Modern picaresque novel.

At the very beginning of the story, Jack Donaghue is completely lost, and unfortunately, the situation doesn't improve as the plot progresses.

Occasionally, Murdoch manages to transcend the level of a merely hilarious tragicomedy. For instance, there is a masterly chapter on Paris on 14 July, which showcases his writing skills.

However, more often than not, this book offers little more than an easy reading, sometimes incredibly boring, humorous story. It fails to provide the depth and substance that one might expect from a modern picaresque novel.

I, for one, had high expectations, but unfortunately, they were not met.

This book could have been so much more, but as it stands, it falls short of the mark.

Perhaps with a bit more effort and a deeper exploration of the themes and characters, it could have been a truly great work of literature.

As it is, it remains a somewhat disappointing read.

The story revolves around Jack, a writer and journalist leading a chaotic and unrestrained life. He doesn't care about anything, not even fame and wealth. He is like a reed that yields to the wind and goes wherever it pleases. It also focuses on some events that happened to him during certain periods of his life with his friends, especially Hodge, the strange-looking man who has his own philosophy, to the extent of giving up his wealth more than once for an idea... There is a lot of discussion and debate about several issues... There is a lot of self-awareness of the narrator Jack and his inner world, and his insights into analyzing himself, his emotions, and his contradictions...

There are no unfamiliar events, as this story is not based mainly on strange events, nor even on poetic language. However, it is more of a spiritual journey for the protagonist, and a view of this type of bohemian personality that tends to dream and detach from reality and how to deal with real life... Through it, one can read a lot of intelligent conversations and a deep look at the universe and many things in life, so that one feels that everything has its own philosophy, even children's games... And in the end, the author provided a solution, a solution that helps this personality to adjust itself so as not to rush into practical nothingness, by realizing that manual work and seeing its completion with one's own eyes is beneficial for his balance, because pure mental work leaves a person with a feeling that he has accomplished nothing... The end made me smile and reminded me of the teacher who once mentioned this idea to me as advice...

I will not claim that the story is a literary masterpiece, or perhaps it is, I'm not completely sure because I read it in a very bad mood. However, it still entertained me with its sharp and concise sentences, and with its way of handling all these mental ideas in a pleasant way without any boredom ever creeping in, and with a style that is not lacking in grace so that I did not feel constricted... And the truth is that what caught my attention the most and pleased me is that it is rare for me to read a woman who thinks or writes like this...

And in the end, of course, thanks to the colleague who recommended the story to me and said that it would please me, for I would not have bought it on my own, since the publishing house does not give up its habit of publishing its books in a shabby state so that you would not believe that such an ugly cover contains all this depth and intelligence behind it...

Dave once made a profound statement to me. He said that to find a person inexhaustible is simply the very definition of love. Maybe, just maybe, that's why I loved Anna. We all exist in the interstices of each other's lives. If only we could see everything, we would all be in for a big surprise.

Jack Donaghue presents himself as a writer, yet his sole book, The Silencer, achieved no notable success. He manages to scrape by in life mainly by sponging off his friends and, on occasion, providing translations of others' novels. As the novel commences, Jack and his cousin Finn are compelled to vacate the apartment where they've been staying. In search of a new place to live, Jack reaches out to Anna, the woman he once cherished. This leads him to her sister Sadie and ultimately to the larger-than-life man who served as the inspiration for his one book, Hugo Belfounder.

Under the Net frequently features on lists of the 100 greatest novels. I must admit that the reasons for such high acclaim eluded me. Perhaps it's because the novel is a classic exemplar of the picaresque. Jack seldom holds a steady job and survives on his wits, but his ne'er-do-well proclivities are more mischievous than criminal. Narrated by Jack in the first person, the plot is really more of a succession of interconnected vignettes. Jack bounces from getting locked in a house to skinny dipping in the Thames, kidnapping a movie star dog, and so forth. I found the relationships between Jack, Hugo, Anna, and Sadie fascinating, and I appreciated the writing. However, I just couldn't fully immerse myself in the story. I'd rate it 2.5 stars, which I'll round up to 3.

I really find it extremely difficult to put into words precisely why I have developed such a profound love for Iris Murdoch.

I was initially introduced to her remarkable writing through The Black Prince.

Surprisingly, it isn't the intricate plot or even truly the characters that irresistibly draw me in. In fact, to be honest, I don't really have a great affection for the people in her books. However, in this particular book, there is an abundance of humor to be discovered. It's almost like a slow, drawn-out Wodehouse novel, with a charm and wit that gradually unfolds.

So, it must be something about her unique writing style that I am so fond of. That has to be the reason. It's a style that feels comfortable and familiar, like a warm embrace. It's a soothing style that lulls you into a state of literary bliss. I am now determined to seek out more of her books and explore the wonderful world she has created through her words.

I can't wait to see what other treasures I will uncover in her literary works.

I wasn't anticipating to have such a profound love for this. It truly is the most wonderful feeling when a book manages to astonish you unexpectedly.

I purchased this in London along with a friend, with whom I resided during my university days. So, while reading about these young men indulging in drinks and engaging in political discussions, it felt incredibly relatable to my own university experience, which, unfortunately, has now come to an end.

Of course, as the plot progresses, it takes an interesting turn, and some rather semi-mad yet entirely serious events unfold. I have never been as enamored with a dog in any film or book as I am with Mister Mars. What a remarkable hero he is! I wish I could claim him for myself too, although he rightfully belongs with Jake.

Surprisingly, this book is highly entertaining, filled with humor, and deeply heartfelt. I had no such expectations from Murdoch at all. Therefore, I am now looking forward to delving into some of her other novels and uncovering what they have to offer.

Murdoch is being dazzled by it. It is extremely entertaining and most of the time enjoyable. It reflects on wealth, love, and fame.

"I don't remember what it is about her that makes me call her mysterious, and yet she always seemed to me an unfathomable being. Dave once told me that finding someone inexhaustible is simply the definition of love."

This story not only captivates the reader with its engaging plot but also makes one stop and think about the deeper aspects of life. The characters are well-developed, and their relationships add an extra layer of complexity.

As we follow the protagonist's journey, we are drawn into a world of emotions and experiences. The descriptions are vivid, making it easy to picture the scenes in our minds.

Overall, it is a truly remarkable piece of work that leaves a lasting impression.

I was truly sad to witness the conclusion of this book.

Throughout the process of reading it, I had such an incredibly lovely time.

It was like a precious gem that brought me joy and excitement with each turn of the page.

The story was engaging, the characters were well-developed, and the plot was full of twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat.

And when it finally came to an end, I was left with a sense of satisfaction and contentment.

The ending was not only quite sweet but also perfect.

It tied up all the loose ends and left me with a warm feeling in my heart.

I will definitely recommend this book to all my friends and family.

It is a must-read for anyone who loves a good story.

I once had a philosophy teacher who was deeply in love with Wittgenstein. Hugo's philosophy, which opposed general theories and the imputation of the capacity of language to communicate truth, was highly reminiscent of W's philosophy. ("Whereof one cannot speak, thereof one must be silent.") I embarked on a search for a possible connection between Murdoch's book and W. Here's what I discovered: "One of the concepts Wittgenstein professed in his widely read philosophical treatise Tractatus (1921) is that the deepest truths, although conceivable by people, can never be fully verbalized. He believed that truths are diminished by the limitations of language. Any attempt to discuss, explain, or write a truth is like placing a net over it, essentially blurring the image, making the truth less than perfect, or in other words, hindering it. By choosing her title, Murdoch thus indicates that she is incorporating the Wittgenstein theory into her work."
Wittgenstein was at Oxford overlapping with Murdoch for several years, and his influence was inescapable. Murdoch taught philosophy at Oxford, and the philosophical aspect shines through a great deal in this book.
However, aside from this connection, the book has numerous values. Jake's behavior appears illogical and follows a repeated pattern: must find Ann, must find Hugo, must kidnap a dog... There are no rationalizations for why he must do these things. He feels it instinctively and follows the feeling without adorning the quest with grand theories. With both Ann and Hugo, Jake experiences the inability of words to communicate what he needs, and he uses his body, tackling them both to the ground, to kiss Ann and warn Hugo. When words fail, he resorts to using his body. I think Murdoch views all behaviors as irrational pursuits thinly disguised with semblances of logic that are actually fictional, more nets covering the truth.
("After the dignity of silence and absence, the vulgarity of speech.")
I relished the absurdist humor, bordering on slapstick, that pervades the book. I also delighted in the Paris pilgrimage that included places I know and love well, such as Rue Dauphine, where I have spent a week each year for the past 12 years! :)
The combination of humor, absurdism, philosophy, and delightful characters makes for an amazing first novel. My favorite characters are Finn and Mrs Tinck - awesome Dickensian characters - perhaps because they represent the silence that implies truth.
I would love to find a class where this book is analyzed as it has so much depth!!!
Favorite quotes:
"I was for letting the usual spell bind me; life has so few moments which announce themselves as sacred."
"Money. The heart of reality. The rejection of reality the only crime. I was a dreamer, a criminal."
"When does one ever know a human being? Perhaps only after one has realized the impossibility of knowledge and renounced the desire for it and finally ceased to feel even the need of it. But then what one achieves is no longer knowledge, it is simply a kind of co-existence; and this too is one of the guises of love."
".What is urgent is not urgent forever but only ephemerally. All work and all love, the search for wealth and fame, the search for truth, like itself, are made up of moments which pass and become nothing. Yet through this shaft of nothings we drive onward with that miraculous vitality that creates our precarious habitations in the past and the future. So we live; a spirit that broods and hovers over the continual death of time, the lost meaning, the unrecaptured moment, the unremembered face, until the final chop that ends all our moments and plunges that spirit back into the void from which it came."
"The quenching of thirst is so exquisite a pleasure that it is a scandal that no amount of ingenuity can prolong it."

Iris Murdoch's first novel was published in 1954. Later, Murdoch said that she was ashamed of this novel and thought it was childish. She probably made this statement because of the novel's humorous tone. The novels she wrote later, influenced by her being a professor of philosophy, related her conflicts to philosophical problems. Interestingly, critics say that Murdoch's best novel is "The Bell". In fact, Time magazine lists it among the 100 best English-language novels of the 20th century. I also agree with the critics. It is a very good picaresque novel.

We witness the life of Jake Donoghue, who translates pulp novels. He doesn't take his translation work seriously and doesn't want to find another job either. He gets by with the help of those around him. Imagine that the ghost Oğuz lives in London. The novel begins with Jake's rush to find a house. Among the things he takes from the house when moving are Beckett's "Murphy" and Queneau's "My Friend Pierrot". This choice gives a hint about the novel. The heroes of both novels are anti-heroes. Jake is also joining them.

The novel entertained me to an unexpected extent. Although Murdoch was ashamed of it, it contained as much philosophy as her philosophical novels. The emotionality behind the humor was very well reflected in a surprising way. It was a very rhythmic novel with a high reading pleasure.

Not quite an absurdist work but filled with delightfully absurd moments. Jake casually judo tackling and rolling Hugo into the open doors shortly before the socialist brawl breaks out on the set of ancient Rome is a particular highlight.

Hugo was the best character, in his endearing mix of towering physical stature juxtaposed with naïveté, intellectual blend of Russell and Wittgenstein, and general innocence. Jake was well written, and his slow emergence out of psychological solipsism was well-arced. His adventures around London and Paris remind me of the Orwell work despite having never read it - surely it’s incredibly different but the title would be a fitting summary. Although Jake’s attention span is probably too short to ever be truly down and out. It’s amusing to read a work of fiction that’s not primarily concerned with philosophy by an author who studied philosophy - invariably there will be little moments of “ah, yea”.

The quotes from Iris Murdoch's "Under the Net" add depth and philosophical musings to the overall narrative. Her words paint vivid pictures and offer profound insights into human nature, love, and the meaning of life. For example, "I felt neither happy nor sad, only rather unreal, like a man shut in a glass." This description captures that strange state of being where one feels detached from the world around them.

Another beautiful quote is "to find a person inexhaustible is simply the definition of love." It speaks to the idea that true love is not based on physical attraction or fleeting emotions but on a deep and abiding connection that withstands the test of time.

The comparison between Paris and New York is also interesting. While Paris remains an unresolved harmony for the narrator, New York is the harmony to the notes of their own being. Each city has its own unique charm and significance, and the narrator's relationship with them is complex and multifaceted.

Overall, this article offers a fascinating exploration of a work of fiction and the philosophical ideas it contains. The use of quotes and personal reflections adds depth and authenticity to the piece, making it a truly engaging read.

Iris Murdoch is truly one of my favorite writers. I have already read four of her books, and this latest one is no exception. What amazes me about her is her remarkable ability to delve into both psychology and philosophy simultaneously, all while zeroing in on the crucial moments in the lives of her characters. I remember reading “The Sea, The Sea,” her Man Booker Prize-winning work, and being completely stunned. However, the other books I’ve read by her have proven to be even more powerful than that award-winning novel.

As Murdoch herself so beautifully put it, “Starting a novel is opening a door on a misty landscape; you can still see very little but you can smell the earth and feel the wind blowing.” This novel began with great promise, seemingly raising a plethora of psychological questions. Its intricate plot also held much potential at the outset. But as I read on, I felt that the author was more adrift than actually addressing the problems initially presented to the reader. This could perhaps have been a deliberate strategy, and having read Murdoch before, I was somewhat expecting it. In the end, though, the problems remained unresolved, still alive and untouched. Maybe the whole point was simply to lay out some philosophical ideas and not really debate them, but rather to stimulate the reader’s mind and prompt them to ponder over them. While I do appreciate subtlety, in this case, the approach was perhaps a bit too subtle for me to fully appreciate.

The story centers around Jake Donaghue, a rather bohemian writer who once had a book published but now only does translation work. He gets evicted from his accommodation and has to seek a solution. He contacts a friend, Dave, for help, and Dave suggests he get in touch with Anna, a woman he had loved years ago. When he meets her, a chain of events is set in motion. Jake discovers that everything around him is interconnected in the most unexpected ways. Anna is in love with someone he thought was his best friend, and this friend is in love with Anna’s sister. He had stopped communicating with this friend, Hugo, long ago because the only book he published was a modified version of their discussions, and he feared Hugo would be offended.

As Murdoch so poetically states, “we all live in the interstices of each other’s lives, and we could all get a surprise if we could see everything.” Jake Donaghue gets a taste of this “everything” and realizes that all his previous perceptions were completely wrong. As I read in one of the reviews on Goodreads, I too believe that “Under the Net” is a book about language and its limitations in expressing certain things. It emphasizes the fact that life itself is a jumble of meaningless events to which the individual赋予 meaning. Jack’s life experiences a series of misunderstandings, and this combination of chance and chaos conspires to transform his perception of life. His past, present, and future all rewrite themselves, and he has to renegotiate his true feelings towards Anna, Hugo, and his writing career. Murdoch describes his revelations in the book with great poetry in the following passages: “What then took place within my mind was much the same as happens in a huge theater if the lights suddenly go out, and someone shrilly screams in the swift-winged darkness, and other voices join in, resulting in a blind tempest, with the black thunder of panic growing-until suddenly the lights come on again, and the performance of the play is blandly resumed.” And “Events stream past us like these crowds and the face of each is seen only for a minute. What is urgent is not urgent for ever but only ephemerally. All work and all love, the search for wealth and fame, the search for truth, like itself, are made up of moments which pass and become nothing. Yet through this shaft of nothings we drive onward with that miraculous vitality that creates our precarious habitations in the past and the future. So we live: a spirit that broods and hovers over the continual death of time, the lost meaning, the unrecaptured moment, the unremembered face, until the final chop that ends all our moments and plunges that spirit back into the void from which it came.”

Now, as I reflect on this book while writing this review, I realize that Murdoch’s work is not bad at all. In fact, it is really quite good. It just requires a lot more thought and reflection than perhaps some of her other books in order to fully understand its meanings. She subtly highlights that language is a barrier, and we are trapped under the net of language. It can create emotional prisons, and our feelings sometimes become impossible to express because the power of words is limited. My initial reaction was one of disappointment. But after reexamining my thoughts about this book, I can say that Murdoch has once again managed to impress me with her ability to present very deep psychological problems. I somewhat identify with her character Jake Donaghue in that I felt I had a misperception when I finished the book, and only after some time of pondering and analyzing did I come to realize the true depth of what I had read.
Well done, Murdoch. You remain among my favorite authors! I knew you wouldn’t disappoint me!

I truly wish that Goodreads would widen its rating scale. My assessment of this book lies precisely in that in-between zone of 'really liked it' and 'it was amazing'. It's more of a 'really, REALLY liked it'.

After finishing a novel, I usually take great pleasure in reading its page on Goodreads. Seeing my own thoughts mirrored in the reviews of other readers gives me a certain narcissistic satisfaction and effectively suppresses any impulse to pen my own review. However, today I was bitterly disappointed. There were so many complaints against this truly marvelous piece! People were saying the story was too chaotic, pointless, and improbable, and that the other characters were too flat. And what was up with this senseless philosophy that Hugo and Jake seemed to entertain?

I read those comments and could hardly believe my eyes. Somehow, those individuals had managed to distort every single merit of the novel into a vice. The "Under the Net" they had read was most definitely not the one that I had read and loved so much. From my perspective, the narrative is elegant and flowing, with the chaotic elements seamlessly synthesized into a harmonious whole. The fantastic events seem entirely fitting for a protagonist who is constantly lost in his own thoughts, living in the clouds, and anticipating a thrill in every moment of his life. As for the supposedly flat characters, their somewhat unreal quality can be attributed to the way Jake denies them any significance or individuality outside of himself and manipulates their images to suit his own preferences. This tendency is finally exposed when we meet Hugo, and we realize that he is not as Jake had portrayed him.

Therefore, I was a little astonished when I read in one of the reviews: "the personality of some of the characters is not consistent throughout the book. For example, in the first few chapters, Hugo seems to be a serious philosopher mouthing profound long lines (...) Then towards the end of the novel, especially in the hospital runaway, this Hugo resurfaced and believe me that he speaks very plainly and almost always in one liner as if he is totally a different character." Well, of course! That was precisely the point. I firmly believe that most of those people who criticized the novel simply failed to grasp its essence.