The Mookse and the Gripes discussion

This topic has been created for those of you who are reading any of the Mookse Madness books by Doris Lessing.
These are the four books that have been selected.

The Grass is Singing
The Golden Notebook
The Good Terrorist
The Fifth Child

This is the writer I am the least interested in. I read The Cleft a long time ago and don’t remember anything about it. Though reading the link now it seems I should.

I read The Golden Notebook so long ago I can't much about it, but I won't be revisiting it in light of all the other books I'd like to read. The Fifth Child is a super fast and creepy read and I highly recommend it for anyone who that appeals to. It bore no resemblance to my recollection of The Golden Notebook. I'll probably aim to read The Grass is Singing from the remaining two.

Jen wrote: "I read The Golden Notebook so long ago I can't much about it, but I won't be revisiting it in light of all the other books I'd like to read. The Fifth Child is a super fast and creepy read and I hi..."

I encountered Doris Lessing's writings in the short story let them call it jazz (please coreect me if I am wrong) and then I read The Golden Notebook and never did I feel so ashamed of my gender.

Doris Lessing is an interesting writer, and all of these four books represent very different areas of her writing. The Cleft is not really representative and was written very late in her long life. I will find it hard not to vote for The Golden Notebook, which was not an easy read but is by far her most ambitious work.

Hugh and Robert, did you enjoy The Golden Notebook? I’m never sure how to vote in contests like this, are we voting for which we thought was the best or which one we most enjoyed?

Of this list The Grass is Singing and The Fifth Child most interest me. I have The Golden Notebook so I will give it a good chance.

I’m not sure if this is helpful, but vote for the one you want to win! This should be incredibly subjective, to the point you can vote for “best” or “most enjoyed” or however you determine what one you think should win. Or lose, for that matter. Vote against the one you want to lose.

WndyJW wrote: "Hugh and Robert, did you enjoy The Golden Notebook? I’m never sure how to vote in contests like this, are we voting for which we thought was the best or which one we most enjoyed?

Of this list The..."

I did not like it but I read it when I was in my early 20's (I'll be 40 in 10 days time) I'm sure that things would change if I reread it.

Jen wrote: "The Fifth Child is a super fast and creepy read and I hi..."

Super fast and creepy sounds perfect!

Agreed, Ang.

Thanks, Trevor, that does help.

WndyJW wrote: "Hugh and Robert, did you enjoy The Golden Notebook? I’m never sure how to vote in contests like this, are we voting for which we thought was the best or which one we most enjoyed?

Of this list The..."
Yes, I did enjoy large parts of it. I would have to read it again to say why with any coherence though.

That you recall enjoying it answers my question. I won’t ask you to prove it. 🙂
I consider The Tree Of Man the best book I’ve read, but it’s not my favorite. It’s one of my favorites, but not my favorite. I think most of us feel that we can recognize the merit or value of books that we didn’t necessarily enjoy reading. I wondered if that was how you and Robert felt about The Golden Notebook.

Loving The Fifth Child and wish I had time to read it in one sitting! I hope Lessing is a major contender when we start the madness.

The Fifth Child also has a sequel Ben, In The World which is worth reading too.

I really should try to read all of these books. I am inclined not to like Lessing, but for no reason I can put my finger on. I must have read something years ago that put me off her, but I don’t recall any specific thing.
I need to read her with an open mind and will.

They're all good, but for me The Good Terrorist is the pick of the litter.

Hugh wrote: "The Fifth Child also has a sequel Ben, In The World which is worth reading too."

Having finished The Fifth Child, I do want to read Ben, In the world. That poor kid. I am not sure whether he really is a freak of nature or if he was damaged by all the drugs his mother secretly took during pregnancy. I did feel sorry for her too though. I had to think quite hard throughout about who is who. Everyone was called by their Christian names and most of the kids had very grown up names so not easy to distinguish. Maybe instead of names for the grandparents and their spouses, she could have used "David's father, David's stepmother, etc. But somehow Dorothy (Harriet's mother) always came across pretty easily as who she was.

Hugh wrote: "The Fifth Child also has a sequel Ben, In The World which is worth reading too."

I had no idea! I loved The Fifth Child and will check this out - thank you.

WndyJW wrote: "I really should try to read all of these books. I am inclined not to like Lessing, but for no reason I can put my finger on. I must have read something years ago that put me off her, but I don’t re..."

She could be a bit grumpy. I have liked everything I have read by her so far and one thing I especially appreciate is that they are all so different - she cannot be pigeonholed.

I loved The Fifth Child but thought Ben, In The World was terrible. All the nuances of the first novel were replaced with heavy handed and clunky characterisation.

I like curmudgeons, Ang, so I will try to read at least 3 of hers.

I think I am going to make Doris Lessing the first woman on the list that I have read all 4 of the books. Of the men, McEwan and Moore are already there. I just finished The Grass is Singing and it reminded me of how much I adore her writing. I expect that The Golden Notebook will be my choice, but will decide after I've read The Good Terrorist (excited by Dorian's comment above that it is the pick of the litter).

Ang wrote: "I think I am going to make Doris Lessing the first woman on the list that I have read all 4 of the books. Of the men, McEwan and Moore are already there. I just finished The Grass is Singing and it..."

Doris Lessing is the surprise of the tournament for me. I had read none of her books previously. I intentionally had avoided The Golden Notebook when young since it seemed heralded more as a feminist rather than literary classic, yet the book excels from both perspectives having now read it. Her writing has a universality and aged very well. I really think you have to pause a second and realize that The Grass is Singing is from 1950.

Just a quick note that Lessing, Murdoch, Spark, and Fitzgerald were only just three years apart in age. It is worth comparing their paths to success.

I have to say that for me, The Good Terrorist is the weakest of the four, but they all have different strengths and styles. If this debate has whetted your appetite for more, Briefing for a Descent Into Hell is a very strange and interesting book. I have yet to read any of her sci-fi...

Just finished my first by Lessing, The Fifth Child. I loved it. I can't decide who is the monster. (view spoiler)[Ben, a definite sociopath? Harriet for destroying her family by saving Ben? Or, David who wants to be rid of Ben at any cost? (hide spoiler)] It is a quick read at only 150 pages but it packs in a lot of ethical questions.