Reviews

The Bell by Iris Murdoch

korol_rezni's review against another edition

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dark mysterious reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

aeven's review against another edition

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5.0

yeah this was super solid … but dramatic !!

spadeano's review against another edition

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challenging dark mysterious reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

paacaas's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Murdoch has written stuff a lot better than this

marmoo's review against another edition

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emotional funny reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Rich in both sensory descriptions and psychological exploration, this manages to be the rare novel to delve deeply into the characters’ interiority without feeling remote from their material world. 

“Those who hope, by retiring from the world, to earn a holiday from human frailty, in themselves and others, are usually disappointed,” the narration observes. That certainly proves true for the collection of loose ends and spiritual malcontents who populate the religious community at the novel’s heart. The frailties they bring with them on their spiritual questing offer fertile ground for both humor and pathos. 

tsefalofor's review against another edition

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4.0

perfectly superb final line, just like the others. she is such a speaker of beautiful truths (SBT). it’s just a story, we all* survived, it’s over, what a weird, fine summer. a lot of the religious text went over my head and i hopped sans shame, but such full characters and philosophy and funny little ways. and although of course iris has consistencies and i’ve loved this and under the net it’s funny, i keep trying to replicate my experience of a word child and failing because each one has a totally distinct narrative structure, narrative voice, character types, even the physical layout which makes me a little nervous. the sea, the sea has been the most challenging to me… i’ll return to it later, i did spend £12 (twelve pund) or thereabouts, after all

leighsneade's review

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dark funny hopeful medium-paced

4.5

yongxiang's review against another edition

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funny mysterious reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

emmast's review against another edition

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emotional mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

4.5

hungerford's review against another edition

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dark mysterious 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? No

5.0