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baellamy's review against another edition
3.0
I read this as part of a book club I’ve joined.
The book’s main plots are religion, innocence, (mlm) love, and virtue. It’s set within a country estate that acts as an Anglican lay religious community attached to a Benedictine nunnery. The novel does not actually tell the story of the nuns, but instead focuses on separate “outsiders” that visit the commune over a 1950s summer.
The Bell was definitely character driven, rather than plot driven and Murdoch evidently gave the characters room to breathe through the pages and fully dragged you into the minds of the individual characters.
It was an interesting read and the philosophy aspect gave me much to think about afterwards. This felt like a book that would have been good to study during high school.
The book’s main plots are religion, innocence, (mlm) love, and virtue. It’s set within a country estate that acts as an Anglican lay religious community attached to a Benedictine nunnery. The novel does not actually tell the story of the nuns, but instead focuses on separate “outsiders” that visit the commune over a 1950s summer.
The Bell was definitely character driven, rather than plot driven and Murdoch evidently gave the characters room to breathe through the pages and fully dragged you into the minds of the individual characters.
It was an interesting read and the philosophy aspect gave me much to think about afterwards. This felt like a book that would have been good to study during high school.
casparb's review
maybe this cover overdoes the scariness of the nun. anyway
iris is an extraordinarily talented novelist I loved The Sea, The Sea when I read that a few years ago with its odd odysseyan ringing but oddly never got round to anything other of hers ,, until this! Which is also fantastically ! plotted & paced and just one of Those Read This Now to learn these things.
it's another novel where much would be sorted out if she'd simply, justifiably, LEft Him in chapt. 1
have a feeling! there are academic wars over the depiction of the gay priest.
iris is an extraordinarily talented novelist I loved The Sea, The Sea when I read that a few years ago with its odd odysseyan ringing but oddly never got round to anything other of hers ,, until this! Which is also fantastically ! plotted & paced and just one of Those Read This Now to learn these things.
it's another novel where much would be sorted out if she'd simply, justifiably, LEft Him in chapt. 1
have a feeling! there are academic wars over the depiction of the gay priest.
ifigeneiatsa's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I have mixed feelings about this novel. I was very intrigued in the beginning and eager to see how the story unfolds, but halfway through it got a bit redundant. I was struggling to finish it by the end. The story is incredibly slow without any major points of interest and I found the end quite rushed and not properly explained. It reminded me of a 'where they are now' segment in a film. I also got tired at some point of all the descriptions of Imber Court. I found them all quite the same and unnecessary for the moving of the plot. Additionally, I thought I was going to like Dora more, but I found her quite annoying, and impulsive and she could not make up her mind. I liked though that she is the only one in the end who is looking forward to her new life. I did not get the whole witch thing with her. To me, her behaviour was not that extreme. Michael is also portrayed as a complete saint, which is not the truth at all. Overall, I thought I was going to like this more than I did, which left me quite disappointed.
Quote: "Remember that all our failures are ultimately failures in love. Imperfect love must not be condemned and rejected but made perfect. The way is always forward, never back.”
Quote: "Remember that all our failures are ultimately failures in love. Imperfect love must not be condemned and rejected but made perfect. The way is always forward, never back.”
rshakes97's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
anna1882's review against another edition
4.0
If he were to reach out to that hand he would be lost.
She stopped thinking so as not to cry and went to open the two tall windows as wide as they would go.
She liked to see in him something taut and a little ruthless, especially when he had been at her feet.
She stopped thinking so as not to cry and went to open the two tall windows as wide as they would go.
She liked to see in him something taut and a little ruthless, especially when he had been at her feet.
jasonlaw77's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
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
4.0
roisin_prendergast's review against another edition
3.0
Kind of austere. But then again it is about a religious lay community. I have tried an Iris Murdoch book before and had to give up because I found her straight-laced style a bit of a drag. I persevered with this one and it became quite a comfortable read - not riveting or overly emotional, but steady and enjoyable. It covered significant subjects such as sexuality, suicide and mental illness, but still managed to do so in a really square and traditional way, which kind of irritated me. But perhaps that was to keep in focus with the overriding theme of religion.
My favourite parts of the story were the ones that focussed on Dora - the naïve and fun-loving London girl. She added light and diversity and really reminded me of the character Margaret Sargent in Mary McCarthy's novel 'The Company She Keeps'.
My favourite parts of the story were the ones that focussed on Dora - the naïve and fun-loving London girl. She added light and diversity and really reminded me of the character Margaret Sargent in Mary McCarthy's novel 'The Company She Keeps'.
ohellsbellso's review
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
rpaull_13's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0