The Bell, by Iris Murdoch
copyright 1973
edition i read: Vintage Classics (Random House) published 1999
# pages: 316
source: inter-library loan
summary (from Goodreads): A lay community of thoroughly mixed-up people is encamped outside Imber Abbey, home of an enclosed order of nuns. A new bell,legendary symbol of religion and magic, is rediscovered. Dora Greenfield, erring wife, returns to her husband. Michael Mead, leader of the community, is confronted by Nick Fawley, with whom he had disasterous homosexual relations, while the wise old Abbess watches and prays and exercises discreet authority. And everyone, or almost everyone, hopes to be saved whatever that may mean...Iris Murdoch's funny and sad novel is about religion, the fight between good and evil and the terrible accidents of human frailty.
my review: Overall, i'd give this about a 3.5 out of 5, but with an understanding that i found it to take a lot of patience to get through. Not that it's bad writing or anything, just that it's definitely more character driven than plot driven, and it probably could have had at least 60 fewer pages. I guess it's a prime example of literary fiction, rather than genre fiction, from my understanding of the 2, and as a lot of books on this particular 1001 must-reads are.
It's very detailed, and often it seems overly detailed, although lots of times those little details do become relevant. In some ways, it's quite dated, but in others it's still very current (lots of emotions and even social norms still hold true). I think it was probably a pretty progressive look on marriage, homosexuality, community living and even religion, while still giving an accurate picture of people's experiences at the time.
So, i'd recommend this to patient people who like more history, character explorations, etc than "actual happenings" in a story:)
edition i read: Vintage Classics (Random House) published 1999
# pages: 316
source: inter-library loan
summary (from Goodreads): A lay community of thoroughly mixed-up people is encamped outside Imber Abbey, home of an enclosed order of nuns. A new bell,legendary symbol of religion and magic, is rediscovered. Dora Greenfield, erring wife, returns to her husband. Michael Mead, leader of the community, is confronted by Nick Fawley, with whom he had disasterous homosexual relations, while the wise old Abbess watches and prays and exercises discreet authority. And everyone, or almost everyone, hopes to be saved whatever that may mean...Iris Murdoch's funny and sad novel is about religion, the fight between good and evil and the terrible accidents of human frailty.
my review: Overall, i'd give this about a 3.5 out of 5, but with an understanding that i found it to take a lot of patience to get through. Not that it's bad writing or anything, just that it's definitely more character driven than plot driven, and it probably could have had at least 60 fewer pages. I guess it's a prime example of literary fiction, rather than genre fiction, from my understanding of the 2, and as a lot of books on this particular 1001 must-reads are.
It's very detailed, and often it seems overly detailed, although lots of times those little details do become relevant. In some ways, it's quite dated, but in others it's still very current (lots of emotions and even social norms still hold true). I think it was probably a pretty progressive look on marriage, homosexuality, community living and even religion, while still giving an accurate picture of people's experiences at the time.
So, i'd recommend this to patient people who like more history, character explorations, etc than "actual happenings" in a story:)