Trigger warning


alcoholism, abortion, trauma, grief, gun violence, misogyny, suicidal ideation, so much suicidal ideation, suicide attempts (yes plural), loss of a parent, loss of a pet (not by death), cancer, terminal illness, mental illness, depression



A group of British intellectuals throughout history. Let's follow them and search for the bird.




Well, okay. I want to get this review out of the way, but consider yourself warned. My brain has been acting strangely lately, probably due to the heat, illness, pain, and boredom.




I believe intentions and expectations play a significant role when reading a book. I was told this is a dark academia literary crime novel with a cult. I got it second-hand, and there was a frigging parrot on the cover. So, of course, I expected a parrot. The painting they cropped for the cover is called "An African Grey and an Orange Winged Parrot." Look it up. It has two parrots on the cover.




And I think my expectations were completely off. We have this clique of maybe-friends who admire a guy they met at university. He's a thinker, thinking deep thoughts. They admire him so much that they form a club dedicated to giving him a stipend so he can spend all his time reading and thinking even deeper and writing down his thoughts. This is the book. But that's all in the past. Now, when we meet them, they've gotten older. Well, they've reached their respective midlife crises and wonder if it's still sensible to be paying for this guy's living expenses when they haven't talked to him in ages, and for all they know, he's become a terrorist.


Crime-related things happen, but labeling this a literary crime novel is just plain wrong.




I think the only reason I'm giving this book three stars at the moment is the satisfaction I get from reading a slow, thick book and seeing the number of pages I've read. Knowing that I did this. That my attention span must be okay if I'm willing to put in the effort, because look.


And the parrot? It's also more of a thing of the past that is remembered.




Be aware that most of this novel is introspection. Maybe three parts internal thoughts to one part of things happening. Look up the warnings; some people will need them.




Will I read more by this author, and would I recommend this? Well, what I can say is that these characters felt like real people, which is always a great experience. What also intrigued me was a certain timelessness. I had a friend Google when it's set because I simply couldn't tell. They mentioned the Berlin Wall once, but there isn't much about technology. The women always wear skirts or dresses and have very old-fashioned ideas about gender and their place in life.


I just... would urge you to be sure not to set your expectations too high when you're told "dark academia with a cult." Because that sounds like there's more plot than this one has.

All my precious reading time is being mercilessly sucked up by my misguided attempt to finish this book. I have this strange notion that I need to read an Iris Murdoch book. However, as I progress through the pages, I find myself completely disenchanted.

Every single character in this book seems unlikable to me. I just can't bring myself to care what fate awaits them. The plot and its plotting feel incredibly boring and predetermined. It's as if Murdoch is not writing with a deft and invisible hand, but rather like Zeus moving the figures of humans around in a rather mechanical way. Maybe that's why I don't sense any 'realness' in the characters. They seem more like puppets than actual beings.

Nevertheless, I am determined to see this through to the end. I'm down to my last 30 pages. But I have a sinking feeling that I won't enjoy it one bit. It's been a rather disappointing reading experience so far, and I don't expect it to improve in the remaining few pages.

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

This is a very long and intense string of 'A's. It seems to convey a sense of extreme emotion or perhaps a state of chaos. One can only imagine what might have led to such an outburst. Maybe it's a sign of frustration, excitement, or even a form of artistic expression. Without further context, it's difficult to determine the exact meaning. However, it does manage to capture one's attention and leave a lasting impression. Whether it's a random occurrence or part of a larger work, this string of 'A's has certainly made an impact.

Perhaps we could explore different interpretations of this phenomenon. Maybe it represents the unbridled energy within us,渴望 to be released. Or perhaps it's a symbol of the infinite possibilities that exist in the world. Whatever the case may be, it's clear that this simple yet powerful string of characters has the ability to evoke a wide range of emotions and thoughts.

In conclusion, while the meaning of this long string of 'A's may remain a mystery, it serves as a reminder of the power of language and the ability of a few simple characters to convey complex emotions and ideas. It challenges us to think outside the box and consider new perspectives. So the next time you come across something unexpected and seemingly meaningless, take a moment to reflect on its potential significance. You might be surprised at what you discover.

She defines soul in the same way as the ancients did, as that which gives life and animation. However, we are still not much further ahead in precisely defining what that is.

She now has working class heroes, both of Scottish origin. She has a humorous side, as seen in the example of Crimond being expelled from the communist party for left-wing deviation. By page 151, it becomes clear that he is not being monitored by the author/narrator. There is a great deal of anticipation of killing, and this wouldn't be the case if it wasn't going to happen. The statement "Better to consummate our love in death" is demeaning romantic nonsense, indicating a death wish. It seems improbable in the demonic context, just like the conceit of consciousness being "a higher finer stronger human consciousness," as if it's the most important thing. Crimond is too unconvincing as an embodiment of spirit when he is reported as thinking people aren't real. He should understand that they have their own inner selves, even if not as large or as capable of influencing others as his might be if the author could envision it.

She does define what a daemon is, once again in the ancient sense. But she is no closer to understanding what is involved in the demonic. Perhaps that's why, as the omniscient author, she doesn't monitor his inner thoughts. Nobody could do a better job. Another unconvincing aspect is the idea that his book could change anything. One might cite the Bible as a book that had a significant impact, but his book wouldn't have the same effect. It would have to affect other people's unconscious minds to bring about change, and if it did, people would likely reject it because their unconscious minds wouldn't like it. This book doesn't have the emotional impact on me that I would have liked, but it is interesting throughout.

I have been to Delphi, which is nothing more than an empty stage with props, unworthy of any great reverence. The gods might as well be in Britain as there. They probably are where they have always been, within us, projecting outwards. The author doesn't seem to know how to act except through consciousness and reach her readers' consciousness to their...god. Would she have written novels if she could?

In my opinion, this is an OK read but not Murdoch's finest accomplishment. I truly appreciated the "book and genius" element, which was a core of the story, much more in The Message To the Planet, for example.

It might surprise those who casually look at my reading-lists, where weird and horror stories are abundant, but Murdoch is indeed one of my favorite writers. I relish her language and the philosophical thinking that lies beneath everything she writes. She has the rare ability, like very few others, to make me interested in a kind of "realist" stories, which speaks volumes about her writing skills.

I found this story rather dull and uninteresting, almost lacking inspiration, during the first part. Moreover, I found it难以置信 (in the wrong sense, mind you) that the characters had for so many years firmly paid the "genius writer" (no spoiler) without ever seeing a single word of what he wrote or even if he actually wrote at all. And this despite the fact that they didn't even like him anymore. (Well, it turns out there are some qualifications to this truth, but still...).

Come on! That's just not believable. I understand the concept of "keeping one's word," but like this? In my opinion, it's not very likely, not even in such circles. It really stretches credibility. (I know it's theoretically possible, which at least saves the premise a little.)

Suddenly, in the last third of the story, things pick up speed and, almost in spite of the beginning, things start to work much better. At least for me. I got caught up in the discussions between the writer and the group's "leader," for instance, as well as the unexpected dead scene and what happens after that tragic event. So I actually ended up enjoying the journey through the minds, feelings, and actions of these strange academic characters. (Trademark characters in a Murdoch book, by the way.)

Not bad. But it could be better.

El libro y la hermandad has struck me as a novel of the highest category, profound and dazzling. I take this opportunity to thank Guille, my friend on GR, for making me acquainted with Iris Murdoch and her powerful stream of literary ingenuity.

This novel, in addition to delighting you with its agile and absorbing plot, incites you to think about some of the great driving forces of existence (love, friendship, happiness, the desire for self-improvement, ideology, moral goodness). As a result, some passages are exquisitely demanding for the avid reader of philosophical meat, who will find fragments of transcendence scattered everywhere.

Iris Murdoch manages, through a wonderful cast of characters as inspired as they are troubled, to make one feel an irresistible compassion for the finitude and the stubborn deficiency of our species. This group of Oxford friends constitutes a rather authentic sketch of what we all really are: beings as poor as they are excellent, who escape through more or less sophisticated mechanisms (liters of alcohol flow through the pages of the book), who passionately engage with other beings (including pets), who feel jealous (one of the most frequently mentioned feelings in the narration), who reflect, who regret, who worry, who console and take care of each other, who hurt each other (with greater or lesser ferocity, depending on the case). In short, these are very rounded characters in their imperfections, to whom the author gives a particularly meticulous treatment. Perhaps this is the reason why, except perhaps for the enigmatic and inaccessible David Crimond, there is not a single one of these personalities who does not inspire in us a deep sympathy. In other words, one feels happily privileged to be able to observe in every detail the inner movements of this excellent gallery of Oxford specimens (I give as examples Tamar's desperate search for salvation, Jenkin's genuine desire for solitude, or Rose's quietly stolen love).

Another of the surprising and captivating things about El libro y la hermandad is the force of its dialogues, whose echoes, which are pure stimulation, resound in the mind without remedy. We appreciate in them the vigor that stems from the intelligent and nervous interaction between partially opposed poles: puritans and lovers of sex, Marxists and bourgeois, theorists and practitioners, believers and unbelievers, platonic and carnal. Conversations of extraordinary intellectual elegance that are all revelation. Conversations on the surface that are instructive, sophisticated, masterful.

Finally, I would highlight the stylistic beauty of some passages, such as the one in which the author delicately portrays in an impressionistic way Gerard's love (for me, the most fascinating character in the book) for his childhood pet, the parrot Gris. The language used here is of an admirable power and terseness:

La inteligencia y la presencia de Gris eran para Gerard continuas fuentes de un gozo estremecedor, un sentimiento que el describía para sí como «conexión». El loro era un mundo donde al niño se le concedía la cortesía de vivir, era un vehículo que le conectaba con la totalidad de la creación sensible, era un avatar, una encarnación del amor.

I confess that I have become attached to this radical narrator (in what she has of getting to the root of things) and to the fascinating universe that she offers us in this book, overflowing with life and charm. A book that, in the end, is nothing more than a comprehensive, loving and deeply respectful look at our center of gravity.

Original Article: The importance of learning English cannot be ignored. It is a global language that is widely used in various fields.

Expanded Article:

The significance of learning English simply cannot be overlooked. It is indeed a global language that enjoys extensive usage across a wide range of fields. In today's interconnected world, English serves as a vital means of communication. Whether it is in the business realm, where international transactions and collaborations are the norm, or in the academic field, where access to a wealth of knowledge and research materials often requires proficiency in English. Moreover, in the field of technology, English is the language of choice for many programming languages and software.

Learning English not only provides individuals with better career opportunities but also enriches their cultural experiences. It allows them to communicate with people from different countries and backgrounds, broadening their horizons and enhancing their understanding of the world. In conclusion, the importance of learning English cannot be emphasized enough. It is an essential skill that every individual should strive to acquire.

The thing that truly gets to me about Iris Murdoch is the prevalence of comma splices in her works.

Take, for instance, a very long novel where on every single page, nearly every paragraph, and almost every sentence contains a comma splice.

I am aware that there must be some sort of reason behind this. I推测 that perhaps she is attempting to replicate the way people think, in a disjointed stream of loosely connected phrases. I can understand how this technique might be suitable in passages where a character is engaged in thinking, whether it is presented in the first person or in the third person limited "multivocal" mode.

However, the comma splices in this particular book are not confined solely to the passages that are meant to represent thinking. They persist throughout passages of straightforward, omniscient third-person description, where there is not even the slightest implication of an individual character's thought. It is as if it is the writer's, or at least the omniscient narrator's, thought processes that are being represented.

I really don't know. I simply find this idiosyncrasy to be rather distracting. I managed to get three-quarters of the way through the book and then I just gave up.

I gave up on Jeff Shaara for the very same reason. He has even less justification for using an endless stream of comma splices and run-on sentences, especially since he is writing history. You get the impression that he does it for no other reason than just because he wants to. Or perhaps even worse, because he doesn't know any better.

Right or wrong, Marxism is sexy, dangerously sexy like a perverted love relationship that ends up with the accidental murder of an innocent.

I have a profound love for Murdoch's writing. It has the power to make me think deeply and feel intensely all at once. The characters in her novels engage in critical thinking about their feelings and earnestly experience their thinking. Thinking and feeling balance and enrich each other. Through her works, I gain the understanding that morality is more than just sentimentality. It has a rational dimension, albeit one that is disturbingly twisted and unstable. This is the fourth Murdoch novel I have read, and she has officially replaced Woolf as my favorite female author. I do like Woolf, but I am bothered by her tendency to destroy moral thinking with sentimental feeling. Woolf is a feeler, but Murdoch is a thinker and feeler simultaneously - she is a philosopher.

This book delves into the rise and fall of Marxism and how it is connected to the deepest yearnings in the human heart. These yearnings are not simply sentimental but are fundamentally moral. Is Marxism lost today? The left today seems to be dominated by feelers; thinking has been lost, and along with it, Marxism has also been lost.

This struck me as a somewhat peculiar book.

I read it during a very stressful time, so perhaps it was I who was off-kilter and not the book itself.

Murdoch immediately immerses the reader among nearly 20 characters. I had to do a fair amount of flipping back and forth before I could keep them straight. The main characters were at Oxford together (in the '60s, I gather) and reunite at a dance some 25 years later. Much of the drama (such as it is) revolves around a rather unpleasant and creepy character who is considered brilliant and is writing a book about Marxism, with the financial support of his former schoolmates. Various events are set in motion at the dance and unfold slowly and often rather tediously.

Much of the book delves deep into the minds of one character or another. I sometimes enjoy this kind of microanalysis of interior experience, but perhaps not in such large doses. Despite the occasional insights and flashes of recognition, it eventually becomes rather claustrophobic. None of these interior worlds is particularly pleasant, and some are downright grim. Not much really occurs, and some of what does happen seems fairly outlandish to me. Fifty pages of obsessive rumination by one person after another over what they could have or should have done about this or that, followed by ten pages of conversation where two people dissect the ideas, motivation, and behavior of a third character at great length and in improbably polished sentences, and then suddenly there are guns.

I did enjoy Murdoch's wit and the beauty of the writing. I also appreciated reading a novel about adults in midlife with somewhat interesting problems. However, there were too many suffering women longing for love that someone couldn't give them. In my opinion, it was not a very promising view of womanhood at any age. On the whole, I can't say that I enjoyed the book. I can see that objectively it could be described as well-written and even rich, at least to some readers. Maybe under other circumstances I would have gotten more out of it, but as it is...meh.

I have been attempting for almost 25 years to view Dame Iris in a more favorable light. However, time and again, novel after novel, her characters strike me as being pitiful, self-important, and foolishly proud romantics who believe they are philosophers above such bourgeois concepts as 'romance'.

I completed this latest work of hers. But I felt none of what John Ciardi, many years ago, referred to as the "sympathetic contract".

Perhaps my intense dislike is as much a reflection on my own intellect as it is a condemnation of Murdoch's work. Nevertheless, whether it is right or wrong, I am finished with her.

I can no longer bring myself to engage with her novels, as the characters and their actions simply do not resonate with me.

It is a decision that I have come to after much thought and consideration, and while I may be missing out on something, I feel that it is the right choice for me at this time.

This is the first novel that I have read by Iris Murdoch and I have really liked it a lot.

The characters are vivid and complex, each with their own unique personalities and motives.

The narrative is engaging and keeps the reader hooked from beginning to end.

What I also appreciate is all that is said implicitly.

The author manages to convey a lot of depth and meaning through the actions, dialogues, and thoughts of the characters.

It makes me think and reflect on various aspects of human nature, relationships, and life in general.

I am looking forward to reading more of her works in the future.

Overall, it has been a great reading experience and I would highly recommend this novel to others.