A descent into misery can be a truly harrowing experience. However, when it comes to the works of Murdoch, the experience of reading is never miserable. In fact, it is quite the opposite. Murdoch's sense of humor is sharp and excellent, cutting through the darkness and bringing a glimmer of light. Her ability to find humor in the most unlikely of places is a testament to her literary genius. Through her words, she is able to make us laugh, even as we are confronted with the harsh realities of life. Her characters are often flawed and imperfect, but they are also endearing and relatable. We can't help but root for them, even as they make mistakes and face seemingly insurmountable obstacles. In a world that can often seem cruel and unforgiving, Murdoch's sense of humor provides a much-needed escape. It allows us to see the beauty and the absurdity in life, and to find joy in the simplest of things.

Fascinating without being enthralling. This description holds a certain allure. It implies a charm that is captivating yet not overly overwhelming.

Perhaps it's like a beautiful painting that catches your eye from a distance. You are drawn to its colors and composition, but as you get closer, you realize there is more to it than meets the eye.

It could also refer to a person who has an interesting personality. They have qualities that make you want to know more about them, but they don't immediately sweep you off your feet.

On November 26th, this concept of being fascinating without being enthralling might have taken on a new meaning. Maybe it was a day filled with experiences that were intriguing but not completely captivating.

It could have been a book that you started reading, only to find that it had its moments of interest but didn't hold your attention throughout. Or perhaps it was a conversation with someone who had some interesting ideas but didn't manage to fully engage you.

In any case, the idea of being fascinating without being enthralling leaves room for exploration and discovery. It invites you to look deeper and uncover the hidden layers that lie beneath the surface.

November 26th may have been a day when you encountered this unique blend of charm and mystery, and it left you with a sense of curiosity and a desire to learn more.

I discovered this to be an outstanding Iris Murdoch novel.

It contains big and complex ideas, along with a typical cast of Murdochian characters, all of whom are intricately connected to one another in some way.

In fact, this is a highly readable and even gripping piece of literature.

Many of Murdoch's usual themes are present, yet they are toned down a bit compared to her earlier novels.

Overall, it is a very enjoyable read. However, there were a couple of characters who managed to irritate me.

Despite this minor annoyance, the novel still holds great value and offers a captivating exploration of various themes and relationships.

It showcases Murdoch's unique writing style and her ability to create a rich and engaging fictional world.

Readers who are fans of her work or those interested in exploring complex literary themes will surely find this novel to be a worthwhile read.

I really liked it a great deal.

However, it should be noted that I am an official and devoted fan of Iris Murdoch.

Her works have always held a special charm for me, captivating my imagination and leaving a lasting impression.

The way she crafts her stories, develops her characters, and explores complex themes is truly remarkable.

Each of her novels is like a treasure trove waiting to be discovered, filled with profound insights and beautiful prose.

Whether it's the psychological depth of her characters or the intricate plots that keep me on the edge of my seat, there is always something new and exciting to uncover in her works.

Being a fan of Iris Murdoch means being part of a community that appreciates and values her unique contribution to the world of literature.

I am proud to call myself an official Iris Murdoch fan and look forward to continuing to explore her wonderful body of work.

I really enjoyed this very much.

It was an experience that brought me a great deal of pleasure and satisfaction.

The details and the way it was presented were truly captivating.

I found myself completely immersed in it from start to finish.

Every moment was filled with excitement and interest.

It was like a journey that took me to a different place and made me forget about everything else.

I would highly recommend this to others who are looking for something enjoyable and engaging.

It is definitely worth the time and effort to experience it for oneself.

I can't wait to see what else there is to come in the future.

Not an easy read and still worth the effort. Murdoch offers a very distinct reading experience. I can clearly perceive her influence on A.S. Byatt. This was the second book of hers that I have delved into. I will surely continue to explore more of her works.

7/29/2020

Just finished it for the second time. I am perusing Murdoch's books in the sequence they were penned. Now that I have a better "grasp" of her style, I have a greater appreciation for this one. Not fixating on the plot makes reading Murdoch a genuine delight. It allows one to truly immerse in the rich tapestry of her words, the nuances of her characters, and the depth of her themes. Her writing is like a complex puzzle that gradually reveals its beauty and meaning with each reading. I look forward to uncovering more of her literary treasures as I continue on this reading journey.

Pace, character, and stakes - Murdoch is truly the mistress of them all.

So much in her works changes with astonishing speed, and the reasons behind these rapid shifts are made clear to us. The effects on different characters are also diverse, as she has provided us with deep insights into their idiosyncrasies and circumstances.

One of my favorite devices she employs is the way she alternates chapter formats. There might be one long, meditative chapter from the perspective of a secondary character, deeply contemplating a momentary crisis. This is then followed by a short, narrative chapter that trails a primary character through a flurry of activities. Next comes a chapter composed entirely of dialogue, painting a group scene that shows no action but is instead all about the interpretation of the recent past. And finally, there is a furious flurry of letters in response to the action, which in turn sets off the next round of events.

Her writing is a wonderful blend of being funny, moving, touching, sweet, harrowing, and horrid. It keeps the reader on the edge of their seat, constantly engaged and eager to discover what comes next.

Written in 1971, right in the middle of her writing career, this work bears a resemblance to "The Sea The Sea". It presents a complex maze of disturbing and disturbed characters who swirl around the central figure. In this case, it is Austin, a middle-aged Svengali. His malevolence and control over others prove to be extremely destructive.

Into this chaotic melee strolls Ludwig, a young American intellectual and a friend of the family. He falls in love with a young, rich, bourgeois, and essentially shallow girl. Additionally, he is offered a post at Oxford University. The question then arises: is he avoiding the draft for the Vietnam War, or is he following his heart?

Moral questions are abundant with every flawed character in the story. Their deaths, accidents, and other tragedies keep the novel progressing at a steady pace. One cannot help but wonder: is Murdoch mocking society's moral vacuum, hypocrisies, and mediocrity? The answer is a resounding YES!

As is often the case with the blurbs on Iris Murdoch books, the one on The Accidental Man only conveys a fraction of what the book is truly about.

This specific blurb mentions Ludwig, a young American called up for the Vietnam War while living and in love in Britain, making it seem as if he will be the main focus. However, in a book with a vast cast of characters, this can only be a part of the story. And in Iris Murdoch novels, where the plot is often not overly complex, it doesn't do much to explain what actually takes place in the book. Austin Gibson Grey, or the accidental man, is far more central in the book than Ludwig. He is yet another of Iris Murdoch's feckless, useless, and often arrogant, middle-aged male characters who appear in many of her novels.

The novel is narrated not only in conventional prose but also through letters. The letters are a nice addition as they break up some of the heavier sections, which themselves don't occur too frequently. The letters are invariably humorous, and there is a fair amount of humor in the book overall. The evening parties, where the dialogue isn't assigned to any one particular speaker, add to this, with speculative gossip and Chinese whispers distorting the truth.

From the beginning, characters are introduced at an alarming pace, and for those who don't like a large cast, this might become tiresome. Personally, I like the challenge. And as so many of these characters are paired up, moving from one partner to another, a pattern does start to emerge. Characters come and go, and some are referred to by name without ever uttering a word. There are mysteries and mysterious happenings that are never resolved or explained. By the end of the novel, there is a sense that whatever has happened - death, marriage, and violence - life still goes on, especially for the accidental man.

Austin is not just accidental; he is a walking disaster, sometimes quite literally. His behavior and moods are like those of a toddler, yet at the same time, his erratic behavior causes fear in others. As he stumbles from one accident to another, he manages to impact the lives of many around him, such as Mitzi, the lovable ex-athlete, Dorina, his slightly unhinged wife, and her sister Mavis, and his brother Matthew, an ex-ambassador who has settled back in England. He is selfish but handsome and uses this latter trait to his advantage, refusing to take responsibility for his actions and manipulating those around him at will.

There are numerous parallels or doublings in the novel, not only in the large number of couples but also in the events that occur. Charlotte and Mitzi have similar experiences, Matthew and Garth both have memories of events that haunt them, and there are two downtrodden women with children who bring them great sadness. There is also the occasional philosophical discussion, as is common in Iris Murdoch novels, along with lovely descriptions of summer skies and gardens and the usual amount of tortured souls and introspective meanderings.

This is a complex yet accessible novel if you can get past the large cast. As tragedy and departures follow one another, there is a compulsion to keep reading and see who will make it through to the end and who won't. It's not my favorite Iris Murdoch novel, but I enjoyed it more than some and would still rate it highly due to the intricate way the characters are developed and then moved around like chess pieces, the insights she provides into a variety of human experiences, and the humor that keeps the novel flowing so briskly.

I have amazing relationships with Iris Murdoch's works - it's love at first sight, like in the case of books such as "The Sea, the Sea", "The Bell", and "A Severed Head", and then there's complete incomprehension of everything, as when reading the novels "The Unicorn" and now "The Black Prince". It's been a long time since I didn't understand the characters in a book at all! And the most interesting thing is that I absolutely can't blame Murdoch for "incompleteness" or illogicality. She is a master of the word and such accusations against her would be ridiculous, but all these characters for me are like aliens who speak a strange language, where I can't understand not only the meaning but even separate one word from another. So to say that "The Black Prince" was a tough read - that's an understatement. In addition, it should be noted that Murdoch also didn't skimp on the number of characters and I even had to draw a diagram for myself at the very beginning, which somehow helped me to emerge from the chaos of the first chapters. So... the book is for that state of mind and soul when you are ready for a very complex (in different understandings of this word) text, a significant amount of philosophy, and incredibly convoluted fates and relationships that sometimes remain so for almost the entire book.

6 / 10

The characters in this book were brought to life with such vividness. Their emotional and philosophical entanglements were etched so clearly and wholly that the act of reading it was seamless and, strangely enough, pleasant, despite the fact that the material could be unpleasant at times.

Austin is truly one of the most despicable characters I have ever encountered in literature. He is all too believable, which makes his actions even more jarring.

Ludwig's struggle of conscience over draft-dodging, while not intrinsically interesting to me (as I firmly believe that drafts should be avoided at all costs), did make sense within the context of the story. I could understand his crisis, perhaps because it ultimately had nothing to do with the war itself.

There is a sense of all-consuming importance in the characters' thoughts, philosophies, and struggles. However, on the other hand, there is also a curiously gratifying sense of pointlessness. This novel is truly one of the strangest I have ever read in my life. It has definitely had an impact on me and has gotten under my skin. I am now looking forward to delving into more of the author's work and seeing what other strange and wonderful stories she has to offer.

Even though I thoroughly enjoyed this book, just as I do with all of Murdoch's remarkable writings, I find myself in a bit of a predicament.

I don't think I am capable of adding anything truly novel or significant to the reviews that are already listed.

Murdoch's works have always had a profound impact on me, and this particular book is no exception.

However, when I look at the existing reviews, they seem to have covered almost every aspect of the book in great detail.

I feel that whatever I might say would simply be a repetition or a minor addition to what has already been said.

Despite this, I still wanted to express my appreciation for the book and Murdoch's talent as a writer.

Perhaps in the future, I will come across a new perspective or a unique thought that I can share about this book.

Until then, I will continue to enjoy Murdoch's works and look forward to seeing what new insights others might bring to the table.