What this book truly requires is an abundance of orcs. In fact, any orcs would suffice, but ideally a vast horde of snarling, rampaging, and utterly destruction-obsessed orcs. Failing that, zombies could also do the job. Or perhaps we could arm the characters with swords and thrust them into the gladiator arena. Frankly speaking, they need something of that nature. A post-apocalyptic world to jolt them out of their fairyland and present them with something truly serious to fret about. Because I have never encountered such a sniveling, whiny, and self-absorbed group of morons who so desperately need to simply get over themselves.

Here is the plot, such as it is. Matriarch Lydia has just passed away, and son Edmund returns to the family home where his brother Otto, his wife Isabel, along with Otto's apprentice and his sister, and the resident nanny-turned-housekeeper, the eponymous Italian girl, all reside. The story then unfolds with one melodramatic revelation after another, accompanied by a great deal of shouting, gesturing, grand speech-making, falling down, weeping and wailing, and running about in the rain. There isn't a single one of them who seems to possess an ounce of common sense or any understanding of just how fortunate they are not to be laboring in a factory or down the mines.

OK, OK, so I don't understand it. I probably lack the appropriate receptors in my brain to grasp the essence of a book like this. No doubt there are complex nuances of language, literature, philosophy, or metaphor that simply sailed right over my head. I'm missing the point, and I accept that. But it was short, and I completed it, so I awarded it two stars. In the future, I shall leave Iris Murdoch to those who are better equipped to appreciate the qualities of her writing.

The book in question is said to uncover some truly dark family secrets.

These secrets are of a nature that is both shocking and disturbing.

In fact, the secret that is disclosed is that everyone within the family has engaged in sexual relations with one another.

This is an extremely dark and immoral revelation, one that is likely to leave readers with a sense of unease.

However, despite the rather lurid and disturbing nature of the content, it must be noted that the book is beautifully written.

The author has a way with words that draws the reader in and keeps them engaged from start to finish.

Even as we are confronted with the sordid details of the family's secrets, we cannot help but be impressed by the author's skill in presenting the story.

Overall, this book is a complex and thought-provoking read that will leave a lasting impression on those who dare to pick it up.

One of my all-time favourites is a particular book that has had a profound impact on me.

It is a captivating story that takes me on a journey through different worlds and emotions.

The characters are so well-developed that I feel as if I know them personally.

The author's writing style is engaging and descriptive, making it easy for me to immerse myself in the narrative.

Every time I pick up this book, I am transported to a different place and time.

It has become a source of inspiration and comfort for me, and I find myself coming back to it again and again.

Whether I am feeling happy or sad, this book always manages to touch my heart and make me feel something.

It is truly one of my most cherished possessions, and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a great read.

She is able to express in words those emotions and feelings that we human beings often experience but struggle to put into words.

Although I can appreciate the honesty and authenticity of her observations and writing style, I have to admit that I found the plot of this particular book to be overly complicated.

It was not only very unpleasant but also quite distasteful. The convoluted nature of the story made it difficult for me to engage with and enjoy.

As a result, this book ranks among my least favorite works of hers. I have always had a certain level of respect for her writing, but this one just didn't hit the mark for me.

Perhaps it was a case of personal preference, but I couldn't help but feel disappointed with the overall experience.

Nonetheless, I will continue to explore her other works in the hope of finding something that truly resonates with me.

My first encounter with an Iris Murdoch book was truly a remarkable experience.

From the very first page, I was completely captivated by her exquisite writing style. She has this unique ability to transport the reader into the heart of the story, making it impossible not to get lost within its pages.

For some reason, I had always been hesitant to explore her works. I had this preconceived notion that her writing would be overly cerebral and would quickly bore me. However, after reading this particular book, I realize how wrong I was.

If this is any indication of the quality of her other works, I will most definitely be delving deeper into her literary universe.

Despite being only 160 pages long, this book can easily be devoured in a single day. It is a testament to Murdoch's skill as a writer that she can pack so much depth and emotion into such a concise narrative.

I can't wait to see what other literary treasures await me as I continue my journey through Iris Murdoch's books.

This is a truly dark and captivating tale.

The story begins with the controlling mother's passing, which leads to the family's gradual disintegration. Edmund, the central character, makes his way back to his childhood home for the funeral.

Upon his return, he discovers that his brother and other family members are leading complex lives. As secrets start to unfold before Edmund's eyes, he attempts to offer help.

However, he simultaneously wishes he could simply leave and avoid getting too deeply involved. But as he delves further, the problems only become more convoluted, resulting in some rather comic scenes and unexpected revelations.

This was a relatively quick read for me, and it was my first encounter with Murdoch's work. I must say, I found it extremely well-written and it held my attention right until the very end.

The way the story weaves together the elements of family drama, mystery, and even a touch of humor is truly remarkable.

It makes one reflect on the complex nature of family relationships and how easily they can be disrupted by hidden secrets and unresolved issues.

Overall, it was a thoroughly engaging and thought-provoking read that I would highly recommend.

Last week, having nothing to do, I went to the Salvation Army charity shop. I wanted to get something. It's not that I don't have a subscription to the public library in Andover or that I lack unreadable books that travel from Greece or I have come to England. While browsing, I came across this small book. I returned by bus and my chatty neighbor who boarded with me asked, "Well, what did you buy?" After I showed her and the rest of my small treasures, she exclaimed, "An old Penguin and Murdoch! You're lucky!" The truth is that I wanted to read Murdoch some years ago when I was vacationing at the summer house of a former lover and was curious about "The Sea, The Sea!" but I wasn't so sure. This Murdoch, I thought, wrote too much English for my taste and I wouldn't like it. Well, since last night, when I started the pages of the book with some preconceptions - oh, it will be difficult, oh, it will have difficult English, oh, I'm tired - it has achieved the impossible. The English flows smoothly. The sentences are not long but lead the reader slowly without a trace of elitism to the next sentence and the next thought. As I read, I forgot that a woman writer wrote it and I still believe now that it was written by a man. However, fortunately for me, I recognize the country. It is the country where I work and the people who live here. Who would have told me that the expression "too English for my taste" might not alienate me so much. The book is not one of Murdoch's most important, but as long as I can correctly distinguish as a reader, Murdoch sets up a game of dominoes. Dominoes is a theoretically easy game, but I remember when I used to play before, not all games are simple. Using a plot, it unfolds through such simple images, dialogues, and enchanting landscapes and houses, the portraits of the hidden lives of the members of a family. Almost surgically, it makes them all ask questions about their existence, their desires, their passions, and their mistakes. They all reveal themselves except for the solemn Girl from Italy who simply does what she has always done: obeys and takes care and becomes part of the house but mainly a faithful and silent helper of the mother who left and is still piecing together the lives of the members of a family who patiently wait to be healed and/or redeemed. As for me, the reader, I want to let the book melt in my mind like a beautiful and precise chocolate melts in the mouth and leaves that closing of the eyes and the caress of the tongue at the moment of ecstasy. ♥️

The extreme beauty of the scene put me into an instant trance.

It was always a trick of my nature to be subject to these sudden enchantments of the visible world. When a particular scene would become so radiant with form and reality, it would snatch me out of myself and make me oblivious to all my purposes. Beauty is such self-forgetting.

Enchantment too for me in prose such as this. How good it is to discover Iris Murdoch again. Her words have the power to transport me to another realm, to make me see the world in a new light.

As I read her prose, I am filled with a sense of wonder and awe. The way she describes the beauty of the world, the emotions of her characters, it all seems so real and vivid.

It is as if I am standing right there, experiencing everything along with them. Iris Murdoch's prose is a true work of art, and I feel privileged to have discovered it.

Not much of anything really stands out in this book.

If you've had even the slightest encounter with death, you've already reached the deepest levels that this book attempts to explore. Let's not mistake Edmund's slow acquisition of knowledge about his family members' lifestyles and personalities for true depth. While this is the most realistic aspect of the book, Edmund no longer knows his family as he did when he was younger. He has a preconceived image in his mind of who they are and what they do. He believes he has them figured out and understands their situation, only to be faced with new information time and time again. This is realistic, but it doesn't necessarily equate to depth. Just because something isn't immediately revealed doesn't make the characters compelling. Our narrator, Edmund, is simply unreliable and not very good at understanding. In other words, the characters are one-dimensional, and Edmund isn't even in the right dimension. They're on the x-axis, while Edmund is somehow on the y-axis. Edmund is so easily scandalized that it constantly takes the reader out of the story. There is no sense of interiority, even for himself. It's not until, perhaps, one sentence within the final ten pages that we get a hint of why he is so shocked, disgusted, etc. Even then, it's not exactly satisfying or realistic. The takeaway is rather sophomoric and makes for a novel that really isn't worth reading.

In general, I have a penchant for gothic novels. They set a certain mood and seem to be a well-suited genre for Murdoch. Gothic novels rely heavily on affect, and she enjoys playing with light in her writing. Some of her most beautifully written prose revolves around her manipulation and distortion of light. However, these moments are few and far between. On the whole, the writing is just fine.

Anything of value that can be mined from this book is found within the last twenty pages or so. But it doesn't make up for the rest of the story, and it doesn't really offer anything that lingers in your mind.

Protagonist Edmund makes his way back to his family home in northern England for the solemn occasion of his mother’s funeral. He has been absent for a considerable number of years, and initially, he believes that not much has altered.

Nevertheless, after having a conversation with his niece, he discovers that the relationships among his relatives are far more convoluted than he had anticipated. Before long, he finds himself deeply involved in an unfolding family drama.

This story harks back to the gothic novels of yesteryears, with the family’s stately mansion playing a crucial role. The writing is highly atmospheric, projecting a dark and somewhat haunted impression, yet carefully avoiding any supernatural elements. It is tightly focused, featuring only six characters.

The novel is named after one of the less prominent characters, the family’s long-time Italian servant. She seems to float around the fringes of the story, almost like a spectral presence. It contains an unreliable narrator and a layered structure. It is by no means a traditional mystery, but gradually, the family members’ secrets are brought to light.

I have now perused three of Murdoch’s novels. My personal favorites are The Sea, The Sea, and The Black Prince. I had a certain liking for this one as well, but I found the ending to be rather indistinct and left me feeling somewhat unsatisfied.

Edmund Narraway is returning to the home he never thought he would. He is not greeted with flowers nor with cries of joy. Because Edmund has lost his mother.

But he has lost more than just his mother.

The "purity" he believed in has also been left behind.

Together with the secrets of his older brother Otto.

Together with the secrets of Otto's wife and child.

And with the fact that the Italian girl who has lived in their house for years is not actually the person he thought he knew.

Now Edmund is at a train station. North or South. He has to choose. Wherever he goes, he is no longer the old Edmund, and he knows this, he has accepted it.

And we, on the other hand, are seeing all the secrets, all the dirt. Even if we struggle to think about and digest most of them.

Iris Murdoch is effective on the reader because she tells a rather simple story while keeping the reader in suspense until the last page. "One day someone dies and then the secrets in the house where he lived begin to be revealed." However, Murdoch plays with the characters, saying, "Yes, now go there, what happened, you didn't like it, did you? But you will get used to it and just when you get used to it, I will take back what I have in my hands."

Especially the fact that the character of Edmund cannot suppress his longing for the body despite himself.

As a reader who loves the surprises that writers make not only at the end of the book but also in its progression; the Italian girl was also quite enjoyable for me.

And while reading the book, I did not feel the taste in Ferzan Özpetek's films. That hot, tense and pregnant with all the surprises state.

In the translation, the master name Celal Üster, and in the cover design (I liked each of his works separately) Utku Lomlu is involved.

Iris Murdoch is a renowned author, and here are some of her works with their respective ratings and status.

The Black Prince, A Fairly Honourable Defeat, and The Sandcastle all received 4 stars. They are likely to be engaging reads that have captured the hearts of many readers.

The Good Apprentice got 3 stars, indicating that it may have had some strengths but perhaps not as highly regarded as the others.

The Sea, The Sea and Jackson's Dilemma both received 2 stars, suggesting that they may not have met the expectations of some readers.

The Unicorn, The Time of the Angels, The Bell, and The Flight from the Enchanter are all on the wishlist, meaning that the person is interested in reading them in the future.

Nuns and Soldiers, The Italian Girl, A Severed Head, An Unofficial Rose, and A Word Child are all in the TBR (To Be Read) pile, waiting to be discovered.

Under the Net and The Message to the Planet are marked as maybe, leaving the decision to read them up in the air.

Overall, this list provides a snapshot of the wide range of works by Iris Murdoch and the different levels of interest and评价 they have received.