A review by serendipitysbooks
The Sea, The Sea: Vintage Classics Murdoch Series by Iris Murdoch

challenging emotional reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

 The Sea The Sea begins as an autobiography written by Charles Arrowby, a recently retired theatre director, but morphs into his journal of the eventful summer he spends in his new house by the sea, a summer where he unexpectedly reconnects with a former flame whom ***spoiler alert*** he kidnaps and holds against her will because…well because it suits him to do so and to believe he knows what is best for her. Arrowby is self-important, self-serving, probably delusional, misogynistic, and arrogant, clearly an unreliable narrator. Spending a lot of time in his head, sharing his every thought is not a pleasant experience and that’s because Murdoch has done an excellent job creating this unlikeable character. This book was long and could have been shorter, but that wouldn’t have reflected Arrowby’s personality. He seemed very much a man who liked the sound of his own voice and is convinced everyone else will as well. I got through the bulk of this via audio on a solo road trip. I’m pretty sure I would have struggled with it in print. 
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