Martin Lynch-Gibbon's life takes a chaotic turn when his wife leaves him for her analyst and his best friend, Palmer Anderson. Despite their attempts to maintain a civilised facade, there are numerous complications to deal with. Martin has a mistress, and Palmer has a sister. In Murdoch's witty and wise story, it's clear that the thin veneer of civilisation will inevitably crack.

As the story unfolds, we see Martin grappling with his feelings for his mistress, Georgie, while also being forced to explain his adultery to his wife and her lover. Meanwhile, he finds himself increasingly drawn to the goddess-like Honor Klein. The merry-go-round of partner swapping eventually comes to a halt, but not before many humorous and thought-provoking moments.

Set in 1960s London, this novel is a satirical look at the world of analysis and the lives of over-cultivated characters. It was my first encounter with Murdoch's work, and I found it très amusant. The vivid descriptions and engaging characters make it a must-read for anyone interested in literature or the human psyche.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b066v39v



Description: When Martin Lynch-Gibbon's wife runs off with her analyst and his best friend, Palmer Anderson, the three characters attempt to behave in a civilised manner; but there is the matter of Martin's mistress and Palmer's sister to contend with and undoubtedly the thin veneer of civilisation will crack in Murdoch's witty and wise story.

"You can recognise the people who live for 
others by the haunted look on the faces of
the others."

1/5: Satire on analysis as a group of over-cultivated characters swap partners.



2/5: With his wife having left him, how does he feel about his mistress, Georgie.



3/5: Martin is forced to explain his adultery to his adulterous wife and her lover.



4/5: Martin finds ever more enthralled to the goddess-like qualities of Honor Klein



5/5: the merry-go round of partner swapping comes grinding to a halt.



Très amusant. Set in 60s London, this was my first ever Murdoch back in the day...

I'm truly not interested in this book at all. It seems completely irrelevant to me. However, I have been informed that at a certain point, it will be worthwhile.

Thank goodness for the short chapters. They make it a bit more bearable to get through.

I keep wondering when that "worthwhile" moment will come. Maybe it's hidden deep within the pages, waiting for me to discover.

Despite my initial lack of enthusiasm, I'm trying to keep an open mind and hope that the book will eventually prove its value.

Who knows, maybe by the end, I'll be glad I stuck with it. Only time will tell.

Iris Murdoch reminds me a great deal of Henry James. Her writing style is almost scientific in nature. There is a distinct method and a clear premise, and then the rest unfolds through a process of investigation. It progresses step by step until the story reaches its conclusion. Nothing ever seems out of place; everything is perfectly arranged. When it comes to her novels, they all appear to be completely flawless.

This particular one is much more farcical compared to the others that I have read by her. Everyone is involved in a web of relationships, and nobody is telling the truth. It may not have the deep emotional core that, for example, "The Sandcastle" possesses, but it is still delightfully surprising on every page.

I think I am beginning to understand that one of the things Murdoch is exploring is the impossibility of truly knowing ourselves. Most stories commence with someone having a desire, and then perhaps along the way, they reevaluate or reconceptualize. In Iris Murdoch's stories, people are constantly changing; their desires shift from one scene to the next, depending on everyone and everything else. The challenge for her characters is not so much in obtaining what they want, but rather in coming to terms with the fact that what they want is forever in a state of flux. I don't even really know how to fully comprehend that. But when I read her books, I always have these strange geometric shapes floating in my mind.

(That last line might seem like a non sequitur. And perhaps it is. But hey, what the hell.)

I can't believe it. I just finished reading a book, but I failed to empathize with a single character in it. It's quite strange.

However, somehow, I still didn't end up hating the book. Maybe it's because of Murdoch's unique language and sentence structure.

Her way of expressing ideas and constructing sentences is really interesting. It catches my attention and makes me want to keep reading.

In fact, I'm glad I read it. Although I didn't have a deep emotional connection with the characters, I still gained something from the experience.

It made me think about different writing styles and how they can affect the reader's perception. Overall, it was an interesting read, and I look forward to exploring more of Murdoch's works in the future.