"At that moment I heard a terrible sound, a sound which in fact I had been dreading ever since I embarked upon my perilous adventure. Hartley upstairs had suddenly started screaming and banging the door."
-- The Sea, the Sea by Iris Murdoch, a novel about an aging playwright/director/actor who retires to the North Sea coast of England. This teaser makes it sound a little more thrilling than it is. It is a wonderful, fantastic story, but more about people and ideas than scary adventure. Murdoch knows how to pace the story, though. Just when it starts to seem too talky, something startling happens, like in this scene.
I love this book, even though it is taking me a while to read. I enjoy it so much that I don't want it to end. (Also, I took a break to read The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, which I reviewed here.)
The Sea, the Sea won the Booker prize in 1978. I am reading it for my Battle of the Prizes, British Version challenge. It will also count as one of my Chunkster Challenge reads.
Teaser Tuesdays is hosted by Should Be Reading, where you can find the official rules for this weekly event.
I like books that keep me engaged and that I don't want to end...Murdoch is one of those writers.
ReplyDeleteHere's my teaser:
http://rainysnowday.wordpress.com/2010/11/16/teaser-tuesdays-nov-16/
I started reading this when I was 14 or 15 and never finished. Since then I've read a lot of Murdoch so I'm thinking I should really go back and try this again.
ReplyDeleteWonderful teaser! Sounds like a good read.
ReplyDeleteTeaser Tuesday: Trapped on Mystery Island by John Howard Reid
Yeah, I wouldn't be looking forward to someone who was going to start screaming and pounding on doors either! Enjoy your read!
ReplyDeleteHere's mine: http://myreadersblock.blogspot.com/2010/11/teaser-tuesdays_16.html
What is it about me and the word "perilous" today?
ReplyDeleteLovely teaser and helpful description. I haven't read any Iris Murdoch, I don't think. *sigh* My list just keeps getting longer and longer.
My teaser is here: http://teabagsinfusion.blogspot.com/2010/11/teaser-tuesday-1116.html
Very descriptive and sounds like one I may enjoy. My TT: http://www.rundpinne.com/2010/11/teaser-tuesdays-heideggers-glasses.html
ReplyDeleteHmmmm, what's wrong with Hartley? Little cliffhanger here. Good Teaser.
ReplyDeletehttp://readwithtea.blogspot.com/2010/11/my-beloved-book-shelves-teaser-tuesdays.html
I so badly want to read this book! I have such an author crush on Iris Murdoch and The Sea, The Sea is so heralded I'm sure I will love it.
ReplyDeleteHere is my teaser from "The Lodestone Book One: The Sea of Storms" by Mark Whiteway (Prologue):
ReplyDeleteIt was early in the afternoon, when Kal first saw the flying rock.
Well, perhaps "flying" was a slight exaggeration; a subtle embellishment that he might have used later when trying to impress his younger brother, or his friends after third-day prayers. It was a least enough to break Kal out of his reverie. Hymarr's reaction was the last thing he had expected.
He has been rehearsing in his mind for days beforehand how he would ask her to accompany him to the Spring Gratitude Service. That morning, as he lay in his bedchamber, before even Ali-Gan, the yellow sun, has risen over the western horizon, he determined that today was going to be the day.
I need to read this one. I've wanted to for a while.
ReplyDeleteI heard you have some new kitties?? Photos??
Thanks for all the comments! I've had a crazy morning.
ReplyDeleteLaurel: Thanks for stopping by and leaving your link. I'll come visit.
Sam: I realize now that I read (or tried to) several books when I was too young to appreciate them. I think this one, in particular, needs an adult's perspective. Just the idea of 60-somethings having love affairs would have been too much for my 14 year old brain to handle.
gautami tripathy: Thank for your link!
Bev: No kidding. Thanks for leaving your TT link.
LKT: Murdoch is a worthy addition to anyone's book list. I'll come visit.
Jennifer: Thanks for the link. This is such a good story, I'd recommend it wholeheartedly.
Tea: Hartley is a little nuts. But then, she was kidnapped away from her husband by her childhood sweetheart . . . . Thanks for leaving your link.
Baley Petersen: "Author crush" -- what a great expression!
Tribute Books Mama: Wow! That's quite a teaser!
Diane: Is there a clamor for kitten pictures? I will comply, gladly. Any excuse. Maybe tomorrow will be Kitty Day here on RCR. Since every day is Kitty Day at my house.
Sounds like this book might be a different sort of read for me. Something I like to pick up on often.
ReplyDeleteStop by and check out my Reading Bucket List Challenge for 2011. It is in the works but I welcome suggestions.
Mad Scientist
http://madsteampunkery.blogspot.com
Mad Scientist: Thanks for visiting! I'll come by and check out your Bucket challenge. Sounds intriguing.
ReplyDeleteA foreboding teaser & an exciting one!
ReplyDeleteI have The Sea, The Sea on my tbr list because I have liked the books I've read by Iris Murdoch but I don't know anything about it so I'm happy to read how much you are enjoying it. Personally I feel books like these are worth savoring so taking some breaks is worth it, especially for The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo!
Great teaser!
~ Amy
Amy: This may be my favorite Murdoch book. I love it.
ReplyDeleteI also love your cat picture!
The only thing I've read by Iris Murdoch is The Bell and it's been so long. I should read something else!
ReplyDelete