I firmly believe that I will never grow weary of Iris Murdoch. In fact, I am on a dedicated mission to peruse every single book within her extensive oeuvre.

"Under the Net" stands out as an exceptionally brilliant piece of literature that delves deep into the realm of language and its inherent limitations in expressing certain profound aspects of life. The leitmotif of this book posits that life is essentially an amalgamation of seemingly meaningless events, and it is only the individual who bestows meaning upon them.

It is undeniably a very British book, richly infused with the unique sounds and rhythms that characterize the vibrant life of London. It offers a captivating portrayal of the city and its inhabitants, while also exploring profound philosophical and literary themes. The story weaves together a tapestry of characters and their experiences, highlighting the complex and often mysterious nature of human existence. Overall, "Under the Net" is a remarkable work that showcases Iris Murdoch's extraordinary literary talent and her ability to engage readers on multiple levels.

The book is exquisitely written. It is extremely witty and has a very British charm.

It has this alluring quality that makes you long to visit London and Paris, as if both cities are essential characters within the novel.

However, despite my appreciation for Murdoch's remarkable mastery of language, I didn't have much interest in the story itself.

I'm afraid that this particular work simply doesn't suit my taste. It's like a cup of tea that, no matter how beautifully presented, just isn't the flavor I prefer.

Maybe for others, the combination of the engaging language and the vivid portrayal of the cities would be enough to make the story a hit. But for me, it fell a bit short.

Nonetheless, I can still recognize the talent and skill that went into writing this book, even if it didn't quite capture my heart.

Perhaps I'll give Murdoch's other works a try in the future, hoping to find a story that speaks to me more deeply.

Iris Murdoch is truly one of my favorite authors. This is the sixth book of hers that I have delved into, and I never in my wildest dreams thought I would rate one of them a '3', yet here we are. I'll explain in more detail below. Despite the rating, it's still a captivating story.

We are introduced to a hapless antihero named Jake, probably in his early 30s, aimlessly bumming around London. He fancies himself an intellectual but also acknowledges that he's essentially a 'literary hack'. He manages to scrape by some money by translating crappy books from French. However, Jake is a guy who has never been able to hold down a full-time job. Eventually, he gets a job as a hospital orderly and surprisingly enjoys it, but as fate would have it, he loses it.

Jake survives by house-sitting and crashing in friends' houses and attics of old girlfriends. He's a decent guy, and women generally seem to like him. He has a sidekick named Finn, a Sancho Panza-like figure who is the stereotypical hard-drinking Irishman. Finn provides the muscle and does the menial tasks for Jake's various adventures.

Jake always seems to make the wrong decision. It must be something in his genes. Even when he carefully weighs all the pros and cons in his mind, and the cons far outweigh the pros, he somehow manages to talk himself into doing the wrong thing. “If one has good reasons for an action one should not be deterred from doing it because one may also have bad reasons.” This aspect of his escapades, along with a complicated love triangle (or rather, a love rectangle), makes up most of the story. I'll just make up names to avoid giving anything away. Bob loves Lois who loves Tony who loves Diane who loves Bob. So, the plot thickens.

Jake interacts with some wealthy people. There are two sisters, one a famous actress, and three wealthy men who are entrepreneurs. One is a bookie, and one is in filmmaking. Despite having hardly any money to his name, Jake has a knack for turning down money and ends up relying on hot tips on horses from the bookie for much of his income.

Jake believes that a valuable manuscript he wrote has been stolen from him, so he enlists Finn's help to kidnap a valuable show dog as ransom to get the manuscript back. However, true to his hapless lifestyle, the manuscript was not actually stolen - he could have simply asked for it back. And the dog turns out to have been put out to pasture. No one wants him, and he has no financial value.

The author's day job was as a professor at Oxford, so all her novels have concepts from philosophy or life philosophy themes incorporated into them. Two such themes are evident in this story. One is political, centered around a socialist political activist aptly named 'Lefty'. He corners Jake in a bar. They are both socialists, but Jake couldn't care less about politics, so Lefty engages him in a Socratic dialog to challenge him: Is it that you don't care, or is it that you feel it's hopeless to try to do anything? Well, Jake tells him, it's a bit of both, and they're interconnected, aren't they?

A second, more prominent theme, developed through several discussions with another character, is 'do you need a general theory or philosophy of life to get by?' Or can you be a pragmatist and make your decisions on the fly? Obviously, Jake has chosen the latter, and we even get to read excerpts from a book he is writing about all this.

And one more bit of profound philosophy. Remember the love rectangle? “Some situations can't be unraveled.” lol

There are some great examples of humor in the book that I really liked. For instance, “I have often asked Finn why he shakes his head when he has a hangover, and he tells me that it's to make the spots move away from in front of his eyes.” Or “He [Finn] loves trouble, his own or other people’s without discrimination…” And “After all, she had no father, and I felt in loco parentis. It was about the only locus I had left.”

There is also some beautiful writing. “Arriving in Paris always causes me pain, even when I have been away for only a short while. It is a city which I never fail to approach with expectation and leave with disappointment. There is a question which only I can ask and which only Paris can answer; but this question is something which I have never yet been able to formulate. Certain things indeed I have learnt here: for instance, that my happiness has a sad face, so sad that for years I took it for my unhappiness and drove it away.”

“What is more tormenting than a meeting after a long time, when all of the words fall to the ground like dead things, and the spirit that should animate them floats disembodied in the air? We both felt its presence.”

Still, it's a good story, and I enjoyed the humor in the writing. So, why rate it a '3'? As it turns out, and I didn't know this while reading the book, this was the first novel that Murdoch published in 1954. Obviously, her skills improved over time. I didn't enjoy the slapstick Three Stooges-like, overly-long escapade about kidnapping the dog and escaping with it through London. I also thought there were several other overly-long passages of 5 or more pages that didn't really go anywhere. For example, Jake wandering through Paris in pursuit of a woman through streets and parks, or another slapstick episode where a movie stage set of Rome collapses, and a breaking and entering scene to get to see someone in a hospital.

But I'll backtrack a bit more. I note that Under the Net has a similar overall ranking on GR as her other novels. Of all her novels, Under the Net was selected in 1998 as one of Modern Library's 100 best English-language novels of the 20th century. (I think it should have been her Booker prize winner, The Sea, the Sea.)

I found this first novel to be quite impressive, yet I only had a semi-liking for it.

The First Person POV misanthropic antihero brought to mind Salinger to some extent. The highly detailed descriptions reminded me somewhat of A. S. Byatt. Moreover, the semantics/linguistics philosophy strongly reminded me of Alfred Korzybski and S. I. Hayakawa.

I hold great admiration for all of these other writers and thinkers. Therefore, I'm rather surprised that I didn't like this novel more than I did. Perhaps it was the wandering nature of the plot that left me desiring more narrative pull.

Anyway, I would like to give another one of her novels a try in the future. If you're a fan and have a favorite, please do send me a recommendation.

I'm eager to explore more of her works and see if there's one that can truly capture my heart and imagination.

Maybe the next novel will have that special something that this one was lacking, and I'll be able to fully appreciate her writing style and storytelling abilities.

Only time will tell, but for now, I remain curious and open to the possibilities.

This is the first Iris Murdoch novel (her debut novel) that I have read.

And although I don't like to give up on a writer after just one attempt, I am really trying to envision the reasons why I might want to read any more of her works.

I gave the book 2 stars - 'it was ok' - because it was indeed just okay, but only barely so.

She has the ability to write and construct lovely sentences, yet the story was so weak and underdeveloped that it has completely diminished my appetite for more.

I have spent the past few days wondering, "Is there something amiss with this book? Or is there something wrong with my expectations as a 21st-century reader?"

There is movement, but very little actual action in this book.

There is a hint of violence, but it's just a minor scuffle at a political rally.

There is nothing even remotely resembling sex, just a bit of tender longing for lost love.

In other words, you could give this book to your grandmother to read without feeling embarrassed about its content.

At its steamiest - when four drunk men go skinny-dipping in the Thames after midnight - it still barely reaches a PG-13 rating.

So once again, I ask, have I become so jaded that I expect sex, violence, car chases, and the occasional explosion to be a reasonable reflection of the real world?

Was 1954 London and Paris such a warm and cozy place where no one was harmed, no one dropped their drawers except to swim, and where the only things at stake were closing time at the pubs and one's bank balance?

And so, putting aside cultural pondering, the two main criticisms I have are that Murdoch fails to convince me that a man is telling this story.

Her characterization is far more feminine than can be reasonably believed.

If Jake Donahue had a bosom, it would be heaving.

Secondly, Murdoch makes too many philosophical asides that pull you out of the fictive world of the story.

If you want to be a philosopher, write non-fiction.

Again, I don't like to abandon a writer after a single book, especially their debut, so if anyone can suggest which of her novels are better, I would be grateful for your thoughts.

The first thing to note is that Nandakishore Mridula has already penned the perfect review of Under the Net.

We both shared the same reaction to this aspect about PHILOSOPHY that everyone and their kidnapped dog rambles on about in all other reviews. (By the way, there is a kidnapped dog in this book.) And our reaction was simply APPLESAUCE.

Now, let's consider two things. Firstly, Iris Murdoch was a 24-carat solid gold, real-world philosopher. At the tender age of 28, she was already lecturing in philosophy at Oxford University and wrote the first book on Sartre in English. She was truly a hot potato when it came to thinking deeply. Secondly, I dragged my sorry self over to the London Review of Books where I read my LAST FREE ARTICLE on Under the Net by Michael Wood (“Don’t Worry about the Pronouns”). He believes that philosophy is oozing out of every pore of Under the Net, as he thinks parts of this novel are an early parody of structuralist thought and that characters like Finn the silent moocher or Hugo the rich firework manufacturer represent particular Wittgensteinian arguments.

I'm taking a wild guess here and saying that this might not appeal much to the general reader. Instead, most readers will find Under the Net to be a fairly comical farce. It involves a penniless translator who bounces around London and Paris like someone in the throes of the manic phase of a bipolar disorder. He constantly decides, after not seeing an old girlfriend for years, that he is suddenly IN LOVE with her. Or out of the blue, he decides that this woman will definitely be IN PARIS RIGHT NOW and, of course, he will be able to find her because Paris is so small. And he realizes that the very thing to resolve his current complicated problems is to KIDNAP A DOG. He makes huge assumptions about everyone, which (no spoiler) are later discovered to be quite inaccurate.

This entire cockamamie tale is one giant shaggy dog story, which wiki expertly defines as an extremely long-winded anecdote characterized by extensive narration of typically irrelevant incidents and terminated by an anticlimax. Unreal characters have very unlikely things happen to them. For example, the ex-gf’s sister is now a big movie star who is being stalked by his old friend the fireworks manufacturer, who is now a movie producer. And the dog is a famous movie star too. And Jake, our hapless writer, will break into your house if he feels like it because he can pick locks.

I think the dog represents logical positivism (note that it was in a cage but was freed by Jake) and the lock-picking tools must be Tractatus Logico-philosophicus, the masterwork by Wittgenstein.

JOKING ASIDE This all might sound like I didn't have much time for IM’s first novel, but I was actually quite charmed while reading it. She drags us along at a rapid pace, and it's all fun and fireworks. She has a spiffy style. There are a couple of moments of drunken despondency and moaning about futility, but you have to take the rough with the smooth. So, I kind of enjoyed it, even though I didn't really understand what the heck was going on, just like Jake.

**Under the Net: A Multi-faceted Novel by Iris Murdoch**

Iris Murdoch's "Under the Net" is a remarkable work that delves into various themes and ideas. Published in 1954, it was her first novel to see the light of day. The story follows the adventures of Jake Donoghue, an Irishman in London. Jake is a somewhat bohemian character who earns a living by translating trashy French novels and sponging off his friends. However, beneath the surface of this seemingly light comic tale lies a deeper exploration of philosophy and truth.

The title, "Under the Net," is a metaphor borrowed from Ludwig Wittgenstein. Wittgenstein believed that the deepest truths are inexpressible and that any attempt to put them into words is like placing a net over the truth, blurring its image. This idea is central to the novel, as Jake discovers that our subjective descriptions of the world are unreliable and do not represent the truth itself.
The characters in the novel also play an important role in exploring these themes. For example, Hugo Belfounder is a wise and enigmatic figure who represents truth. He dislikes definitions and believes that truth can only be attained in silence. Jake, on the other hand, is an artist who attempts to express and communicate ideas through language. The relationship between Jake and Hugo can be seen as a conflict between the artist and the saint, between the desire to express and the need for contemplation.
Another important character is Anna Quentin, the director of a theatre of mime. Anna symbolizes truth, but she is also elusive and difficult to define. Jake is drawn to her, but he is also afraid of her. The theatre of mime, with its emphasis on silence and movement, represents a form of art that is closer to the truth than language.
The novel also contains many allusions to other works of literature and philosophy. For example, the character of Jake is influenced by the works of Samuel Beckett and Raymond Queneau. The allusions to Beckett's "Murphy" and Queneau's "Pierrot mon ami" suggest that Jake's story is part of a larger literary tradition.
In conclusion, "Under the Net" is a complex and thought-provoking novel that rewards multiple readings. It is a work that combines humor, adventure, and philosophy in a unique and engaging way. Iris Murdoch's use of language is masterful, and her ability to create believable characters and situations is truly remarkable. Whether read as a light comic tale or as a serious exploration of philosophy and truth, "Under the Net" is a novel that will leave a lasting impression on the reader.

I both hate loneliness and am afraid of closeness. The essence of my life is a special conversation that I have with myself, and turning this into a dialogue is tantamount to destroying myself. What I need is spiritual companionship, the kind that pubs and cafes can provide. I have never wanted what is called spiritual togetherness. After all, it is already difficult enough for a person to tell the truth even to himself.

This is one of the most ideal books to get to know Iris Murdoch.

Iris Murdoch's works often explore complex themes such as human nature, morality, and relationships. In this passage, she vividly expresses her ambivalence towards loneliness and closeness. Her description of the special conversation with oneself reveals a deep sense of self-awareness and introspection. The need for spiritual companionship, as opposed to a more intense form of togetherness, shows her preference for a certain level of independence and privacy.

By reading this book, we can gain a better understanding of Murdoch's unique perspective on life and her profound insights into the human condition. It offers a valuable opportunity to explore our own feelings and experiences in relation to loneliness, closeness, and the search for meaning in life.

This is my very first Iris Murdoch novel. In fact, I have been having the intention to read something written by her for a number of years. Initially, I was half anticipating that it would be rather dense and perhaps a bit stuffy, considering she is a literary award-winning author and all that. However, to my great delight, it was nothing of the sort.

This book features a likeable, somewhat puckish, and picaresque protagonist. He leads the reader through a few days of his life in a conversational and easy-to-read style. We get to observe the carousel of his relationships as the people in his life dance around him. We also witness his philosophy of life as it evolves and grows. Additionally, we share in some rather amusing hi-jinx that involve a canine movie star.

Although it didn't exactly blow me away or move me deeply, I can truthfully say that "Under The Net" was a joy to read. The audiobook version of this novel was read by Samuel West, and his narration was truly superb. It was so good that I am now tempted to check out other audiobooks that he has read, regardless of the author.

Admittedly, I do have a certain bias.

This is because I already have a sort of worship for Iris Murdoch.

Frankly speaking, I kind of aspire to be her someday.

It's just wishful thinking, though.

However, this is an absolute marvel of a 'first' book.

The characters in it are endearingly infuriating.

Their entanglements are odd and outrageous.

And the prose is so charming and clever.

You may very well find yourself smiling like an idiot on your morning commute.

This is because it's just impossible not to.

I would rate it five stars.

It has become a favorite of mine.

I can't help but recommend this book to everyone.

It truly is a remarkable piece of literature.

Only a few weeks late, I finally finished this book for a July literary birthday read.

What an extremely odd book it is! At the very beginning, I took it quite seriously. That is, until I gradually realized that it was actually meant to be funny.

Parts of it were entirely absurd and vividly reminded me of that crazy movie that the Beatles released in 1964, namely A Hard Day's Night. It was like a wild and madcap romp around London. There was no specific destination, just following the whims and the needs of the moment. Running away from people; racing around frantically trying to find other people. It was indeed funny for a while, but then it started to become rather confusing.

On the other hand, certain parts of this book were extremely philosophical, almost bordering on being wise! I haven't given it enough thought to precisely figure out what Murdoch was attempting to convey (if there was anything specific). However, I came across a nice review on GR which seemed to summarize it quite neatly. The review can be found here.

I firmly believe that I need to further ponder this book. There is an abundance of content in it - it's just rather difficult to see how it all coherently connects.

Under the Net is an extraordinary blend of philosophy and amusement. It combines slapstick elements with deep contemplation. Murdoch manages to bring the bizarre scenes and comical plots to the ground and place them in profound perspectives.

For instance, "All work and all love, the search for wealth and fame, the search for truth, like itself, are composed of moments that pass and turn into nothing. Yet, through this shaft of nothings, we move forward with that miraculous vitality that constructs our precarious dwellings in the past and the future. Thus, we live; a spirit that broods and hovers over the continuous death of time, the lost meaning, the unrecaptured moment, the unremembered face, until the final chop that terminates all our moments and plunges that spirit back into the void from which it emerged."

Ms. Murdoch's male protagonist, Jake, doesn't seem to think like a typical male. When he finally locates his long-lost girlfriend, Anna, in whom he has a strong resurgent interest, what does Jake do immediately? He inspects her room, evaluating her jewelry and knickknacks. This seems like something a female might do. A typical guy would probably be checking out Anna, assessing her body and receptivity. Although Ms. Murdoch may not have firmly grasped the male mind in her character, this book is a comedy, and the incongruity doesn't hinder the enjoyment.

If there is a moral to this story, it is to relish it while you can. Under the Net is both an entertaining and thought-provoking novel. It is recommended for the reader with a flexible mind and a broad perspective.