BillF

The Stripper The Naked Ape Jim Buffington

Yours was the first post I saw when I opened up the thread to post my latest reading, Iris Murdoch's "Nuns and Soldiers." A Murdochian coincidence. I read Conradi's bio last year and generally liked it, although I thought it could have used some editing to slim it down. Plus I think he spends too much time on her pre-novel writing days, and too little on the period when she became a novelist. Still, I found it very informative and highly useful to understanding the novels. I've been on an extended traversal of all of Murdoch's novels. I've come to know most of her "moves" but I enjoy reading them quite a bit. I had read a few Murdoch novels in the 60s, but recently read or re-read the first eight. I definitely thought there was a falling off in quality/character in the last two, The Unicorn (1962) and The Italian Girl (1964), so decided at that stage to go no further. However, on reading Conradi's bio I find him agreeing with me, but also praising the novels of what he calls her maturity in the 70s. So I expect to be reading The Sea, The Sea, The Black Prince and A Fairly Honorable Defeat sometime soon. Yes, those last three are quite good, although "The Black Prince" is rather grim (although not without humor); it's her Dostoyevskyan mood it seems. I agree on "The Italian Girl," rather stunted, almost like a novel that failed to develop. I would say my faves so far are "The Philosopher's Pupil," and "The Book and the Brotherhood" (these two late works), and then "A Severed Head," "The Nice and the Good," and "The Bell." I've still got a few left to go though, then maybe re-read some Well, Bill's walk through her books has intrigued me. I decided to get Under the Net (her first) and The Sea, The Sea. I guess this will allow me to judge her early and then mid-career peak to decide if she is an author I wish to follow or not. Under the Net is excellent - picaresque novel transferred to London of the 1950s. Expect to be reading your second choice in a week or two. BTW my favourite so far is The Bell, which Leeway also selects. Finally got to the end of the 500-page The Sea, The Sea. Frankly I was disappointed - my misgivings are nicely expressed in this review: http://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2009/feb/10/iris-murdoch-sea-booker I see the tendencies I disliked in The Unicorn and The Italian Girl - a move from the realistic novel in familiar urban and rural settings to gothic emotionalism played out against wild nature - still very present in The Sea. So I remain a fan of Murdoch in the 50s - which isn't surprising as this coincides with my enthusiasm for the 50s in jazz, art, film and theatre.

Alan Pinch Punch Miller Sandra Blow

Roman Polanski Skeeter Best Gladys Bustamante

A Dryad Umbrella Man Bill Hood

Well, I've only seen him in three films - Capote, Before the Devil Knows You're Dead and The Master - but he was pretty remarkable in all. Ironic that in the second he played a wealthy and apparently successful man who was secretly addicted to heroin. You've never seen The Big Lebowski? I thought that was required for board membership at one time... That will not stand, man! I've seen The Big Lebowski so many times at one time I could practically recite the dialogue for the whole movie from memory without interruption. Indeed an iconic film, Bill. That's first on your viewing list ! Take it you haven't seen Magnolia or Boogie Nights either. No, I haven't. Of course, I've seen Lebowski. Just forget about Hoffman in it. That's marvelous. Please note spelling correction in #36 above.

Well, it's happening to the areas they represent - Charles, too. I see the Telegraph was questioning flood defence spending on cities, rather than country. Might be handy to let Liverpool go under?

Well, I've only seen him in three films - Capote, Before the Devil Knows You're Dead and The Master - but he was pretty remarkable in all. Ironic that in the second he played a wealthy and apparently successful man who was secretly addicted to heroin. You've never seen The Big Lebowski? I thought that was required for board membership at one time... That will not stand, man! I've seen The Big Lebowski so many times at one time I could practically recite the dialogue for the whole movie from memory without interruption. Indeed an iconic film, Bill. That's first on your viewing list ! Take it you haven't seen Magnolia or Boogie Nights either. No, I haven't. Of course, I've seen Lebowski. Just forgot about Hoffman in it.

Svengali Hannibal Billy Harper

Ruth Roman Caesar Romero Romy Schneider

Bob Berg Arctic Monkeys Urban Guerrilla

Travis Bickle Robert De Niro Nero

Michael Mates Johann Fux John Bangs

Cinderella Prince Charming Gorgeous George

The Dwarf Elves of the Forest Elvin Jones

Jack Massarik Sean Lemass The Spy Who Came in from the Cold

Does blue indicate voting intentions?

Cue Porter Coo Stark Ronnie Cuber

Charlie Chaplin Frank Chapple Kirk Lightsey

Walter Davis Jr Junior Mance Mance Lipscomb

Dead Kennedys Mort Sahl Mart Rodger

Village People Folks Who Live on the Hill Craggy Islanders

Sweaty Betty Betty Page James Booker

Ind Coope Minnie Cooper Mickey Mouse

Reds Under the Bed Paul Chambers Pol Pot