A review by lucyb
A Word Child by Iris Murdoch

3.0

Darker than many of Murdoch's novels, but no less brilliant. In contrast to other works of hers I've read, few of the characters even make attempts at honest philosophical reflection (and those who do, interestingly, are the furthest from being intellectuals.) Murdoch examines, hilariously and unflinchingly, the pitfalls of clinging to any particular image of oneself as an alternative to honesty. At the heart of the book is the excruciating difficulty and necessity of forgiveness.