Scan barcode
oceansfreezing's review against another edition
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
mireillerb's review against another edition
5.0
Excelente creación de personajes, un desarrollo perfectamente cuidado y un muy buen manejo de los estilos de escritura de los diferentes personajes. Gran libro clásico de la literatura inglesa.
jamilia_shu's review
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
cmsloan's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
vkce23's review against another edition
funny
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
d_hryniuk's review against another edition
2.0
I was very sceptical about this book at first. The annotation says it’s a story about a middle-aged man who falls in love with a young girl, and this description was frightening me. I’ve already read a book with a similar plot and that was quite a disappointment.
But I have to admit that from time to time this book was even interesting for me. I liked to read and see how differently people view the same situation, what methods they use to achieve their goals, what (or even who) they are ready to sacrifice in order to maintain their own reputation.
The incredibly long and boring reflections of the main hero about literature and writing were very repelling. I’d say that they make a book look more like a science project than a piece of fiction. Sometimes his thoughts were interesting and helped to understand the acts of the character. But as for me their amount could be not so big.
So this book is unusual. It seems that there is nothing special about it, but it definitely HAS something. Even when I finished this book, I couldn’t find answers to all the questions. But this fact only makes the book realistic. Because in real life we can’t know everything too. We know only things that others allow us to know.
But I have to admit that from time to time this book was even interesting for me. I liked to read and see how differently people view the same situation, what methods they use to achieve their goals, what (or even who) they are ready to sacrifice in order to maintain their own reputation.
The incredibly long and boring reflections of the main hero about literature and writing were very repelling. I’d say that they make a book look more like a science project than a piece of fiction. Sometimes his thoughts were interesting and helped to understand the acts of the character. But as for me their amount could be not so big.
So this book is unusual. It seems that there is nothing special about it, but it definitely HAS something. Even when I finished this book, I couldn’t find answers to all the questions. But this fact only makes the book realistic. Because in real life we can’t know everything too. We know only things that others allow us to know.
cseibs's review against another edition
4.0
Murdoch has a lot of fun with her readers. The body is quite heavy and thought provoking, but it is the end that lingers. Any reader must re-read the forward after finishing the book, and then continue to mull it all over.
piedwarbler's review against another edition
5.0
I read this book having read The Sea, The Sea during Lockdown, and it confirms my view that Murdoch is both a fiercely talented writer who has original ways of saying things you know are true, but in a totally unique style, and as mad as a box of frogs. And I love her for it.
Bradley Pearson is a 58 year old bloke looking for a woman. He appears to light on anyone female within the vicinity, with the exception of his ex-wife Christian, whom he propounds to hate. First Rachel, the wife of his rival, catches his eye, then it’s the turn of Rachel’s 20 year old daughter Julian.
I loved the twists and turns in this wildly nutty plot. Someone throws themself out of a moving car at one point which made me gasp in alarm and astonishment. Someone takes their own life which was suddenly very serious and tragic. Someone attempts murder. It’s just a whole bunch of ludicrous plot points which somehow hang together in a joyous examination of what art is, and some of the very best descriptions of how it feels to fall in love that I think I have ever read.
Bonkers, but also deeply thought provoking. There’s some lovely writing about love, and death: “The hand of death modelled him speedily, soon made his head a skull.”
The foreword by Sophie Hannah to the Vintage Classics edition was an additional source of joy for me.
Bradley Pearson is a 58 year old bloke looking for a woman. He appears to light on anyone female within the vicinity, with the exception of his ex-wife Christian, whom he propounds to hate. First Rachel, the wife of his rival, catches his eye, then it’s the turn of Rachel’s 20 year old daughter Julian.
I loved the twists and turns in this wildly nutty plot. Someone throws themself out of a moving car at one point which made me gasp in alarm and astonishment. Someone takes their own life which was suddenly very serious and tragic. Someone attempts murder. It’s just a whole bunch of ludicrous plot points which somehow hang together in a joyous examination of what art is, and some of the very best descriptions of how it feels to fall in love that I think I have ever read.
Bonkers, but also deeply thought provoking. There’s some lovely writing about love, and death: “The hand of death modelled him speedily, soon made his head a skull.”
The foreword by Sophie Hannah to the Vintage Classics edition was an additional source of joy for me.
sarihelikopter's review against another edition
4.0
Kurgusal bir yazarın, büyük eserini yazmak için şehir dışına çıkma niyetini belirtmesiyle başlıyor kitap, yaşamının otobiyografik bir kesiti şeklinde ilerliyor. Son sayfalara kadar kızdığım, sevmediğim, orta yaşlarının sonunda bir erkek karakterin hezeyanlarını okuyorum sanırken bir anda tamamıyla alt üst oldu her şey. Bir hikayede kaç güvenilmez anlatıcı olabilir şüphesini içime çok güzel yerleştirdi. Kime inanmayı seçeceğimiz, muhtemelen (hangi zamanda) kim olduğumuz ile çok alakalı. Canım sıkıla sıkıla okuduğum bir kitabı, dönüp tekrar baştan okuma isteği uyandırması bence harika bir yazar başarısı. Murdoch okumaya daha da heyecanla devam edicem gibi.
mikewa14's review
2.0
Tedious drivel (in my view) - full review here
http://0651frombrighton.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/the-black-prince-iris-murdoch.html
http://0651frombrighton.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/the-black-prince-iris-murdoch.html