The Sea The Sea

My introduction to Iris Murdoch. Thoroughly enjoyed the prose and thought provoking philosophical observations. Richard E Grant's performance was exceptional, with clear delineation of each character.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

A complex and intertwining story

Loved the storyline and the variety of characters involved, entertaining and enthralling, well worth read.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Sublime story, sublime narration

I have recently started re-reading (now listening) Iris Murdoch novels which, like good wine, seem to get even better over the years. Reminds one what a literate storyteller can do when no words are wasted and there is no padding or salatious details added to make it more "popular". And the Richard E Grant's narration could not be improved on. He is a perfect match for IM's books. Even with the 23 hours listening, I was sorry to get to the end..

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

A perfect match of writer and narrator

A unique, intriguing, beguiling book that flitters around truth but never lands on it, constantly forcing the reader to think beyond what is written and turn the page. Sometimes funny, sometimes tragic but never obvious. The real magic here though, is in the reading; Richard E. Grant puts his life and soul into the characters and is the perfect choice for this book, providing just the right level of performance over straight reading and has a very well prepared and astute understanding of the text so that every sentence is phrased perfectly.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

Sheer bliss from start to finish

Talk about bringing a tale to life in an ocean full. REG is a maestro.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

A vintage classic feels a farce

Richard E Grant is an absolute master of his trade.
Was this farce, comedy or tragedy? Just feel between stools. Felt rushed in places.
But what do I know?😬

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Quite an unusual book.

Richard E Grant narrated superbly and brought the characters to life. I would certainly recommend this book.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Thank you Richard E. Grant

This is not a narration by Mr Grant, it is a wonderful and generous performance.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

22 people found this helpful

An elusive, ambiguous masterpiece

What a superb reader Richard E Grant is. His tone is perfectly suited to this odd, brilliant, vexatious book.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

10 people found this helpful

A tour de force of first-person narrative

My thoughts on finishing a second reading of The Sea, The Sea
It's curious how novels remain the same but our response to them changes as we change. Ten years on, it seems a vaster, richer novel than I remembered, a great cathedral of a book, an astonishing achievement of sustained first-person narrative.
Charles' breathtaking arrogance, his conceitedness, his childish petulance (James and Lizzie), his outrageously manipulative behaviour and interference in other people's lives, make him at times almost hateful, and yet, precisely because of the first-person narration, the rich and detailed description and unfolding revelations are also Charles', and so to an extent redeem him as a character. But apart from Charles, what a rich array of characters we encounter. Complex, mysterious James is my favourite, Lizzie is endearing, Rosina at times witch-like, charismatic, vulnerable, Gilbert loveable, Peregrine inscrutable, unpredictable, potentially dangerous, and Ben, what can one say about Ben? A marvellously fully-fleshed character for whom I feel a degree of sympathy given Charles' outrageous encroachment on his marriage. And then there's Mary (Charles' stubborn insistence on 'Hartley' irritates and even infuriates me the further I get into the book.) She is in some ways a pathetic creature (and no doubt a fantasist) but equally you could argue, she has her own quiet dignity, she is her own person, if only Charles would leave her and Ben alone, to get on with their lives in peace.
(I've inadvertently left out Titus, but other readers will have their own thoughts about his function and importance in the novel.) Also, what is the symbolism of the bead curtain and of Minn's cauldron? The sea itself is a wonderfully unfathomable element in the story. It's interesting that both James and Titus, at different points in the novel, use the phrase 'the sea, the sea'.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!