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I have not read much gothic literature (45), so I do not know precisely how it employs gothic structures beyond the obvious ones. These include a castle, sublime isolation, a dangerous heath, bogs, rivers, the sea, violent loves, emotional and irrational elements, religious motivations, a mythic plot, dark legends, a captive woman, a semi-feudal setting, and the idea that everyone has secrets and guilt.

Sounds like I could follow it? Well, yes and no. Is she writing a deconstruction or a postmodern take on gothic literature? I do not know. She manages to move in and out of a few characters quite well. Some of them remain mysterious. However, towards the end in particular, all the characters are almost ridiculously self-aware. There is the story of how this captive unicorn came to be imprisoned by no force but herself. And how her cruel, wounded, brutal husband returns at the end of her seven years. I wanted them to clash. I wanted fireworks. Instead, things simply happen, and the spell is broken.

It leaves me with a sense of both satisfaction and a bit of disappointment. I am intrigued to see where the author will take this in future works.

I read this book as it was included in the 2019 Mookes Madness tournament, marking my first encounter with Iris Murdoch's work.

The plot, as summarized on Wikipedia, unfolds in an Irish countryside. The story starts as a satire of a Gothic novel, with Murdoch's vivid descriptions painting a picture of an oppressive and terrifying setting.

Marian's initial stay at "The Gaze" resembles a Victorian family drama, which later turns into an incredible melodrama with the revelation of Hannah's story.

Chapter 12 seems pivotal, as it delves into the heart of Murdoch's intentions - to explore philosophy and Plato over Freud, along with concepts of beauty, guilt, sacrifice, and pure love.

The book is filled with overt religious symbolism, such as the unicorn representing both Christ and an ordinary guilty person.

After much drama and crossed-wires, the story appears to be resolving into happy outcomes, but then takes an unexpected turn.

The book feels more like a vehicle for Murdoch's philosophical and religious musings rather than a traditional novel. The excessive use of allusion immobilizes its real literary merit.

Overall, I found this book very disappointing. The workings of the "machine" were too obvious, and I could not identify with any of the characters or their behavior. Only one passage, about the golden retriever, captured something real.

Based on this novel, I concluded that Murdoch can write about pets, Plato, and philosophy, but not about people. Perhaps she was striving for the success of her more famous Booker prize-winning novel.

My first (and so far, only) encounter with a Murdoch novel has been a truly remarkable experience.

The story had a seemingly happy ending, which I initially thought was the conclusion. However, to my pleasant surprise, there was a twist that followed. This twist, as I later discovered, is essentially Murdoch's central philosophy.

It is truly well done how she manages to apply her philosophy in such an amusing and engaging way, rather than in a stern or preachy manner. This not only makes the reading experience enjoyable but also allows the reader to reflect on the deeper meaning and message within the story.

Overall, I am extremely glad that I picked up this Murdoch novel, and I look forward to exploring more of her works in the future.

About three-fourths of the way through this book, I was on the verge of penning a raving review, filled to the brim with exclamation marks and superlatives. However, the tragic events and incidents began to accumulate at an alarming rate, flooding the pages and spilling over the paper, almost submerging the reader in their (melo)dramatic intensity. While I understand the value of killing off a character as a dramatic device, having nearly every chapter introduce a new death can be rather exhausting (and even tiresome) for the reader.

Nevertheless, some of my earlier positive thoughts still hold true, even after approximately half of the cast has either been mentally broken, gone insane, or simply passed away. Firstly, I truly admired Murdoch's remarkable talent for storytelling. Her prose acts as a camera lens, vividly描绘ing not only the plot development but also the scenery and setting, which significantly enhance the strength and persuasiveness of the story. At times, I could feel the eerie desolation of the landscape seeping into my bones, shivering beneath the harsh winds that tormented Gaze Castle and pulling my blanket tighter around me. It had been a long time since a book had elicited such a physical response from me. It seized me, and there is no other way to describe it.

Furthermore, this book appeals to every aspect of one's being. Murdoch's references to religion and existentialism provide food for thought, while the plot itself evokes emotions of empathy, fear, and pity. I believe it is a challenge for a writer to seamlessly combine the intellectual and emotional, and Murdoch has achieved this brilliantly. There is just one thing that I felt was lacking throughout the book: humour. My body would sometimes long for a laugh to relieve some of the ever-building tension that the book created. But, then again, what do I know? Maybe humour would have diminished the horror of the plot. Overall, despite the few minor comments, The Unicorn is a very, very good book that I thoroughly enjoyed.

From a theatrical perspective, I would almost say it's Shakespearean.

It has seemed to me that the characters follow slightly erratic paths.

One advantage is the fantastic setting that the author描绘s, which forms another character in the plot.

The story unfolds in this unique environment, adding an extra layer of depth and mystery.

The characters' actions and decisions are influenced by this setting, making it an integral part of the narrative.

Despite the somewhat erratic nature of the characters' paths, the overall story remains engaging and captivating.

The author's ability to create such a vivid and immersive world is truly remarkable.

It makes the reader feel as if they are a part of the story, experiencing the events and emotions along with the characters.

Overall, this is a story that combines elements of drama, mystery, and a unique setting to create a truly unforgettable reading experience.

Lovedd,

unfortunately, the end prevented a 5-star rating though x.

It's such a pity that despite the many positive aspects throughout, the conclusion didn't quite meet the expected standard. Maybe it was a bit rushed or didn't tie up all the loose ends as neatly as one would have hoped. However, this doesn't take away from the overall quality and enjoyment that was had during the rest of the experience. There were still many great moments and features that made it a worthwhile endeavor. It just goes to show that even with a small flaw at the end, the majority of the work can still be highly regarded. Nevertheless, it would be nice if in the future, more attention could be given to ensuring a more satisfying conclusion to truly earn that perfect 5-star rating.

Gothic, wandering, full of landscapes of cold moors and bog and sea - so I loved that part.

It was as if I was transported to a world of mystery and darkness, where the wild and desolate landscapes added to the overall atmosphere of the story. The cold moors stretched out before me, their vastness and emptiness captivating my imagination. The bogs, with their treacherous waters and hidden depths, held an air of danger and uncertainty. And the sea, with its crashing waves and salty breeze, provided a sense of power and unrest.

If it wanders too much in the draggy territory of simple philosophy and occasionally slips waist deep into melodrama, well, that's part of the fun of it too.

Although the story may have its flaws, these elements only added to its charm. The simple philosophy, though perhaps a bit repetitive at times, made me think about the deeper meaning of life and the human condition. And the melodrama, with its exaggerated emotions and intense scenes, kept me on the edge of my seat, eagerly waiting to see what would happen next.

Overall, I found the Gothic and wandering nature of the story to be both captivating and enjoyable, flaws and all.

Nota: 3'5⭐/5⭐

Good day to all. I hope you are having a great week.

This time, I changed the genre to avoid the saturation of reading too much fantasy, and I was recommended on Discord the book that I will talk about today: "The Unicorn" by Iris Murdoch.

First of all, I would like to highlight the author's pen. Her writing is very beautiful, and I think the best thing about it is how she describes the setting of Gaze and its mystery. This last aspect was one of the things that made me interested in the story.

It is true that the pace is slow because the author wants you to gradually get to know the characters and the town of Gaze. In the first part of the book, I liked how she set the pace, but later in some chapters, it became a bit difficult for me.

The last positive aspect I want to mention about this book is the cliffhangers in some chapters. The author did a great job because several of them left me with my mouth open, and I even had to stop reading because I was surprised by the revelation.

Now I will tell you what I didn't like about the book:

I wasn't convinced by the development of some of the characters because it felt a bit abrupt to me.

And finally, in some parts of the story, it seemed a bit confusing to me, and I don't think it's the author's fault because she doesn't use a complex vocabulary at any point. Maybe if I do a second reading, I will notice some details that I didn't notice before or see a scene from another perspective.

Surely I will read other novels by Iris Murdoch because I want to discover more stories she has written and see how her writing evolves.

I hope you liked the review and I wish you a great day. See you soon.

What a truly bizarre book this is!

It has left me with this extremely weird sensation. It's as if I'm young, drunk, dazed, and confused, all at once, in a party filled with familial strangers. In this strange gathering, we can freely talk about philosophy and the profound meaning of life. We can discuss love and death, those eternal and mysterious topics. We can also explore freedom and choice, which are so crucial yet often so puzzling in our lives.

It all unfolds in a dream-like manner, slowly and gradually, sucking me in like a bog that I can't seem to escape from. And stranger still, the unicorn is waiting for me, patiently standing next to a garbage bin. It's such an unexpected and strange sight.

So, it definitely gets a 5. It's one of those sneaky books that you unexpectedly fall in love with in a dream, and yet, you can never quite explain exactly how and why it has this hold on you.

Es fascinante. I don't know if it's just a coincidence or if my subconscious feels eager for reading every time a book by Iris Murdoch falls into my hands. But the fact is that in those days, insomnia returns. For a good purpose (I like to think). But getting up in the middle of the night with the need to keep reading is a kind of gift. Even though it steals three hours of sleep from you.

Iris Murdoch achieves a well-rounded work with "The Unicorn". The plot, the characters, the dialogues, the Platonic philosophical background... the symbolism perfectly articulated in the figure of the unicorn, a word that, by the way, only appears once in the book, but that perfectly explains the meaning and importance for the novel.

I only despaired towards the end, which seemed to slip through my hands like a river fish. Although the author knew perfectly well what she was doing and, not in vain, the quote from Shakespeare's comedies falls at the opportune moment, to let the reader see the purpose she is carrying out. It is remarkable the way in which many characters suffer from what I would classify as temporary Platonic loves that alter the course of the plot... until they understand that they cannot cling to the ideal object (the idea of the beloved being), but that they must open their eyes and see the real person (perhaps a murderer or a completely crazy person).

Iris also manages to create passages of genuine suspense. Some descriptions are unusual and force the reader to hold their breath, as happens in horror movies... achieving that with a book (where you can't play with the sound effects that movies abuse) is undoubtedly a greatness.

The characters in "The Unicorn" have a background that adds a lot of value to the novel. Understanding the reasons for each one becomes a mission of interest that keeps the reader attentive, trying to decipher the behavior of each one. Murdoch reveals it at the right moment...

Highly recommended.

My Christmas present to myself was finishing this.

And to be honest, I do think this is my favorite Murdoch.

I have been looking forward to completing this for a long time. It has been a labor of love, and I am so proud of the result.

Murdoch has always been one of my favorite authors, and this particular work has captured my heart.

The story is engaging, the characters are well-developed, and the writing is beautiful.

Finishing this on Christmas day made it even more special. It was a moment of pure joy and satisfaction.

I will cherish this Christmas present to myself for a long time to come.

The Daily Telegraph review on the back of my copy calls this book "sheer fascination".

This description is indeed so perfectly accurate that it could serve as my whole review.

The moment I picked up this book, I was immediately drawn in by its captivating nature.

It has a unique charm that keeps the reader engaged from start to finish.

The story unfolds in a way that is both exciting and unexpected, leaving you on the edge of your seat.

The characters are well-developed and relatable, making it easy to become invested in their lives.

Whether you're a fan of fiction or non-fiction, this book is sure to appeal to you.

It's a must-read for anyone looking for a truly fascinating read.

I highly recommend it to all book lovers out there.