A Word Child by iris murdoch

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

I realized one day that, despite being a lifelong and passionate reader, I had never once picked up a book by Iris Murdoch. I had always imagined her as a highly philosophical and very "English" novelist of manners. How mistaken I was!

She is actually a dark and wacky writer, prone to long screeds of dialogue, wildly distorted characters and plots, and moral chaos. Truly great novels always have those moments of epiphany for me, when I feel new perceptual horizons and understandings unfold. However, in the end, this book lacked that.

The settings in the novel, such as London enveloped in a cold and creeping fog, are fabulously evocative. And the dreadful people engaging in dreadful deeds in ever-increasing and unlikely twists of improbability make me feel both thrilled and slightly unclean by the end.

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Kuta_Berhe

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

Wow!!! I couldn't put this book down.

The twists and turns in the story were simply amazing. It kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end.

The characters were so well-developed that I felt like I knew them personally. Their actions and decisions were believable and added depth to the plot.

The wry humor in the book was a nice touch. It lightened the mood at times and made the reading experience even more enjoyable.

The writing was excellent. The author's use of language was vivid and descriptive, painting a clear picture in my mind.

But wait - I thought Gunnar could not have children? Didn't he have a son who committed suicide? This part really confused me and made me question what I thought I knew about the story.

I can't wait to find out the answer and see how this plot twist unfolds. Overall, this is an outstanding book that I would highly recommend to anyone looking for a great read.

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jekapin

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

4.5

This is a superbly written novel that features truly intriguing characters.

Albeit most of them are rather depraved, lacking in love, hope, and even the ability to exclaim.

The story, however, has a unique charm as it allows the characters to engage in devastating acts of truthfulness, which makes the whole narrative all the more impactful.

Iris Murdoch has an amazing talent for weaving almost any sentiment and thought into the ordinary lives of these people.

She teaches hope through the lost years of guilt-driven rumination.

Ultimately, the book makes it clear that it's your choice to waste time and happiness, and it will be in your hands to hold on to any glimmer of light.

It is touchingly human and humane.

The half star off explanation is that it is a sort of miserable story.

It is a very good one, clever and almost comical in parts, but miserable nonetheless.

Overall, it's a thought-provoking and engaging read that will stay with you long after you've finished the last page.

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alifib28

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

I purchased a copy of this book due to my recognition of the author's name and the fact that Amazon was offering the new Kindle edition for just $1.99. I've discovered some truly excellent books in this manner, although they're almost never new (A Word Child was penned in 1987). My encounter with this particular book, however, wasn't as favorable as I had anticipated.

I didn't take a liking to the main character, Hilary Burde. He describes himself thus: "There were others, especially in winter. Homeless people, lonely people, alcoholics, people on drugs, people in despair. We recognized each other." It's extremely difficult to like a character who is so self-centered, so controlling of others, and so depressed and unmotivated. I also didn't care for Hilary's sister, Crystal. Nor did I have any affection for Hilary's adversary, Gunnar, who is the injured party throughout this tale of adultery, involuntary manslaughter, nearly twenty years of guilt and depression, reconciliation, and Hilary's new betrayal of that same friend. The story progresses at a sluggish pace, being tightly centered around one man's uninteresting life and is rather bleak.

Nevertheless, I didn't cease reading and did admire a great deal of what the author had to convey regarding grief, guilt, friendship, and the interaction of chance with human folly. Who couldn't be amused by a statement like, "We did indeed understand each other and this was rare and now that we had given up the sex act I still enjoyed the word act with her, simply the unusual experience of communicating." Hilary's reflections on his prospects for a different life, after almost twenty years of virtual inactivity, are also quite astute: "I knew that my chances of getting an academic post, at my age and with my record, were nil. Who would write me a testimonial? Gunnar? As Stitchworthy had observed long ago, I was not really a scholar. I had nothing but my little versatile grammatical talent, my kinship with words, and of that I had, in all these years, made precisely nothing." You almost wish this character, the "Poor fish, victim of chance, muddler, little lecherous adulterer," would receive a good thrashing, which the author indeed provides, in abundance.

In the end, though, the story takes a toll on the reader. I wish I had selected one of Iris Murdoch's earlier novels. This one must have been among her last. In this instance, the dark mood overshadows the author's talent. Additionally, Amazon did a rather shoddy job of proofreading the text of their new edition, resulting in numerous typos.

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colonical

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

Wordy, verbose, over-long - these are the traits that can sometimes plague written works.

Philosophical musings can be interesting, but when they go on and on, they can lose their impact.

The same goes for wrenching emotions. While they can be powerful, if they are overly expressed, they can become overwhelming.

However, being smart and full of fog and bitterness can also add depth and complexity to a piece.

It's all about finding the right balance.

Too much of one thing can overshadow the others, but when combined in just the right way, they can create a truly remarkable and engaging article.

So, as we write, let's strive to be concise yet profound, emotional yet controlled, and smart yet relatable.

Only then can we hope to create something that will truly resonate with our readers.

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RetroGressive

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

Iris Murdoch must have been an extremely intelligent woman.

I had read one or two of her novels previously but didn't have a great liking for them. However, this particular one was quite good. Her writing exhibits strong masculine tones. Her wit is sharp and acerbic. Her writing style is stringent.

The main character, Hilary, has a prominent and superior intelligence that overshadows all the other characters'. Its pervasiveness makes us believe in his ability to direct his life to achieve maximum impact. On the other hand, the voice that Murdoch gives him drowns out much of the tenderness that is typically associated with the human condition in ordinary situations. Hilary seems almost apologetic for his superiority in this regard, especially towards his sister. She is a poor woman living a solitary life in a bedsitter due to his misdeeds. She is so infatuated with her brother that she is unable to face the truth of his life; his wish is her command. His character, and his alone, contributes to Murdoch's stringency as her writing is dedicated to his intelligence.

His life has become routine as a result of a catastrophe that took place while he was studying at Oxford. He feels an absolute need to control all possible outcomes going forward. The stress of an upcoming encounter related to this catastrophe caused me a significant amount of stress.

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seribi

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

I found this book to be truly compelling.

It is a wonderful Greek tragedy, filled with all the elements that make such tales so captivating. However, what sets it apart is the glimmer of hope that shines through.

The theme of selfless love is explored in a profound way, showing its power to redeem even the most broken of souls.

The story is so gripping that it just refuses to leave my mind. I keep thinking about the characters and their struggles, their moments of triumph and despair.

It is a book that makes you feel a whole range of emotions, from sadness and anger to joy and hope.

It is a literary masterpiece that I would highly recommend to anyone who loves a good story.

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fleurbleue

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

This is definitely my favourite of the Iris Murdoch books that I have so far read for the Murdoch a month challenge.

The characters in this book are truly fascinating complex beings. They are so well-developed that they seem to come alive on the pages.

The story is finely plotted, with twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat. And yet, it is a very readable Murdoch, a real page turner.

I particularly loved the descriptions of London in this one. London is a recurring feature in IM's work, but in this novel, there were a lot of references to places that I knew in London. Although I go there very seldom, it was interesting to read about those familiar locations.

I also enjoyed Hilary's "Office life". The bickering, gossip, and desk moving added a touch of realism and made the story even more engaging.

Overall, this is a wonderful book that I would highly recommend to anyone who loves good literature.

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A Word Child

iris murdoch

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