The inclusion of this novel under the Comedy section of the Guardian's list initially led me to expect something much funnier. However, upon reading it, I found that while it wasn't particularly humorous in the traditional sense, I still enjoyed it.

Perhaps if one is a writer, they might perceive Jake as more comic. I was quite taken with Murdoch's writing style. Her prose is engaging and has a certain charm that keeps the reader hooked.

I look forward to delving into some of her other works, such as The Sea, the Sea. I have a feeling that her other books will offer a similar reading experience, with her unique writing style and interesting characters.

I'm excited to see what else Murdoch has in store for her readers and can't wait to explore more of her literary world.

When I was in college, our modern literature professor cautioned us against being hayseed critics.

We should have a solid foundation for our criticism, a substantial amount of rational thought or expression, underlying our evaluations and praise of every book we read. Otherwise, we might end up resembling the foolish critic in Norman Rockwell's painting, with a strand of hay in our mouths, squinting and frowning at a work of art that is still in the making.

By the time Murdoch's book was assigned that quarter, I was making great efforts not to be caught with straw between my teeth while reading about a struggling writer. Iris was a woman. (She passed away just a few years before I read this first published novel of hers.) Her gender didn't prevent her from writing from a man's perspective.

The author crafted a brilliant portrayal of Jake Donaghue, the impoverished artist who mingles with a diverse range of captivating characters in London and Paris. Drifting through these iconic corners of the world, Jake flirts with starlets, crosses paths with bookies, and engages in profound discussions about life with the eccentric. Rekindled love and absurd episodes alternately heat up and cool down the pages; smoldering gems of satire and panache (perhaps a bit excessive?) reveal themselves on Jake's journey towards his final philosophy on life. From the very first page, witty phrases made me smile, and this wonderful little world that was constructed never strays far from the profound and insightful.

Virginia Woolf described novels as "life escapes." She continued, "and perhaps without life nothing else is worthwhile." If we didn't have existence in all its zaniness, with all its unpredictable twists and scars, where would books lead us? There would be nothing left to write about and no reason to read. Many people question writers, wondering how someone can have so much to say when most are running out of ideas by the end of the first page. But for the imagination combined with experience, there is no such thing as an empty line. Ms. Murdoch demonstrates that there is always something worth writing about, and always something worth experiencing, whether through reading or living.

Under the Net is Iris Murdoch's first novel. It offers a delightful and lighthearted adventure that is filled with numerous laughs. The story is also enhanced by some truly great set pieces that add to its charm. Additionally, it contains decent philosophical ruminations that make the reader think. While it may have its flaws, they are not significant enough to prevent one from enjoying this engaging read.

It is a book that will keep you entertained from start to finish. The humor is clever and witty, and the characters are well-developed and interesting. The philosophical aspects add depth and substance to the story, making it more than just a simple comedy.

Overall, Under the Net is a very funny and enjoyable novel that is well worth reading. It is a great example of Iris Murdoch's writing style and her ability to create a memorable and engaging story.

# 20 Books Of Summer

The book titled '#20 Books Of Summer' appears to be a rather straightforward tale on the surface. It presents a young author who has a fear of commitment, especially when it comes to girlfriends. Additionally, this author refuses to put in the effort and write books without simply paraphrasing the words of others, specifically Hugo. However, if one delves deeper beneath this narrative, they will uncover the magnificent allusions that Murdoch employs. These allusions, such as those to 'The Aeneid' and the symbols of water, rivers, and rebirth, add a layer of depth and complexity to the story. It is truly an amazing writing achievement, especially considering it is a first novel. Murdoch's ability to create a seemingly simple story that hides such profound and intricate elements is a testament to her talent as a writer.

This book is sure to captivate readers and leave them with much to思考 and discuss.

It has been many years since a book had the power to make me burst into laughter. Murdoch's künstlerroman delicately walks the fine line between the ordinary and the transcendental, precisely by uncovering the transcendental within the mundane. It is brimming with comedy and profound philosophy.

The narrative trails the indolent intellectual Jake Donohue as he stumbles through a succession of uproarious misfortunes and absurd episodes in London and briefly in Paris, all while striving to "unlock the truth of experience".

Throughout the novel, Jake is engaged in a battle against his friend Hugo's epistemological belief that language clouds the truth and that meaning can only be extracted from action, not from words. By the conclusion, his misadventures have liberated him from an unyielding solipsism, and he is now prepared to challenge this idea by penning something that encapsulates a portion of the truth of life.

Both Murdoch's protagonist and the narrative itself are inherently existentialist, yet their existentialism is fundamentally hopeful and stands firmly against nihilism.

"All work and all love, the pursuit of wealth and fame, the search for truth, life itself, are composed of moments that pass and vanish into nothingness. Yet, through this conduit of nothings, we forge ahead with that miraculous vitality that constructs our precarious abodes in the past and the future."

This is one of those books that I really should have read years ago.

It is very much a British novel of ideas, drawing parallels to some of the finer works of Maugham and Huxley, and even making oblique references to the ideas of Wittgenstein.

Murdoch doesn't rely on flashy pyrotechnics too much (although there are some very nice and bitter satires of the intellectual world and coffeeshop Stalinism). Instead, she prefers to let the subtle interactions of action and inaction convey the story and the ideas.

I really enjoyed reading it, and yet I had the feeling that I was missing something profound.

This makes me certain that I will be rereading this book at some point in the future.

I look forward to uncovering those hidden depths and gaining a deeper understanding of the story and the ideas that Murdoch presents.

Perhaps on the second reading, I will be able to fully appreciate the beauty and complexity of this wonderful novel.

Although Iris Murdoch is one of the authors I have read, I always hesitate to recommend her to people.

Because some people don't always like a writing that decrypts the hypocrisy in relationships to such an extent. I also say that most people have a spouse or a lover, and of course they don't want to face such things.

In addition, there are no intense emotions such as passion and hatred in these works. Therefore, you don't have to endure traumatic and sick situations.

In this case, the absence or superficiality of the emotions in question can make the story more interesting. The story is full of surprises. You can't predict what kind of behavior the characters and the characters will display.

**Iris Murdoch's "Under the Net": A Humorous and Thought-Provoking Read**

(3.5) I have decided to engage with Liz Dexter’s two-year Iris Murdoch readalong project to enhance my knowledge of Murdoch and work through some of the paperbacks I own. Even though I don't have a copy of "Under the Net" (1954), I chose to participate to understand the beginnings of her fiction career.

The novel is told from the perspective of Jake Donoghue, a translator who returns to London and finds himself homeless. As he searches for a new place to live, he takes readers on a journey through various locations, including Mrs Tinckham's cat-filled shop, his friend Dave's place, and the theatre where his former girlfriend Anna works. One of the most memorable scenes is when Jake is accidentally locked in the theatre overnight and has to sleep among the costumes.

Anna's sister Sadie offers Jake a job as her bodyguard, as she has a stalker named Hugo Belfounder. It turns out that Jake already knows Hugo from an experiment they participated in together. The novel explores the theme of seeing people clearly rather than relying on the image we have created in our minds. Jake's reflections on solitude and introversion add depth to the story.

Contrary to what many readers might expect, "Under the Net" is a humorous novel. There are madcap moments, such as people coming and going through windows and the film star dog Mister Mars playing dead. At Liz's blog, we have been discussing whether Murdoch is a typical "woman writer." Given her ability to create a male narrator and her focus on non-traditional domestic arrangements, I believe her books might have been assumed to be written by a man if published anonymously.

This is my sixth Murdoch book, and while I didn't enjoy it as much as some of her other works, it still holds a special place for me. I'm looking forward to reading more of the readalong books next year, starting with "A Severed Head" in March.

Another favorite line: "One must just blunder on. Truth lies in blundering on." - Hugo

When I saw Finn waiting for me at the corner of the street, I knew at once that something had gone wrong.

This is my attempt to read all of Murdoch's works, and I must admit I'm grateful I didn't have the misfortune to come across this one first. My introduction to Murdoch in my mid-teens, in the newly emerged 70s, was 'The Severed Head'.

'Under the Net' does have some charming moments worth treasuring, especially with Mister Mars. However, the philosophical aspects were overly forceful, and dare I say pompous. The title could just as easily have been 'Between the Lines' or 'Behind the Mask', not really that profound after all. But the use of language is evident, with such a repertoire of delightful combinations. And in my 2016 quest to read chronologically, I will witness IM's development.

3* Under the Net (1954)
TR The Flight from the Enchanter (1956)
5* The Bell (1958)
WL The Unicorn (1963)
TR The Nice and the Good (1968)
5* A Severed Head (1971)
5* The Black Prince (1973)
5* The Sacred and Profane Love Machine (1974)
5* A Word Child (1978)
5* The Sea, the Sea (1978)
4* Existentialists and Mystics Writings on Philosophy and Literature
4* Living on Paper: Letters from Iris Murdoch, 1934 - 1995.

My first encounter with Iris Murdoch's fiction was truly an eye-opener, and I sincerely hope it won't be my last.

"Under the Net" - Murdoch's debut novel, initially published in 1954 - is a masterful blend of the picaresque and the philosophical. Set within the bohemian backdrop of London and Paris in the early 1950s, it offers a unique and captivating reading experience.

The novel is told from the perspective of Jake Donaghue, an impoverished hack writer. He ekes out a living by translating mediocre French novels into English whenever he needs some quick cash. As the story commences, Jake returns to London after a trip to France only to find himself being evicted from the flat where he has been living almost rent-free for the past couple of years. The flat is owned by his friend, Magdalen, who is concerned that her new fiancé - a wealthy bookmaker and businessman called Sacred Sammy - might not be pleased with Jake's presence.

As a result, Jake, accompanied by his accommodating assistant, Finn, must embark on a search for a new place to live. This quest sets in motion a series of misadventures, chance meetings, and narrow escapes, all of which subtly shape his perspective on life.

To read the remainder of my review, please visit:

https://jacquiwine.wordpress.com/2019...

Jack lives in London, working as a translator from French and also writing himself, trying to find his own style. He is one of those people who don't get along well with money. When things go wrong, he spends his nights at friends' houses. He published a rather philosophical work that didn't have the impact he expected - perhaps because not all the ideas were his own. We follow him wandering around London, and his obsessions often lead him to make the wrong decisions.

"In the Net" is the book with which the author made her literary debut. With a first-person narrative, it shows us the adventures of Jack, which never end. Of a person who is constantly looking for something or someone and who usually leaves things half done. Who gets involved in pointless adventures. And all this with a more philosophical attitude. Murdoch portrays the character of Jack extremely well. Although he handles language, he seems powerless to express himself, and it also emphasizes how unpredictable life can be.

"Starting a story is like opening a door into a foggy landscape. You can't see much yet, but you can smell the air and feel the breeze of the wind."

3.5 stars

I. Introduction

Murdoch's works are a profound exploration of human nature and the pursuit of truth. In her novels, she delves into the lives of seekers, those who strive to understand the complex circumstances they find themselves in.

II. The Imperfect Reasoning of Characters

Her characters often struggle to see the world as it truly is. They are imperfect reasoners, filtering their perception through desire and the imposition of their will. This leads to misunderstandings, bad decisions, and a distorted view of reality.

III. The Role of Language

Language, too, fails to be a reliable medium of reasoning. As one character points out, words are ineffective in capturing internal feelings and objective accounts of things. This further complicates the characters' attempts to understand and communicate.

IV. The Quest for Clarity

Despite these challenges, some characters manage to catch a glimpse of the truth outside the cave of their ego. Working towards this clarity is a difficult but achievable craft, which Murdoch believes can be developed through art.

V. The Focus on Translation

In this particular novel, Murdoch focuses on the craft of translation and its impact on the vision of the source material. Her exploration of translation adds another layer of depth to her examination of how we see and understand the world.

VI. Conclusion

This novel is a remarkable work that showcases Murdoch's talent for creating complex characters, engaging tensions, and vivid descriptions. It is a delight to read and has the potential to become a favorite among her many excellent books.