The Mookse and the Gripes discussion

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Iris Murdoch
Mookse Madness
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2019 Mookse Madness - Iris Murdoch
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Since I think I suggested adding The Unicorn to the list - I should say why - it is very different to most of Murdoch's novels and for me its atmosphere and setting were very distinctive. Many of the others are quite difficult to distinguish in retrospect. It is a very long time since I read The Bell, but The Black Prince and The Sea, the Sea are also among my favourites.


I was surprised how many times she used the word "humpy" to describe things . . . the hills, the waves, the shoreline. It has been a while since I read The Unicorn but that peculiarity is something I remember.


Me too, Marc - I read it last year, it was my first time reading Murdoch and I now I have high expectations for the others here. I'm not sure which I will read, at least one more before the tournament, possibly the Black Prince.

I don’t dislike the story, but it has not yet hooked me.


Big thanks to Trevor for setting this up early and also the theme of the 2019 MM. I have been meaning to get aound to some of these books (and some of these authors) for a long time.



I persevered, but I did not think the book recovered once it strayed from the gothic satire that seemed to be developing in the first couple of chapters. I don't think you'll miss much if you move on.

I thought it was poor - overall this is a novel which reminded me a little of a going on a lengthy car journey in a vintage car which exhibits clunky changes of gear, and with a driver who likes to share their observations of each stage of the journey.
I have written a review of the book - albeit given my comments above I have effectively let Iris Murdoch write the review for me
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Many of your criticisms are common to much of Murdoch's work - her characters are always subservient to the whims of her formal structures. I suspect that by the time I read this one I knew what to expect. It is now quite a while since I read it too...


In Praise of Iris Murdoch
Jen, I hope The Sea, The Sea hasn't set our expectations unreasonably high!

Books mentioned in this topic
A Fairly Honourable Defeat (other topics)The Good Apprentice (other topics)
The Bell (other topics)
The Sea, the Sea (other topics)
The Black Prince (other topics)
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These are the four books that have been selected.
The Bell
The Unicorn
The Black Prince
The Sea, The Sea