Another summer week is rolling by. This one feels like it has gone so fast.
It's the first really warm week of the summer here in Portland, Oregon, with
our first run of days over 90 degrees. That may sound funny, since it will be
August this weekend, but this is a chilly, damp corner of the country. And as
soon as summer finally arrives, we complain that it is too hot. Oregonians!
BOOK BEGINNINGS ON FRIDAYS
It's time to share the opening sentence (or so) of the book you are enjoying
this week. Leave a link to your post below. If you post on social media,
please use the hashtag #bookbeginnings so we can find each other.
MY BOOK BEGINNING
I'm reading
A Severed Head
by Iris Murdoch this week. It's her 5th novel, published in 1961.
OPENING SENTENCES:
"You're sure she doesn't know," said Georgie.
"Antonia? About us? Certain."
A Severed Head starts off with a common Murdoch set up. Martin
Lynch-Gibbon is perfectly happy married to his wife Antonia with his
girlfriend Georgie on the side. His girlfriend knows about his wife but his
wife doesn't know about his girlfriend. Murdoch likes to squeeze every drop
she can get from this arrangement.
From the back cover, I know the story is going to go a different direction
when Martin's wife leaves them for a mutual friend who is also her
psychoanalyst. Looks like this one could get fun.
YOUR BOOK BEGINNING
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THE FRIDAY 56
Every Friday, Freda's Voice hosts another weekly blog event called The
Friday 56. Participants share a two-sentence teaser from page 56 (or the
electronic equivalent) of the book they are enjoying. Visit Freda's blog for
details and to share your post.
MY FRIDAY 56
I loved her with a wild undignified joy, and also with a certain cheerful brutality, both of which were absent from my always more decorous, my essentially sweeter relationship with Antonia. I adored Georgie too for her dryness, her toughness, her independence, her lack of intensity, her wit, and altogether for her being such a contrast, such a compliment, to the softer and more moist attractions, the more dewy radiance of my lovely wife.
Iris Murdoch is one of my favorite authors. Any other fans? I am trying to
read all of her fiction. I keep a
list of her books here
and keep track of those I read.
Sounds so good!
ReplyDeleteI haven't read anything by this author, but this book looks pretty interesting. Enjoy your current read!
ReplyDeleteIt sounds as though Martin is one of those people who wants to 'have his cake and eat it!' I really do hope he gets his comeuppance!
ReplyDeleteMurdoch is one of those 'classic' authors I have never got around to reading, at least not that I can remember, as this sounds like the kind of book my mum would have read, and I did used to 'borrow' her library books when she wasn't looking, as our library would only allow children to progress to the adult side of the building from a certain age, and I was ready long before that time!
I really like that cover art too, it sums up the storyline beautifully :)
I'm an Iris Murdoch fan too. I read The Severed Head some years ago and I thought it would make a good farce - it really does get chaotic - and then I discovered that Iris Murdoch had adapted her book for the stage!
ReplyDeleteThat does seem like a lot of fun! I've never read anything by Iris Murdoch, will have a look. I love her writing style. The vocabulary is gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this and for hosting Book Beginnings. Always fun!
Have a good weekend. I've add my link to the link up.
Wow, that cover is not what I would expect with that title! Sounds like an interesting one. Hope you enjoy your reading!
ReplyDeleteFrom the description, it sounds like an intriguing book. Have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteI actually have heard of this book, but never read it. It does sound like a great set up!
ReplyDeleteProbably not for me. Happy weekend!!
ReplyDelete