Books on GIF turns 9; 'She poured out a little whisky and sipped it. She felt an instant of false comfort. The whisky did not know of her troubles.'—Review #256
A Fairly Honourable Defeat has been sitting on my bookshelf for about a year now…this is my push to finally get to it! Have you read The Bell? That was my first Iris Murdoch and loved it.
Thanks, Grace! I hope you enjoy Defeat. I LOVED The Bell. Read/reviewed it a few years ago. It was the second of her books that I read. I started with The Sea, the Sea, which is also incredible. If you haven't read it, check it out, too!
I have never read Iris Murdoch, so I need to remedy that, maybe over the summer. I’ll have to decide where to start. Excellent review! Off to complete your survey. Hi to Donna!
¡Nine years! Congratulations, you two! Also, finishing up my first Annie Ernaux and now think I need to switch to Iris. Feels linked. Joyeux anniversaire!
I love Murdoch and I loved this book when I read it last year. But, as always with Murdoch, there is an underpinning philosophical framework that I'm only slightly tuning into. So I found this review https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/books/98/12/20/specials/murdoch-defeat.html from 1970 really helpful. I was quite intrigued by the charismatic 'evil' Julius and the shambolic 'good' Tallis. So interesting that Tallis, who in his life is otherwise 'weak', is the only one who knows how to respond decisively to a racist jerk in a restaurant. His otherwise dithering personality hides his moral clarity.
I also enjoyed Leonard Browne's long, hilarious diatribe about sex (which opens chapter 5) which culminates in Hilda saying, 'Is Tallis at home?' So funny.
Thanks, Tash! Tallis is a fascinating character, and that scene really stood out. I didn't want to get too spoilery in the newsletter so I kept it out, but it was fascinating how Tallis intervened and Simon tried to step in, too. Both were the 'weaker' characters compared to Julius and Axel. I thought it highlighted that how bullies are often cowards who can be backed down by people who mean business. It's interesting that Tallis knows what the right thing to do is in the moment and acts decisively to help others--he's always involved in a committee or something to lend a helping hand--but he cannot do the same thing for himself. You're right, he and Julius are like yin and yang. And I also loved Leonard, and I remember that chapter where he's just careening through that monologue to Hilda. Murdoch is wonderful! I have to read all her books!
Happy nine years to the man that almost single handedly created the greatest book stack friend group of all time. Thanks for welcoming all the newbies and just for being you !
Oh, what a great review! And, I finally finished it too 😂😎 I definitely was on the edge of my seat as you said and I was shocked at the ending, I wasn't expecting something so drastic to happen. I giggled throughout the whole thing, because the characters are somehow so funny in their own messy ways and Julius is manipulative and so self absorbed but also...ICONIC?! 🥂😂
Great book indeed and I'm glad you loved it, too 😎
Thanks, Nicole! Yes, I should have mentioned more about the awkward humor throughout the book. I love how Murdoch uses humor and absurd situations to make extremely serious points. I can't wait to read more of her work!
Sounds fascinating! Thanks for the review, and happy anniversary!
Thanks, Gina!!
my only suggestion is a bookshelf/nighstand books tour in a future BOG issue! I love to see what you guys have collected over the years.
Thanks, Jam! That's a great idea. I'll try to figure out how best to do that!
A Fairly Honourable Defeat has been sitting on my bookshelf for about a year now…this is my push to finally get to it! Have you read The Bell? That was my first Iris Murdoch and loved it.
Thanks, Grace! I hope you enjoy Defeat. I LOVED The Bell. Read/reviewed it a few years ago. It was the second of her books that I read. I started with The Sea, the Sea, which is also incredible. If you haven't read it, check it out, too!
I have never read Iris Murdoch, so I need to remedy that, maybe over the summer. I’ll have to decide where to start. Excellent review! Off to complete your survey. Hi to Donna!
Thanks, Kate! I think you would really enjoy Murdoch's work! Hope you enjoyed the beautiful day today!
¡Nine years! Congratulations, you two! Also, finishing up my first Annie Ernaux and now think I need to switch to Iris. Feels linked. Joyeux anniversaire!
Thank you, my friend. I need to read Ernaux. I hope you give Murdoch a try. I think you would like it!
I love Murdoch and I loved this book when I read it last year. But, as always with Murdoch, there is an underpinning philosophical framework that I'm only slightly tuning into. So I found this review https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/books/98/12/20/specials/murdoch-defeat.html from 1970 really helpful. I was quite intrigued by the charismatic 'evil' Julius and the shambolic 'good' Tallis. So interesting that Tallis, who in his life is otherwise 'weak', is the only one who knows how to respond decisively to a racist jerk in a restaurant. His otherwise dithering personality hides his moral clarity.
I also enjoyed Leonard Browne's long, hilarious diatribe about sex (which opens chapter 5) which culminates in Hilda saying, 'Is Tallis at home?' So funny.
Thanks, Tash! Tallis is a fascinating character, and that scene really stood out. I didn't want to get too spoilery in the newsletter so I kept it out, but it was fascinating how Tallis intervened and Simon tried to step in, too. Both were the 'weaker' characters compared to Julius and Axel. I thought it highlighted that how bullies are often cowards who can be backed down by people who mean business. It's interesting that Tallis knows what the right thing to do is in the moment and acts decisively to help others--he's always involved in a committee or something to lend a helping hand--but he cannot do the same thing for himself. You're right, he and Julius are like yin and yang. And I also loved Leonard, and I remember that chapter where he's just careening through that monologue to Hilda. Murdoch is wonderful! I have to read all her books!
Happy nine years to the man that almost single handedly created the greatest book stack friend group of all time. Thanks for welcoming all the newbies and just for being you !
Ha! Thanks, friend! I gotta get back to work on that!
HBD BOG!!! :)
Thanks, Eve!!
Oh no! Not another book I'll have to add to my list! You've done it again, dang it.
Ha ha! Sorry, not sorry!
Another book for the already enormous TBR! Great review.
Thanks so much!
Oh, what a great review! And, I finally finished it too 😂😎 I definitely was on the edge of my seat as you said and I was shocked at the ending, I wasn't expecting something so drastic to happen. I giggled throughout the whole thing, because the characters are somehow so funny in their own messy ways and Julius is manipulative and so self absorbed but also...ICONIC?! 🥂😂
Great book indeed and I'm glad you loved it, too 😎
Thanks, Nicole! Yes, I should have mentioned more about the awkward humor throughout the book. I love how Murdoch uses humor and absurd situations to make extremely serious points. I can't wait to read more of her work!