"Where there are people there's mess."

Not my favorite Murdoch, but now that I'm done I am glad that I read it. Took 150 pages to get into it, but then I felt fairly hooked. The world that Murdoch created at Seegard was so odd it was the most compelling aspect of the story besides Edward's process. The Seegard family was spooky and strange, and at the end I'm left with too many questions about Mother May's intentions, moral character and motives.

Edward became a substantial character, he was enough to keep me going. I've found with Murdoch's books that I either love them or only like them just okay, and it comes down to whether the characters likeable enough. She does a fantastic job of fleshing out her characters whether they're likeable or not.

Some of my favorite quotes:

"There is a primitive fear of dead people, the ugly unnatural dead, the polluted dead who spread sickening vapours, the envious dead who drag the living down and smother them."

"Those in extreme pain are shunned by all."

"Oh to make a new imagined self in place of the failed soiled present self!"

And my favorite:
"I'm so full of terrible things, enough for a lifetime of writing."