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 Iris Murdoch.
These are the four books that have been selected.

The Bell
The Unicorn
The Black Prince
The Sea, The Sea

I have read all four of these now, but one was a long time ago, so I intend to read it again. The only one I did not love was The Unicorn.

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.

That is a valid reason for including it Hugh.

This is the writer I am most curious about. I haven’t read anything by Murdoch.

I am reading The Unicorn, slowly because life keeps interfering, and while I like it, but I don’t love Murdoch’s writing Her style is the brown leather brogues of prose.

WndyJW wrote: "I am reading The Unicorn, slowly because life keeps interfering, and while I like it, but I don’t love Murdoch’s writing Her style is the brown leather brogues of prose."

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.

I read The Sea, The Sea for the first time last year having never read or known anything about Murdoch and I thought it was wonderful--funny, layered, and well-written with a rather memorable protagonist.

Marc wrote: "I read The Sea, The Sea for the first time last year having never read or known anything about Murdoch and I thought it was wonderful--funny, layered, and well-written with a rather memorable prota..."

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.

In the interest of reading as many books as possible on the list I am putting The Unicorn aside for now and will come back to it after I’ve read the others.
I don’t dislike the story, but it has not yet hooked me.

I was not hooked by The Unicorn so I picked up The Bell, actually I brought an Atwood, Trevor, Lessing, Sparks, and The Unicorn to work to see which grabbed me. The Bell won out. At pg 14 I've settled on this for my next MM book.

I liked The Bell and I think we have similar tastes, WndyJW, so I might leave The Unicorn.

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.

Yesterday, while Hugh read three MM19 books, I watched an old 1980-2 game show, Blockbusters. Among the 3 contestants and me, none of us could answer the question with the hint "IM". Can't remember the question. Something about Prolific? Philosopher? Irish writer?

Reading The Unicorn - my first Murdoch - and struggling with it. Still debating whether to continue or make it my second DNF of the year. Currently I would say she is good on this book at describing pets and philosophy but not people. I have The Sea, The Sea lined up for next year and expect more from that.

Gumble's Yard wrote: "Reading The Unicorn - my first Murdoch - and struggling with it. Still debating whether to continue or make it my second DNF of the year. Currently I would say she is good on this book at describin..."

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.

Well I did persevere and have now finished the book

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...

That’s a great summary Hugh.

I’m not finding myself eager to get back to The Bell either. If I wasn’t feeling pressed to read many more books for the tournament and others I wouldn’t mind. I was enjoying it well enough, but not enough to stick with it right now. Maybe Iris Murdoch just isn’t for me.

Recent NY Times piece possibly of interest:
In Praise of Iris Murdoch

Jen, I hope The Sea, The Sea hasn't set our expectations unreasonably high!

I've tended to enjoy Murdoch's middle-to-late career novels more than the earlier ones. Say, from A Fairly Honourable Defeat in 1970 through The Good Apprentice in 1985. These tend to be longer (I've heard them described as "baggier"), but to me allow some of the characters and situations to breathe more and be less subservient to her formal structures, as Hugh aptly put it. And, to me, they're a lot more fun. Of the three I've read (haven't gotten to The Unicorn), The Bell in particular seems a bit trapped in its time. I'd put The Sea, the Sea and The Black Prince about even to me in terms of where I'd put my vote.