal, polite Oscar Wilde. As such, her tone and humor are more subtle, but definitely still present. In this short novel, she tells the story of love gone awry. All over the place. In every way, in every manner, poor Martin Lynch-Gibbon has his life torn apart all for love. Of course, in my opinion, he somewhat brings this on himself. There are several particularly funny scenes, one in which he toasts his wife's engagement.
Highly recommended for those who love formal, cerebral humor. And if you enjoy this one, I suggest "The Sea, The Sea," which is Murdoch's best novel, in my opinion.
Highly recommended for those who love formal, cerebral humor. And if you enjoy this one, I suggest "The Sea, The Sea," which is Murdoch's best novel, in my opinion.
