Iris Murdoch is a renowned author with a diverse range of works.

Some of her books have received high ratings, such as "The Black Prince," "A Fairly Honourable Defeat," and "The Sandcastle," all of which have been given 4 stars.

"The Good Apprentice" has 3 stars, while "The Sea, The Sea" and "Jackson's Dilemma" have 2 stars each.

There are also several books on her wishlist, including "The Unicorn," "The Time of the Angels," "The Bell," and "The Flight from the Enchanter."

In addition, "Nuns and Soldiers," "A Severed Head," "An Unofficial Rose," "The Italian Girl," and "A Word Child" are on her TBR list.

Finally, "Under the Net" and "The Message to the Planet" are marked as maybe.

Overall, Iris Murdoch's body of work offers a rich and varied reading experience for fans of literature.

I must be so simple for her to know me every time. It seems that my thoughts and feelings are laid bare in front of her, as if there are no hidden corners. She can easily understand my actions, my expressions, and even the slightest change in my tone. Maybe it's because I have let my guard down around her, allowing her to see the real me. But sometimes, I wonder if being this simple is a good thing. Will she ever get tired of knowing me so well? Will there be no more surprises or mysteries for her? Despite these doubts, I can't help but feel a sense of comfort in her understanding. It makes me feel accepted and loved for who I truly am.

SUMMARY - A dark chocolate covered Tangfastic.

The smooth opening lured me in, with all the allure of hazelnut-studded dark chocolate. It was truly captivating. But as I delved deeper, around 100 pages in, I was back to Murdoch's usual saccarine overblown love hysteria. This was melded with a tart view of morality that had all the dignity of a stray dog confusedly chasing a swarm of rats.

This is my 20th Murdoch novel. It started brilliantly, as they sometimes do. There was the compulsive chewing through the plump middle, driven partly by Murdoch's favoured watery cliffhangers - this time over canal culverts. However, when it came to a realistic depiction of developing romantic relationships or plausible everyman characters, it fell short.

I really wanted to give this 5 stars after the tasty opener, where I felt Murdoch displayed uncharacteristic subtlety. Backstories were fleshed out and psychologised, like the Warsaw Ghetto and an ex-monastic loss of faith. The landscapes tingled with atmosphere throughout, especially in the gorgeously dream-like depictions of Southern France. The narrative discontinuities with flash-forward reveals were so unlike Murdoch that I could have been reading Muriel Spark instead.

Overall it was good, but once Murdoch started rehashing the usual elements (dead dogs, Titian in the National Gallery, gaping maws and burst waterpipe tears between strobe-fast couplings and decouplings), I lost the chocolate-draped headiness and was left chewing over the familiar sweet-sour reproduction of what I'd already encountered in the majority of the 19 foregoing Murdoch novels I've read so far.

After two of my favourite Murdochs so far (Henry and Cato; The Sea, The Sea), I found myself disagreeing with Martin Amis's cover quote - 'You certainly don't want it to end'. I did. But if it's too long, its overwrought depictions of love weren't so lengthy as to take away from the moments of magic in the plush rooms of Ebury Street, the wind-wracked 'Les Grandes Saules', or even the squintingly-seen (and knowingly-named) Prince of Denmark.

I first read this book in the mid-eighties and it completely blew my mind.

At that time, I was deeply impressed by its unique charm and the profound emotions it conveyed.

Now, 35 years later, I picked up this book again, and it once again blew my mind, perhaps for different reasons.

This book is not only very romantic, telling the story of a recently widowed woman and her completely inappropriate young artist love, but also explores many important themes.

It shows us how to be a good person, how to believe in God, and how to recover from bad families.

These themes are still relevant today and have a profound impact on our lives.

I love this book because it makes me think, feel, and grow.

It is a classic that will always be cherished in my heart.

This book is truly a remarkable piece of intellectual beach-reading.

It offers a captivating and engaging experience that keeps the reader hooked from start to finish.

The content is not only intellectually stimulating but also highly entertaining.

I want to emphasize that when I classify it as entertaining, I do not mean to undermine its value or quality.

On the contrary, it manages to strike a perfect balance between being thought-provoking and enjoyable.

Whether you are lounging on the beach or curled up in a cozy corner, this book is sure to provide hours of literary pleasure.

It is a must-read for anyone who appreciates good literature and wants to expand their knowledge while being thoroughly entertained.

So, don't hesitate to pick up this fantastic book and embark on a journey of intellectual discovery and entertainment.

Nuns and Soldiers is a captivating novel that takes readers on a journey through the lives of its complex characters. Set in both London and the South of France, the story centers around two women: Gertrude Openshaw and Anne Cavidge. Gertrude, who has recently lost her husband, finds herself awakening to passion, while Anne, having returned from years in a nunnery, encounters her personal Christ.

Surrounding these two women is a fascinating cast of characters. There is the "Count," a lonely Pole reliving his father's patriotic anguish, Tim Reede, a seedy yet appealing artist, and his mistress Daisy. Mrs. Mount, who is manipulative, and many others add to the rich tapestry of the story. Each character is magically drawn, moving between desire and obligation, guilt and joy.

The beauty of this fictional philosophy lies in the need for multiple readings to truly understand the behavior of the main characters. Gertrude Openshaw, at the center of the plot, is respected not only for her wealth but also for her influence on others. However, it is Anne Cavidge who emerges as a complex and somewhat villainous character. Despite having been a nun for fifteen years, she loses her vocation, perhaps due to her desire for a personalized God. Her actions reveal her selfishness, as she judges others and acts according to her own needs.
In contrast, Daisy, a secondary character, stands out as the one who is immune to ego. She loves Tim, but not in a possessive way. While it is true that no human being is without hate and selfishness, Daisy manages to convey her hate in a novel, confining it to the pages and preventing it from growing like it does in others. Overall, Nuns and Soldiers is a thought-provoking and engaging novel that explores the depths of human nature.

Going to be thinking about the Great Face for a while...

The concept of the "Great Face" is truly captivating. It makes one wonder about its significance and the stories it might hold.

Perhaps it represents a symbol of power, a historical landmark, or a work of art that has left a lasting impression.

As I think about it, I can't help but imagine the details and the emotions it might evoke in those who encounter it.

Maybe it has a mysterious allure that draws people in, making them want to learn more about its origin and meaning.

The Great Face could be a source of inspiration for artists, writers, and thinkers alike.

It might spark their creativity and lead to new works that explore its essence and the ideas it represents.

In conclusion, the thought of the Great Face lingers in my mind, leaving me with a sense of curiosity and a desire to know more.

I first read this novel during my days in art school, viewing it from the perspective of a young and budding artist.

Now, as an accomplished artist grappling with the pains and struggles of social etiquette, I am enjoying it from an entirely different vantage point.

Iris Murdoch is a relationship writer, somewhat similar to Jane Austen, but British and semi-modern. I would also compare her human insights on feminine issues to those of Erica Jong, albeit more subdued, almost in spite of her British style.

I truly relish the picaresque descriptive writing.

With Murdoch's masterful emotional twists and turns within her rational exploration of the social disorder in the circles of Ebury Street, and the ever-watching conscience of a character named Guy, who is no longer among us, two women engage in a battle for the soul of love, the divine desire of "what women want" long before Mel Gibson thought about it.

The artist's struggle serves as the spectacle from which all the characters in the book ultimately draw their resolve and criticisms.

The union of passion and reason, an unlikely choice, yet it shows us that love always prevails over the demon, whatever that demon may be.

Murdoch's subtle sense of time and humor is deeply fulfilling.

I was then who I am now, and yet nothing has changed much, although it never remains the same.

However, back then I was an artist in art school, seeing things from the perspective of a starving artist. Now, I view it more through the eyes of others in the artist's way, that is, seeing life as an artist through the eyes of the social elite as witnessed through the life of the artist.

Both the relationship with Daisy and the affair with Gertrude are lives that I have experienced since the first time I read this novel when it was published in 1980.

Just out of art school, I was intrigued by older women because they had a story. Now, they seem to weigh on my conscience, and I much prefer the empty whim of a lithe fairy.

The tale not only tells of the burdensome baggage of English social culture but also the artist's struggle to find a place and meaning in any community where he or she may find themselves.

Now, I can relate to Daisy as much as to Tim. Creativity knows no gender; only critics think otherwise.

Nuns and Soldiers is the latest book to be taken on by us Murdoch enthusiasts - (or every other month enthusiasts as we are now). I truly relished it. However, it doesn't quite possess the same impact and scope as The Sea, the Sea, which we read last time. There are a good number of familiar Murdoch themes present in this novel, such as goodness, religion, and philosophy. Among them, there are some intricate relationships and motivations among the characters. What is captivating about Iris Murdoch is how frequently those characters whom you envision would be "good" actually aren't - and those whom society might view as "bad" or at least deeply flawed are in fact "good". I must admit that there weren't many characters in this that I warmed to - in fact, I disliked all of them at some point - except perhaps Gertrude - and she annoyed me a little.

Not my favorite Murdoch? That's a huge understatement.

The beginning of the story, which introduced Guy and les tantes, along with themes of loss and grief, was very well crafted. It had the potential to draw the reader in and keep them engaged.

However, once the story moved on to life after Guy, it just seemed to fizzle out. I found myself dozing off (zzzzz).

The four main characters were simply not interesting. Widow Gertrude was self-serving and the very definition of ordinary. Tim, the young lover, was useless and equally ordinary. The Count was rather silly, pretending to be a Pole when in reality he was just an ordinary English clerk. Even the "defrocked" nun seemed incapable of having any original thoughts.

There were potentially extraordinary characters, like Guy who died too early and Mrs Mount who remained silent until the last 10 pages. But unfortunately, they didn't seem to be in the author's focus.

Overall, this was a disappointment for me. I had expected more from Murdoch, but this story just didn't deliver.

I don't know precisely why I have never delved into the works of Iris Murdoch before. For some reason, she simply never held any particular allure for me. However, upon picking up this particular book, I was truly astounded.

It is an extraordinary piece of literature. At times, it is breathtaking, captivating me with its beauty and depth. At other moments, it is gripping, keeping me on the edge of my seat, eager to know what will happen next. But it also has its moments of being trivial and even tedious.

Yet, what makes it truly remarkable is its unpredictability. I find myself constantly surprised by the turns and twists in the story. Sometimes, I find myself deeply in love with the characters, empathizing with their joys and sorrows. At other times, I am irritated by their actions and decisions. It's just like real life, isn't it?

I completely understand and share the confusion expressed by other reviewers. Nevertheless, I am truly glad that I took the chance and read this book. It has opened my eyes to the genius of Iris Murdoch, and I will most certainly be reading more of her works in the future.

My favourite book of all time is truly a remarkable piece of literature.

Iris Murdoch, a highly regarded author, has a writing style that can sometimes be a little impenetrable. And this particular novel is no exception to that.

I have had the pleasure of reading it several times, and each time, I find the first 50 pages or so to be rather 'difficult'. However, I firmly believe that it is well worth the effort.

The story unfolds in a complex and captivating manner, drawing the reader in and making them eager to discover more. The characters are richly developed and the themes explored are thought-provoking.

I wholeheartedly recommend this book to everyone. It may require some perseverance at the beginning, but the rewards are truly great. Whether you are a lover of literature or simply looking for a good read, this book is sure to leave a lasting impression.

So, pick up this novel and embark on a literary journey that you will not forget.