The Bell, by Iris Murdoch

[evrythgcnhapn]

copyright 1973
edition i read: Vintage Classics (Random House) published 1999
# pages: 316
source: inter-library loan

Comments

[super_me]

Interesting. This sounds a bit reminiscent of "The Nice and the Good," which I have read; perhaps the character-driven thing is Murdoch's signature. While I recognized good writing, I felt myself kind of lost a bit and didn't really enjoy reading the book. I think it'll be interesting to see what happens as authors begin to get reviewed multiple times for having multiple books on the list, because judging from what you've said it sounds like we can kind of peg Murdoch. It does, however, sound like this book might be a bit more...controversial maybe? Might that translate into interesting?

Anyway I've rambled on too long. I'll close by saying that, even though this review isn't very long, it's helpful and seems to encapsulate the general feeling of the book.

[crinklebat]

Yeah, I've been hearing that "nothing happens" in Iris Murdoch's novels for years. Definitely she was the prime example of a character-driven writer that was conveyed to me when I asked knowledgeable adults about such books when I was young.

[evrythgcnhapn]

oh good, i'm glad it was still helpful:) Maybe as i read more books for this (have to remember to sign up again), i'll get better at longer reviews:)

i too will be interested in seeing more reviews of Murdoch. I *did* like this and find it interesting, it was jsut very slow... Good writing like you said, just sometimes a little mind numbing:P