From the Bookshelf of Mineola Library's 2012 FALL Reading Challenge…

Under the Net

Iris Murdoch

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Mar 23, 2010 Suzanne Moore rated it it was ok

Shelves: 1001-2006, 1001-2008, summer-challenge-picks

This was my first book by this author and I wasn't overly impressed. This doesn't mean I was bored by the story, just that it wasn't a page-turner for me. Jake the main character is a freeloading journalist/writer. He doesn't think one should have to pay rent, so he stays with friends. As the story begins he is being asked to leave by Madge the girl whose home he is currently residing in. She intends to marry and he has to go. He leaves with a roommate, Finn, also being evicted from Madge's plac This was my first book by this author and I wasn't overly impressed. This doesn't mean I was bored by the story, just that it wasn't a page-turner for me. Jake the main character is a freeloading journalist/writer. He doesn't think one should have to pay rent, so he stays with friends. As the story begins he is being asked to leave by Madge the girl whose home he is currently residing in. She intends to marry and he has to go. He leaves with a roommate, Finn, also being evicted from Madge's place. Once they part ways Jake looks up Anna, an old love interest. It has been years since they have been in contact, but Jake still feels strongly for her. His dormant feelings are revived, but Anna is hesitant and he feels she is involved with someone else. She agrees to let him stay the night, but refers him to her sister, Sadie, for a permanent address. Sadie, an actress, is leaving for a tour and will need someone to watch her flat while she is away. (perfect set-up for Jake) Sadie has dealings with Madge's finance Sammy that seem to be "under the net." They have a manuscript of a book which Jake published years earlier, and they want to make it into a screenplay. Jake's book "The Silencer" was written after a time he spent with Hugo Belfounder, an independent film producer/ philosopher. Jake's book wasn't a big seller, and he harbors regrets about rephrasing Hugo's thoughts into a novel. It seems he doesn't feel the work is truly his own idea. He feels kind of like a plagiarist. I don't want to summarize the entire story, but this much gives an overview of the main characters ... except for Mars, an old film-star dog who Jake acquires by unscrupulous means.
Jake holds Mars hostage in efforts to regain the manuscript for "The Silencer" from Sadie and Sammy. I liked the adventures between Jake and Mars best.
Basically the whole story revolves around a hidden circle of attractions. Madge agrees to marry Sammy (not sure how they hooked up) when she believes she will never have future with Jake. Jake is still in love with Anna, but she is in a secret torrid romance with Hugo. Hugo who admits to Jake his feelings for Anna, realizes that she isn't serious about him. Hugo's triangle also includes Sadie, who is involved with Sammy behind Madge's back.

Towards the middle of the book, Jake is forced to find employment and takes a job as an orderly at a hospital. Here he crosses paths with Hugo who has been admitted with a head injury. Jake is confronted with more regrets and wonders if there are hard feelings about the book he published using Hugo's ideas.
In the end, Hugo gives Jake his blessing for the book. Jake is allowed to keep Mars, who he has become rather attached to. And the characters move on ... Jake contemplates writing a screenplay. ...more

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