Reviews

The Sacred and Profane Love Machine by Iris Murdoch

mis_adventures's review against another edition

4.0

riding at a solid 5 stars until it went off the rails

gabrielrobartes's review against another edition

4.0

Even by Iris Murdoch’s standards, this novel adultery and failed saintliness has moments of quite astonishing cruelty.

jasonlaw77's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

kirstenlakes's review against another edition

reflective slow-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

batbones's review against another edition

5.0

I loved how Murdoch probes into the thoughts and emotions of each character, her astounding clarity of writing be it in dealing with their emotions or mapping out the escalation of situations. Her analyses of relationships are sharp and incisive -- sometimes too much so, I feel, but it never feels contrived, rather as if these characters of hers had spent far too much time thinking about themselves and the state they are in than seems possible for such ordinary people. She writes sentiment and emotion so beautifully that in this tragicomedy at times I find myself on the verge of tears, sharing in Harriet's anguish, Blaise's, well, blase attitudes and his desperation, sometimes despising Emily myself for throwing a spanner in the works of Harriet's blissful marriage. Murdoch explores the states of not just the central character but gives a part to the trio's friends and children, and through this realises a fuller, more descriptive and complete picture of the chaos and its effects on everyone involved. I daresay I would never forget the gradual tender closeness of Harriet and Luca: so heartwarming and sweet and special, and yet so tragic.

Sometimes I think I can write, and then I read works like this one and I give up that thought entirely.

buggyk's review against another edition

challenging dark funny reflective medium-paced

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

3.5

ellaura's review against another edition

4.0

what a MESS! drama, secrets, shouting, adultery, weirdness, power, philosophy, dogs and death. 

harriet deserved so much better though.

nathansnook's review against another edition

funny lighthearted reflective tense

3.5

A hot train wreck of Freudian musings with the most hilariously tragic individuals trying to love each other, loving when they shouldn't, loving when they want it most, loving when they need it most.

Love is complicated.

Hurt people hurt people.

Nobody wins. Everybody loses.

Everybody wins. Nobody loses.

With rich prose that swells and dialogue that dances in humor and heart, Murdoch entertains with grand gestures that make for one helluva ride.

tessaays's review against another edition

5.0

My first Murdoch, and what an experience. An unsparing, laser-focused view on relationships, somewhere (in pace) between Jane Eyre and something more contemporary but completely unique. I’ve never read anything like it.

mrh29992's review against another edition

challenging funny reflective tense

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No

4.75