And so I’ll begin with a question or a series of questions. The asking of these questions will, I hope, give you an indication of what I’m up to with this second blog, Loving Iris.
1. Do you have a writer you love so much you wouldn’t mind spending the rest of your life reading/thinking/writing about her/him? (not to the exclusion of other writers necessarily, but as your sort of main “squeeze”)? And what makes this writer seem inexhaustible to you?
2. Do you have a writer whose questions are your questions? whose answers are your answers?
3. Do you have a writer whose entire oeuvre you’ve read? (okay 90%) and you’ve loved every bit of it (even the stinkers, the ones that miss the mark, that don’t do him/her justice?)
4. Do you have a writer whose work you’d defend to the death? regardless of literary climate change, declined or increased readership, critical raves or brush-offs?
5. Do you have a writer about whom you believe the following to be true? — if you could figure out why you love her so much and what it is you “get” from her, you would know at last (or at least a great deal about) who you are.
May 26, 2008 at 3:58 am
My immediate response to this is that I don’t know whether I have or not. Which, I strongly suspect, means that I don’t, because if I did, I would know.
I read the first three Murdoch novels in my twenties with the intention of going straight through, but something must have distracted me. And yet, through the intervening years there have been times when I’ve felt drawn back, especially by her non-fiction. I’m going to be a regular visitor here in the hope that I can begin to pin down what attracts me about her.
May 26, 2008 at 8:39 am
Yes, yes I have one of those writers. Adrienne Rich. I’ve read everything she has published. I wrote my masters thesis on her work. I think she is brilliant. Sometimes I want to be her. I got to have lunch with her once. I can’t get enough.
May 26, 2008 at 9:24 am
Great questions. I’m not sure I have one answer, but perhaps several — Jane Austen is certainly one, someone I could read continually and not get bored and someone I’d defend no matter what. Virginia Woolf is another, although I have lots of her work left to read. But she does no wrong as far as I’m concerned. And Nicholson Baker is another — I may never read all his work (his latest nonfiction doesn’t interest me), but I hope to read more and everything I read is amazing. Oh, if you want another example of a book about a literary crush (I’m thinking of the Loving Dr. Johnson book you commented on at my blog) Baker’s book U & I is great — Baker’s adoration of Updike is infectious, and I don’t really even like Updike. And I just read an amazing George Saunders essay on a Donald Barthelme story — another inspiring literary tribute. I’m thinking now that I love this genre — call it the literary crush genre or something like that.
May 26, 2008 at 10:35 am
Hello,
The answer to all of these questions is yes. I thought I was the only one with an Iris Murdoch love affair. I first found Iris about 8 years ago. There is something I can’t put my finger on where her writing is concerned that consumes me. She is the writer whose books sit comfortably on my bookshelf waiting for moments in my life when I can devote quality time to her stories. Picking up an Iris Murdoch book is like having coffee with a dear old friend I haven’t seen in several months. She’s my ‘I’m going on a long vacation with no communications to the outside world’ reading; she’s my ‘I haven’t read a soul touching book in a long time’ reading. She’s truly my favorite author. She’s the one that touches my soul and every other ounce of my being. And I don’t know why.
I suspect, I will be visiting this site on a regular basis. Thank you!
May 26, 2008 at 10:44 am
For 1, 2, & 3: Jeanette Winterson.
I admire her relentless passion for art, for life, for love - her refusal to compromise, her refusal to choose what is easy when we should be choosing what is important and right.
But I don’t claim to love everything she wrote - though I love a lot of what she wrote. Stone Gods” was disappointing.
For 5. I think it would be Dostoevsky. If I can just figure out why this depressing Russian guy moves me so much, I will probably answer some questions about myself.
May 26, 2008 at 10:50 am
Ann—It may have been the second two novels that distracted you! I found both Flight From the Enchanter and The Sandcastle “let downs” after Under the Net. Still worth reading of course. (And more on them in days to come.) Good for you for pursuing her non-fiction. I’m keen to know which you’ve read and what draws you to it. I am so happy you will be visiting regularly!
Stefanie—Adrienne Rich! I loved and often taught her famous “Diving Into the Wreck,” but I’ve not read much else. Do you have a favorite must-read for beginners? I know what you mean about wanting “to be” her. And how you must treasure your lunch with her. I’ve never met Murdoch in person. But I did send her a letter once, asking some questions about some inconsistencies critics point to in her philosophical positions. She was so gracious to write back. What struck me most about it was that she addressed me as if I were an old friend and we were just having a conversation. And, while she didn’t quote Emerson what she said amounted to his famous line, “foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds.” I treasured that letter so—and inexcusably lost it somehow in shuffling between 4 different office spaces at my former university. (He hangs his head… )
May 26, 2008 at 12:22 pm
My Dorothy—you will have your hands full with so many loves of your life! I’ve not heard of Nicholson Baker, but if he means that much to you (whose taste I certainly respect), I will most definitely seek him out. Is there a best place to begin? And yes, we need to name the genre of writing lovingly about writers we adore…but “literary crush” seems too, well,… temporary, like something I’ll grow out of or get over (not a chance!) How about “adoration crit” (nah!); but let’s keep thinking on it. And thanks for the list of reads in our new genre. Can’t wait to get started!
Rachel—thanks for coming by! How lovely to run into another Murdoch lover! And you’re right. She is like an old friend whom you can’t wait to sit down with. Similarly, sometimes, I want to interrupt her, as old friends often do, to say, ‘you already told me that story’, but of course I don’t. And come to find out it’s got new twists and turns and a new context, so it’s not really the same story at all. How nice that you will be a regular visitor. Thank you!
May 26, 2008 at 8:46 pm
The Mezzanine is probably the best place to begin with Baker, or perhaps with U&I if you are interested in nonfiction. He tends to work in the same way, whether it’s fiction or non. And you’re right that the phrase “literary crush” isn’t quite right — too frivolous. Nothing else is coming to mind, though … must keep thinking about it.
May 26, 2008 at 9:27 pm
Adrienne Rich would have been mine ten or fifteen years ago (I was lucky enough to take a course from her in college!) but I haven’t kept up with her writing lately.
So my answer would have to be Virginia Woolf. I have read all of her novels, diaries, and letters. Although it’s been years since I’ve revisited her work, I could be happy reading Woolf for the rest of my life.
May 27, 2008 at 8:30 pm
I’ve been pondering these questions since yesterday, when I first came to visit. There is one author whose work I grew up reading and whose words have spoken to me through fiction, essay, and memoir ~Madeleine L’Engle. She has such a pure vision of the world and human relationships -I would have loved to walk with her in the woods surrounding her beloved home, Crosswicks, and chat about writing, and children, and the spiritual world. I still turn to her Crosswicks journals whenever life becomes mean and hard ~ they remind me how to be at peace with the world and my life.
This is such an interesting idea for a blog -I’ve not come across another like it. I haven’t read Iris Murdoch for some years, but I suspect you’ll be inspiring me to delve into her work very soon
May 28, 2008 at 7:31 am
Dark Orpheus—How lovely to find you here. I’ve not read Winterson although she’s been on my list for a long, long time. Now must be the time. Your reasons for admiring her are all fantastic. I don’t claim to love everything Murdoch wrote either, but I love that she wrote it…that she tried to do something new or different, or perhaps tried to do some old thing better. The ones I don’t love are part of what makes her the author she is, the author I love. Does that make sense? My…I am so with you on Dostoevksy! The Brothers Karamazov. Whew!
Dorothy—thanks for the tip. I think I would like the look at Updike. By the way is U & I a spin on Updike’s early story A & P? As for naming our genre, “Adoration Crit” still sticks with me (I know, it’s horrible. Please hurry to come up with something else to disabuse me of it!). But it does the job of capturing the lifelong “crush” aspect as well as the seriousness of the study. And I like the way the word criticism is lopped off…sort of put in its place. Keep thinking!
Yogamum—Upon your (and Stefanie’s) high praise, I think it must be time to take another look see at Rich. Virginia Woolf would make a great lifelong companion. And you’re right. There’s so much variety: the novels, letters, diaries, essays, wow!
Ravenous Reader—I love what you say about L’Engle. And your connection to her, as someone you would like to walk and chat with, is very much the way I feel about Iris Murdoch. And that L’Engle’s work reminds you “how to be at peace with the world and [your] life” is very close to what I would / will say about Murdoch. Thanks for sharing your positive thoughts on this blog. I’ll enjoy having you here!
May 28, 2008 at 7:52 am
I cannot wait to see what you cook up for this space.
May 28, 2008 at 3:45 pm
I’m with Ted here. I love the photos. What a face that woman had!
For me, that writer is Wallace Stevens. He was the first poet who truly reached me (in college — with Sunday Morning, and Tea at the Palaz of Hoon and the Snowman). I love the life he led, and his bluffness and the fact that he was a lawyer and walked to work and made up poems and that he stood a little to the side of most interactions, and read what he wanted to read and liked chocolate, and also there was this thing he did where he asked people from far away places, places he’d never get to visit, to send him things from those places. Things like statues, and tea and beads and things.
So, there you have it: Stevens is my guy. And my husband is not even jealous because, well, he’s awfully dead and gone.
May 28, 2008 at 10:00 pm
TJ — I’m afraid I’m not getting anywhere! I’m really not very creative, you see … I’m considering writing a blog post called “the criticism of devoted adoration” so if anything I’ve gone in the opposite direction, that of length — but of course, that’s not workable as a name, even though I like the rhythm of it. I could get used to adoration crit actually — I like the combination of seriousness, humor, and emotion. But perhaps our readers will be able to help us out … and I hadn’t thought about the “A&P” allusion, but of course you’re right — thanks for pointing that out!
May 29, 2008 at 7:33 am
Ted—Thanks for stopping by. I’m excited to see where it takes me. It’ll be great to have your feedback!
Bloglily—Murdoch really is extraordinary looking, a very strong countenance indeed. And the hair-cuts she preferred certainly accentuated that strength. I’ve a fondness for Stevens myself, so I can see the attraction. He certainly seemed to “get” life AND poetry. I can see that in you as well dear Lily.
Dorothy—Yes please write the blog post. I’ll back you up with some thoughts at Toujous Jacques. Between us perhaps we can elicit some interest, suggestions, feedback on naming our genre and we may get more titles as well. Great idea!
May 29, 2008 at 3:32 pm
Those are great questions-I’ll have to think about them and get back to you.
May 31, 2008 at 7:44 am
Jacques—I’ve actually read quite a lot of Murdoch, most of which I’ve enjoyed very much. Like the others, I am excited to see where you go with this…or where it takes you (sometimes these things have lives of their own). I agree with Ravenous Reader, what you’re doing here (or what it so far looks like you’re doing here) seems quite unique. And it also seems very important. Not merely as subject matter, but as an act of writing (and I know from your other blog, you have trepidation about writing in a new non-academic way). Take your time. Take your lifetime. Love is worth it…as I can see you very well know.
May 31, 2008 at 8:22 am
Eva—Yes, please do! It would be fun to see if Eva of the 1000 reviews could choose just one, and who that might be!
Fiona—What a nice comment, and very perceptive. I may indeed take my lifetime. Thanks. TJ
May 31, 2008 at 8:42 pm
lol! I have my answers typed up in a draft post, that I’ll probably publish on Monday. But the short answer is, I narrowed it down to four: Jane Austen, Neil Gaiman, A.S. Byatt, and Salman Rushdie. It was painful though!
May 31, 2008 at 9:08 pm
@ravenous reader…I agree. L’Engle has a way of writing feelings that wraps me up in a warm blanket.
June 1, 2008 at 10:43 am
This is wonderful, glad you directed me to this site. I’d missed it somehow. Looking forward to what you do here, especially as I am one of those that must have read every single Iris Murdoch book and felt hugely sad when I ‘lost’ some of the books whilst moving from one country to the next.
June 1, 2008 at 10:50 am
I would have to say I have a few authors: topping the list is Margaret Atwood. I have read most of her books, and could sit down and pick one up in any mood, at any time, and be blissfully happy.
Virginia Woolf could become another, but I have only read a few of her books. Same goes for Salman Rushdie and Isabel Allende.
June 1, 2008 at 6:11 pm
Diving Into the Wreck is a fantastic book and a good place to start, but since you have already read it your next stop should be The Dream of a Common Language. what a treasure that letter from Murdoch and how sad that it has disappeared. Maybe someday it might turn up again. Perhaps it got stuck in a book or mixed in with other papers.
June 2, 2008 at 7:38 pm
My answers are up! In this post.
June 4, 2008 at 9:00 pm
Eva—Thanks! and what a great post you made out of your list(s).
Welcome Barbara and Alisia—so nice to have you here!
Seachanges—how wonderful to meet someone who’s read so much Murdoch. I look forward to your visits here.
Stefanie—Thanks for the suggestion. I will look for The Dream of a Common Language upon your recommendation.
June 8, 2008 at 1:05 pm
Oh this is going to be wonderful!!! I cannot wait to see what you do with this space.
As I’m quite sure you know, my answer is Nadine Gordimer - your questions perfectly frame my relationship with Gordimer and how I feel her work influences and informs my own writing and thinking.
However, I would also have to include another writer in my basket: Michel de Montaigne. Montaigne is someone to carry with you for an entire life’s journey. I plan on doing that.
June 8, 2008 at 4:06 pm
Thanks for the vote of confidence Verbivore. I’ve lost my momentum here a bit…not only because of the kidney stone. I don’t know where to begin… I don’t want a seamless narrative of my relationship with Murdoch, from its origin through the present. I want a much more haphazard and living thing on these pages. Perhaps more like a conversation, with her texts, myself, those who stop by. But begin I must. This week for sure!
Yes I do know that Gordimer is your answer. And how wonderful to include Montaigne. He’s certainly growing on me.
June 9, 2008 at 1:04 pm
To all those questions, yup: Haruki Murakami. He can press my buttons anytime. In a… totally… platonic way…
June 9, 2008 at 4:57 pm
mustie—
I’m sorry to report I’ve not read any of Murakami’s work, although I’ve certainly heard a lot about it. Can you recommend one for starters?
June 9, 2008 at 10:46 pm
Tough call. I would say start with the story collection ‘The Elephant Vanishes’, then move on to ‘Hardboiled Wonderland and the End of the World’. The only one to avoid is ‘Dance Dance Dance’ - it’s kind of boring.
June 11, 2008 at 11:11 am
Another Murakami collection which is really good is Blind Willow Sleeping Woman which I reviewed a little while back. I’m taking two novels with me on holiday…. Wonderful writer.
June 13, 2008 at 10:46 am
TJ–
Following on Blog Lily, I’m struck by the photographs. I hope we can all take her path from “cool”, “sophisticated”, “worn”, to quite glowing. I love the pictures of her older, full of mischievousness? fun? amused secrets?
I just picked up Under the Net yesterday and started it at lunch. My first entre into IM. So far, I’m struck with how seemingly smart Jake is about his own interior world, and how really dumb he is about his own feelings for and knowledge of Madge. I’m only on page 22, so anything I say here can’t be held against me…
thanks for your devotion, which has led me to open her work…
June 13, 2008 at 7:07 pm
openpalm—how lovely to find you here! and I know exactly what you mean about Jake’s interiority early in the novel. I think “seemingly smart” is spot on. It’s so fun to think of you reading Under the Net. I’m just finishing it up (for perhaps the fifth or sixth time in the last 30 years). Maybe that’s how I’ll finally move on with Loving Iris (I just can’t seem to find my next step with this site)…in a conversation with you about UN. No pressure! (But it’ll have to wait ’til I get back from my trip in a couple of weeks…so take notes!) How fun.
Jacques
June 24, 2008 at 7:35 pm
I’m going with Dorothy’s “literary crush genre” model because I think that’s really how it works for me. It makes me wonder about how and when we (some of us, me) substitute author love for relationships. Maybe Helen Deutsch has figured this out–we had a mutual crush on Dr. Johnson in Berkeley 25 years ago. My sequence goes something like this: Hemingway-Fitzgerald-Shakespeare-Austen-Dickens-Johnson-Woolf-Dostoyevsky-George Eliot-Thackeray-Leslie Stephen… but again, that was all 20 years ago or more. I’ve had recent passionate flings with JM Coetzee and Richard Yates, but my current crush is Mary McCarthy.
I can’t say that I know much at all about Iris, except that I hear that she’s brilliant and worthy. How does her relationship with Canetti figure into this?