I once characterized the typical Iris Murdoch plot as A loves B, who is involved with C, who wants to give his/her life to a Great Ideal.

Well, that's simplistic, of course. But I love Murdoch nonetheless. Even though during a summer of romance, when I was reading all her novels (I being in love with A, who loved B, and so on), I did find myself making bets with myself as to which page the black dog would appear upon and where the stones would figure.

She's truly unique. You will either love her deeply or you will be wholly confused, perhaps even a bit exasperated, about her. Her writing style and the complex web of relationships she weaves are both captivating and confounding. There's something about her works that keeps drawing you in, making you want to explore the depths of her characters' emotions and the strange and wonderful worlds she creates.

Whether you're a die-hard fan or a newcomer to her literature, Iris Murdoch is sure to leave an impression on you.

This work is seriously flawed, yet it also contains several great bits.

These outstanding parts manage to shine through the overall imperfections, adding some sparkle and interest to the piece.

However, the closing chapter is a major let-down. It is an endless droning bore that seems to go on and on without any real purpose or excitement.

It fails to bring the story to a satisfying conclusion and leaves the reader feeling disappointed and unfulfilled.

Moreover, in this work, nobody really gets what they deserve.

The characters' fates do not seem to be determined by their actions or qualities, but rather by some random or unexplained force.

This lack of justice and fairness further detracts from the overall impact of the work and makes it less engaging and believable.

Despite these flaws, there are still some redeeming features that make this work worth considering.

But overall, it is a flawed and somewhat disappointing piece that could have been much better with some more careful editing and thought.

**Passion, Misery, Faith, Art and Cats in Pubs...**

This rather unpopular book penned by Iris Murdoch is truly a remarkable one. It delves deep into the themes of faith, friendship, the ceaseless pursuit of Love, and the crucial wisdom of knowing when to release. It presents a magnificent and beautiful depiction of human vulnerability. The portrayal of two artists, who are friends, painters, and lovers, is堪称 the finest portrayal of genuine artists that I have ever come across. The pubs of London play a significant role in this book. If you happen to be familiar with them, you can envision Perkins, the pub cat on Daisy's knees, even more vividly.

The book ultimately explores the contrast between dark and light, misery and happiness, and religious conviction, all set against the mind-boggling confusion of the human condition. It is highly recommended for those who have experienced a great deal in life. It offers profound insights and a captivating exploration of the human psyche and the complex emotions and relationships that shape our lives.

Beautiful, full, and human characters are presented in this work. They are so vivid that I truly wish to see them protagonist other plots.

However, the central love story has a drawback. It drags along, going back and forth too many times. Although this may add a sense of realism, it also shows that it is not executed to the best of Murdoch's abilities.

Perhaps with a more refined and streamlined approach to the love story, the overall impact of the work could have been enhanced. The characters have so much potential, and it is a pity that the love story somewhat detracts from their full potential.

Nevertheless, the beauty and humanity of the characters still shine through, leaving the reader with a sense of admiration and a desire to see more of them in different storylines.

Another great novel by the Irish writer.

I consider that this novel is one of the most well-rounded of Murdoch's works. Its plot borders on perfection; its characters, as always, are very interesting, complex, and very well-developed in the psychological aspect.

The novel deals with love and hate, with crazy love as a refuge against death. It reflects very accurately on grief and survival. It has touches of surrealist humor like almost all of her novels. Highly recommended, very much so.

Without a doubt, Iris Murdoch is one of the best writers of the twentieth century. Her works have a profound impact on readers, making them think deeply about various aspects of life.

This novel is no exception. It takes the readers on a journey through the complex emotions and relationships of the characters, leaving them with a sense of enlightenment and inspiration.

Whether you are a fan of Murdoch or just looking for a good read, this novel is definitely worth your time.

It is clearly the year of Iris Murdoch in my fiction reading.

I really liked this book.

As I delve deeper into her works, I'm realizing that I truly enjoy reading Murdoch.

Her novels have a unique charm. They rattle along like a soap-opera, filled with extremely intelligent, interesting, and attractive characters.

These characters engage in a generally very human and intriguing tale that keeps the reader hooked from start to finish.

What's more, despite the entertainment value, you always come away with a greater understanding of the human condition.

Murdoch has a remarkable ability to explore the complexities of human nature and relationships in a way that is both engaging and thought-provoking.

Her works offer a window into the human psyche, allowing us to see the flaws, the desires, and the hopes that drive us all.

In this year of reading Murdoch, I have discovered a new world of literature that has enriched my understanding of what it means to be human.

I look forward to reading more of her works and continuing this journey of exploration.

As the end of 2019 approaches, a year in which we have celebrated the centenary of the birth of Iris Murdoch, it concludes with a splendid flourish thanks to the publisher Impedimenta, which offers us this wonderful novel of Monks and Soldiers, unpublished in Spanish until now.

Those who venture into Monks and Soldiers (a novel immediately following her great work The Sea, The Sea) will discover the most brilliant Iris Murdoch through a story with some of the great Murdochian elements such as that large number of characters who appear and disappear, who relate to each other but at the same time carry out a process of self-knowledge, who lie (voluntarily or involuntarily) and show themselves in their absolute nakedness. All of them, in a plot that twists and turns through a writing that captures with its delicacy and thrilling rhythm, go through situations in which, one way or another, the different faces of love are presented to us. Perhaps this is the great theme of Monks and Soldiers despite what the title may suggest. After all, it reveals nothing more than two types of "characters" with which different characters will identify in one way or another, and which Iris Murdoch uses to address issues such as loneliness, idealism, freedom, faith, transcendence, grief, guilt, suffering or happiness.

Ah, the feminine urge on a Saturday night! It's that mysterious and often unspoken desire that seems to bubble up within women. Maybe it's the urge to let loose and have some wild fun, to dance the night away at a lively club. Or perhaps it's the urge to pamper oneself, to take a long, luxurious bath and soak in the relaxation. Maybe it's the urge to get dressed up in the most glamorous outfit and feel like a queen for the night. And then there's the urge to explore new places, to go on an adventure and discover something new. Whatever it may be, the feminine urge on a Saturday night is a powerful force that can lead to some unforgettable experiences.

I don't know the exact number of times I've read this book. My paperback copy from 1982 has completely fallen apart, leaving just a pile of loose pages. Iris Murdoch's novels are like Bach's fugues. No matter how many times they are read or played, there is always something new to discover. I started reading this one again in the middle of the recent edition of Murdoch's letters, which provided yet another perspective. This novel exasperated many 'critics' who made it their business to infer unflattering and inaccurate interpretations of the authoress from it.

It's true that "Nuns and Soldiers" is a puzzling novel. Read literally, it can seem ridiculous. The nun, Anne Cavidge, is a genteelly hysterical character who engages in extreme gestures without understanding why. In one episode, she has a thrilling visit from Jesus himself in her kitchen. After escaping from her convent, she latches onto her old friend Gertrude Openshaw, a complacently well-off woman with a penchant for patterned mustard and mud-colored clothes, to which she adds the occasional floating Indian scarf in violent blue. While Gertrude kindly corrects Anne's mousy dress sense, they act like a pair of overly earnest schoolgirls, congratulating themselves on their supposed cleverness. They flick through Greek grammars, pretend to learn Urdu, and engage in desultory amateur'social work'.

Gertrude's husband, Guy, was an official in the Home Office. His meager duties left him with plenty of time to think about writing a profound work of his own. However, he was indolent and perhaps not very bright, so he never got around to it. Early in the story, he dies a stoical and dignified death, blessing his wife and urging her to marry someone else and be happy. A wispy and melancholy stray Pole (the'soldier') nervously contemplates the prospect. In contrast, there is a bunch of Jewish relatives who are as hard as nails and have unphilosophical ideas, as well as a pair of disorderly bohemians who scrounge for a living because they have principles against outright theft.

It's hard to stop reading and wonder what Murdoch, a master storyteller, can possibly do with this motley crew. We know for sure that she will do something surprising. It's a source of speculation as to how far her vast range of characters are based on real people and where she might have encountered them in her academic life.

The scene then deftly changes to an unnaturally isolated part of the South of France. Gertrude and the dithery male bohemian (a not very good 'artist') promptly fall in love, despite much discussion and soul-searching. He wonders what he'll do when his girlfriend, a belligerent feminist, turns up, as she is supposed to any day. The setting is a sinister-sounding rock-strewn landscape and an uncomfortable-sounding converted farmhouse. The sitting-room is large and square, with two white-plastered walls where centipedes scurry about. The furniture is simple, mostly made of cane with flowery cushions. One picture, a Munch reproduction of three stranded girls on a bridge, hangs on the wall. Dowdy domestic settings, matching wardrobes, and awful run-up meals are typical of Murdoch's works. I don't know if I'm alone in finding this hilarious, perhaps because I don't think it's meant to be. Murdoch seems to have retained a state of innocent naivety in some matters, alongside her formidable intelligence. These lovingly described settings are those of middle-class austerity during and after the war, when no one had heard of 'chic' and housewives did the best they could with what they had.

By the end of the 1970s, this all seems strangely out of place, while at the same time, the main characters are prototypes of their period. They endlessly and uselessly ruminate on their own and the world's moral problems, drifting about in a daze of respectable alcohol-fueled guilt-ridden joy and radiance, while remaining completely self-centered and lying to each other. But all this allows Murdoch to hang her customary serious musings on the real problem of how to manage the contingencies of life. Her firm grasp on these things is clear from her handling of Daisy and Mrs Mount, the only characters who seem substantially'real' rather than allegorical. If this novel ever invited parody, it's here, but that would be cheap. One must read not between the lines but underneath them to see where Murdoch really shines, especially in the later part of what was earlier a farce. The blend of humor and seriousness is as always irresistible as the story twists and turns towards a conclusion that only half-satisfies but temporarily silences the characters as they lurch off into further obscurities. It may not be her best novel, but that still says a great deal when she was incapable of writing a bad one.

Boring, boring, boring.

I had been reading this book with great anticipation, but as I reached page 450 out of 500, I just couldn't bring myself to continue.

The story seemed to drag on and on, lacking any real excitement or plot twists. The characters were flat and uninteresting, and I found it difficult to connect with them on any level.

I tried to push through, thinking that maybe the ending would be worth it, but my mind kept wandering and I found myself skimming through the pages.

In the end, I put the book down, feeling disappointed and frustrated. It's a shame because I had high hopes for it, but unfortunately, it just didn't live up to my expectations.

I guess sometimes you win some and you lose some when it comes to choosing books to read.

So Iris Murdoch is indeed a highly esteemed novelist. I was filled with excitement when I decided to give her works a try. She has an extensive oeuvre, which is quite impressive. However, the book I chose this time isn't one of her more famous ones. Perhaps I would have been better off starting with a different title.

Because this particular book is kind of a disappointment. I don't really know what else to say about it. It's overly sappy and melodramatic, yet at the same time, it's really boring. There is an abundance of description about how the characters are feeling, with page after page of exposition. The prose isn't terrible, but it's also not particularly remarkable or worthy of special mention.

To be honest, I really struggled to finish it. But I'm willing to give her another chance in the future. Maybe this book just wasn't suited to my personal taste. I hope that when I pick up another one of her novels, I'll have a more enjoyable reading experience.

When I finally reached the end of Nuns and Soldiers, all I felt was a sense of relief.

It took me quite a bit of time, precisely 6 weeks, to make it through to the end.

This book is very much in the style of Iris Murdoch, delving deep into the examination of the philosophy of life, love, and religion.

The central figure of the story, Gertrude, endured her own personal turmoil. After the passing of her husband, she fell in love with a being who was considered morally and socially inferior.

The web of lies that was spun, the deceits that were thrown, and the emotional upheavals of the characters around Gertrude when the relationship was disclosed were all masterfully crafted.

The author's skill in depicting the brewing emotions was not lost on me. However, for some reason, this book did not have the same impact on me as The Sea, the Sea.

The central theme that I gathered from the story is jealousy. Ann was jealous of the Count's lifelong pledge to Gertrude, and the Count himself descended into the hell of jealousy upon the discovery of Gertrude's affair.

The story did drag on a bit at times, which made it somewhat tiresome. Strangely, I felt no sympathy for any of the characters and their sufferings. They had willingly placed themselves under the lock and chain of their personal prisons.

Overall, this book is a dependable read if you are a fan of Iris Murdoch, which I am. It offers a thought-provoking exploration of complex themes and characters, although it may not be as captivating as some of her other works.