Which Iris Murdoch novels would you reccommend?

[polkadottytotty]

Hello

I've almost finished The Sandcastle - really enjoying it.
Am going to investigate which ones are available at the library - which would you recommend?

I remember enjoying The Bell when I read it years ago.

I loved The Sea, The Sea.

My favorites are:
The Bell
The UNICORN is bloody excellent (very Gothic, lots of repressed sex and violence)
The Book and the Brotherhood
Flight from the Enchanter and the Black Prince are quite good, but I wouldn't re-read them the way I would (and have) the above.

I think the ones I hated were The Nice and the Good (retchworthy title, to start with - it's not even got the excuse of Dostoevsky's The Insulted and the Humiliated that it's a translation!) and An Unofficial Rose.

What is the Sandcastle like? I am always on the lookout for IM recommendations, having had such a mixed time, reading her work!

Another vote for The Sea, the Sea. I have also recently read The Sacred and Profane Love Machine and also The Philosopher's Pupil both excellent.

The Black Prince also wonderful and also The Bell and A Severed Head - TBH I can't think of bad one!

Happy reading

pp - I think you would like The Sacred and Profane Love Machine and The Sea, the Sea - haven't tried the ones you hated so will steer clear of those!

Am about 2 thirds through The Bell and would highly recommend it. It's the first IM book I have read. DH has read it about 3 times and was very keen for me to read it too.... next I'm going to read The Sea, The Sea.

Oh, thank you for the recommendations, seaside.

And thanks, polkadottytotty, for starting the topic.

Under the Net is one of my favourite books. It was her first and I think it's just ace.

Oh yes, Under The Net. I'd forgotten about that one. It is good.

The Bell

The Sea, The Sea

I have a first edition of The Nice and The Good but never managed to get more than 4 chapters in as is truly nauseating.

Thanks everyone - going to take a list along to the library. I like it when you find an author you like who has lots of books to choose from.

pluperfect I haven't finished The Sandcastle yet, but am liking it so far. Will let you know my opinion when I've finished.

I'm so glad someone else hated The Nice and the Good, pinkthechaffinch. "Nauseating" is a great characterisation of it!

it's weird isn't it as other books of hers are really ascerbic.

I read The sea the sea years ago, and it's stayed with me since. It's a wonderful book.

The Sea The Sea

The Philosophers Pupil, and also The Good Apprentice. Brilliant. Another vote for The Sea The Sea too.

Another vote for The Sea the sea.
I also enjoyed: The Black Prince, The Red and the Green Knight and the Philosopher's Pupil.

I didn't hate The Nice and the Good
I like The Philosopher's Pupil better.
I found the characters in The Green Knight...odd.

Have yet to go the library, but am taking notes. Many thanks to all. It's also nice to know I am not alone. IM isn't exactly the kind of literature one discusses at mummy-meets, is it?!