The Greatest Booker Winner

[@doreene11]

I am surprised that nobody is mentioning Shuggie Bain. It's one of my favourites books of the last years and it was a debut! Really impressive!

[@ingerreads9727]

I started 2023 by reading the Sea, the Sea. Since then I've read another 7 of her books. She was a fantastic author.

[@EricKarlAnderson]

Wow! Great that you’re on such a Murdoch binge! 📚

[@jacquelineturner7206]

My favorite is Remains of the Day. I love all his books. Probably followed by Midnight’s Children. I’ll try Murdoch again.

[@annetteholman2999]

Iris Murdoch is my favor 11:03 ite British wtiter of the 20th century. I love her eccentric, complicated characters, always bright and misguided and falling in love with the wrong people, thereby creating vigorous imbroglios from which they must extricate themselves, creating labyrinthine plots, simultaneously comic and tragic. The novels are never predictable, often the characters are unlikable but the books are never putdownable. Many philosophical questions are discussed, profoundly, but in the context of mundane existence. She's a great choice! I don't have a favorite--A WORD CHILD, perhaps. Thanks for an excellent discussuon of this unique writer.❤

[@ht6743]

Most likely Salman Rushdie for Midnight's Children. Never read anything that mind-blowing before, and as far as Booker winners go, he's in a separate class. I think he won Best Booker of the Booker or something.

[@penelopegough6050]

I haven’t read this one and think I should after listening to you now! The Booker Book of the Month Club is great. Your copies of Iris Murdoch are gorgeous. She is difficult but well worth the effort. Her biography is fascinating written by her husband. There are so many winners of the Booker that have been and remain favourites it’s really hard to choose the best of all. I always seem to come back to the Luminaries but that could be because it was recently a reread. Hard to tell. Thanks Eric very thought provoking.

[@AvAlanchian]

Rushdie-Ishiguro-Murdoch for me

[@Tinyflypie]

I've read The Sea The Sea at least 5 times. I adore it's humour and philosophical depth. I've read all her books . Understanding most of them but not all without help. Bless her beautiful soul, she is the most quotable author.

[@raymondconners]

What about Ishiguro, Atwood, and Rushdie?

[@jacquipettitt3389]

I haven't read any Iris Murdoch to be honest Karl, so I think I'd best be on the lookout for her work . Thanks for sharing your thoughts here.

[@shonna_77]

When I read "Midnight's Children" (many years ago) I remember being so astounded that someone could imagine that and write like that. I haven't read any other Rushdie though.

[@Booksandchess]

This makes me want to get to The Sea The Sea sooner than later. Rushdie won the booker of bookers so he’s definitely in the conversation. My personal favorite booker winner I’ve read so far is The Luminaries.

[@02lili02]

I've only read "The Red and the Green" of all Iris Murdoch novels and it was sooooo good, very enjoyable and interesting novel!

[@julieaulava9567]

Just audioread my first Murdoch this summer - The Sea, The Sea. I can't wait to read another. As always, love your reviews. Have fun at the ceremony!

[@EricKarlAnderson]

Great! There are many more to explore. And thank you! 😊📚

[@GregHarness]

My favorite booker nominee is Muriel Spark. Thanks for yet another great video, Eric.

[@EricKarlAnderson]

Yes, definitely!

[@sage2181]

The Sea by John Banville and Disgrace by J.M. Coetzee are the grratest novels that have won the Booker in my opinion. Excited to read Murdock!

[@hettiestroebel4952]

Thank you for another excellent book review. I love your channel and find what you read very inspiring and most interesting!

[@EricKarlAnderson]

Thanks so much! 😊📚

[@Itismebruna]

Really want to read this one now!

[@Andreas231x]

The Bone People by Keri Hulme is my favourite. I appreciate the recommendations for Murdoch here.

[@douggordy]

Never read any Murdoch - must correct that! I'll look for you at the e=ceremony! SO envious!

[@carrs01]

Totally agree Murdoch’s fictional worlds are quite unique. You need to accept her novels on their own terms. Though I think Mantel and the recently passed A S Byatt are up there as well.

[@Abis-f3p]

Yes, A. S. Byatt is absolutely one of the greatest and I'm astonished and pained there's no more mentioning it now that she passed away - where is your deep dive into her work, Eric? Remember her brilliant essays on Iris Murdoch? Another outstanding writer and Booker prize winner- well worth a celebratory video - is Muriel Spark, definitely a contender for the best Booker winner title

[@annetteholman2999]

A.S. Byatt became my favorite living writer after Iriis Murdoch died. Her people are similarly brilliant, not as eccentric. A great novelist.

[@Elizabeth-Reads]

Murdoch can be read on many levels, she can be philosophical but also weaves fantastic stories that make her such a fun read! Thanks for the discussion, Eric, now I want to reread The Black Prince (and my favorite, The Sea, The Sea.) Can I ask what version you have? It looks like NYRB, but I can’t find her books on their site.

[@EricKarlAnderson]

Definitely! So many layers. They are a Vintage classics edition which came out a few years ago.

[@Elizabeth-Reads]

​@@EricKarlAnderson Thank you!

[@DebMcDonald]

Nice to see love for Iris! I don’t imagine that I understand her books, but I enjoy her characters.

[@EricKarlAnderson]

It's one of the great things about them. I'm sure if I reread the ones I've got to I'll discover a lot more than the first time around.

[@KierTheScrivener]

I've had The Sea, The Sea on my list but it's rather long so I've beem putting it off but now I am encouraged to prioritize her. I just finished Forbidden Notebook and loved it so much. de Céspedes' writing is amazing.

[@EricKarlAnderson]

I’m SO glad you enjoyed Forbidden Notebook!

[@christelvanzyl5246]

You have been invited to the Booker Prize-giving! I am so jealous! (I borrowed The Black Prince from the library on Saturday.)

[@EricKarlAnderson]

I feel very lucky! Hope you enjoy Murdoch

[@christelvanzyl5246]

@@EricKarlAnderson ♥️

[@philnasmith9755]

Thanks Eric, very interesting review.

[@EricKarlAnderson]

Thanks!

[@rosecaron9905]

I am so excited to read Iris Murdoch now! Thank you for introducing me to her. My vote for the best author to be nominated for the booker prize would be madeliene Thien for Do Not Say We Have Nothing in 2016. Also, how would I watch the booker prize live? I am in Canada pacific coast time

[@raymondconners]

Also J.M. Coetzee

[@user-yg6ft1iu1i]

Only read The Sea The Sea but I look forward to reading more

[@ΛΕΜΟΝΙΑΤΑΣΟΥΛΑ]

Hilary Mantel, Margaret Atwood and Bernadine Evaristo

[@vanhouten64]

I'd pick Salman Rushdie narrowly over Ian McEwan, Kazuo Ishiguro, and V.S. Naipaul. Murdoch's Under the Net is an enjoyable book.

[@patriciagutierrez7615]

Yes I am going to read this book real soon . I have never read any of her books!

[@bobbykeniston7240]

I love "The Black Prince." I am due for a re-read!

[@sajadreshi7079]

Why is nobody talking about the sense of an ending by Julian Barnes. I mean he was fantastic. Also Shuggie Bain was mind boggling.

[@scottboyd3838]

I'd vote for Vernon God Little by DBC Pierre, due to how it relates to the early 00's and reality t.v. infiltrating all our lives. Very intense and funny, lol funny

[@erinh7450]

I have yet to read Iris Murdoch. 😱 I had planned to get to The Sea, The Sea, this summer but didn't. Next year for sure!!

[@BookwormAdventureGirl]

I’ve only read The Sea The Sea by Iris Murdoch. Awesome that you will be at the Booker ceremony. Enjoy! 😊💙

[@garylevine5698]

A better question to ask is who is the greatest writer never to win the Booker Prize? Count Leo Tolstoy for " War& Peace &" Anna Karenina"

[@asteroefstathiou5407]

Definately the sea the sea is an excellent book and one my favourite books i have read this year. Have also read the bell by Murdoch and enjoyed it also

[@bradleywilber3498]

Another hand up for really liking The Bell.

[@jamesduggan7200]

There seems to be widespread agreement - regardless of its lack of logic - that a relationship between an older man and a girl 35 his junior - is inherently suspicious. Personally, I find it difficult even carrying on a civil conversation with a person that much younger than I am. However, good stories are built around extraordinary events that demand to be shared with audiences.

[@nancyberry3655]

If you can handle another actively dislikeable character, but a totally compelling story, my favorite Murdoch, so far, is A Word Child.

[@annetteholman2999]

The Word Child is my favorite Iris Murdoch novel too.❤

[@monaedoyle3631]

I have never read any books by Iris Murdoch.

[@alisonjordan]

Iris Murdoch won the 📚 Booker prize, and the Nobel Prize for Literature. 📖 I must admit I have never read any of her 📚 books. Thanks for another entertaining video 📹

[@annetteholman2999]

She didn't win the Nobel prize. A wonderful writer nonetheless.

[@alisonjordan]

@@annetteholman2999 Thanks for highlighting my mistake. I was getting Iris Murdoch mixed up with Doris Lessing...

[@donaldcohen5196]

David Grimond in The Book and the Brotherhood is another Murdoch monster.

[@EricKarlAnderson]

Good to know, thanks. I’ve also got an old edition of that on my shelf.

[@paulolima6407]

😂 Actually, the term "philosophical" associated with literature almost always pulls me in. But the term "family" (🥱) pushes me away immediately. Not that I hate narratives that happen to involve families. But family cannot be a central thing: too soapie and draggy. When I hear "this book is about a family", OMG, I just wanna run away from the video or conversation. You're better off presenting the book from another another angle. I'm sure a lot of people might like it, but if you've been paying attention, I'm talking about my preferences, obviously. This is one of the reasons I like sci-fi stories so much, not that I dislike other genres. Sure, there are family issues in many of them too, but I believe rarely that's the main angle. Philosophical themes are very common and they tend to be more focused on individual journeys and relationships that are not formaly considered "family". Or if they are, they take a very interesting angle to talk about it. (SPOILER ALERT) Spielberg's AI is a great example of that! I could give a ton of spoilers to prove my point, but I hate giving spoilers as much as I hate hearing them.

[@paulolima6407]

@@Abis-f3p Really? I said "narrative" and "stories", which includes movies and books. And to make my point, it didn't matter the version of the narrative or story. Also, I like Supertoys Last All Summer Long, but I like the movie AI better.

[@paulolima6407]

@@Abis-f3p Like I said, so what? 🤣 You're inventing nonsensical rules.😂 Narratives and stories encompass movies. What matters in this thread is the context of my comment, not just the channel. Btw, this channel talks about narratives and stories, not simply books. Not every book contains narratives and stories.

[@paulolima6407]

Not trying to do that. But you confronted my comment. So it's not a radical idea to respond to that.