Rating: 
Summary: Engrossing, riveting, brilliant
Review: "A Severed Head" is a dark but extraordinary novel, full of emotion, surprises, and sumptuous writing. Layers -- or webs -- of meaning make it an excellent choice for readers who enjoy analyzing, dissecting and contemplating literature (or life). Human nature -- to say nothing of (dis)loyalty, gall, irony and (often misplaced) passion -- are on searing display here. Iris Murdoch is a rare find.
Rating: 
Summary: Illuminating
Review: An all-too-horribly-true account of triangular/quadrangular relationships. Maybe because their lives run too smoothly, the characters are tempted to throw themselves into dramatic situations where they can see themselves and each other feeling the big emotions and saying the great tragic lines. Except they are all so bloody civilised they insist on "talking things through". Marriage is shown to be nothing more than a stage set carefully dressed with the right kind of antiques.These people are not "English aristocrats" - most of them are English upper-middle-class. It's quite clear that the Lynch-Gibbons have made their money in trade (the wine trade) and are only second-generation country-house owners. The invading hordes or possibly avenging demons (Palmer and Honor) are American. Required reading for anyone caught up in a love triangle whose participants are all seeing different shrinks.
Rating:
Summary: Tops
Review: As an Iris Murdoch "junkie", I relish all of her works, and I'm still in the process of completing the list. My personal favorites have to be A Severed Head, The Sea, The Sea, Bruno's Dream and The Green Knight, so far. A Severed Head is particularly enjoyable because its plot is fast-moving and doesn't get sidetracked with lengthy philosophical or religious theory that is inherent in so many of her books. While I do enjoy examining these topics, it's also great just to get engrossed in a good story without having to think existentially, if you know what I mean. She has incredible talent as a novelist in developing characters, describing setting, developing plot and building suspense. She uses these gifts, combined with her great sense of humor, to bring her stories to an unanticipated climax, with an even more unexpected, and often happy, ending. She treats her readers as intellectual equals, which is a nice compliment, although I know I've come up short a few times -- particularly when one of her characters spouts off a phrase in a foreign language. It's the price you pay for good art, and I wouldn't change a thing. This book is a great jumping off point for new Iris Murdoch readers, who can then graduate to her lengthier, (and more philosophical) works later. Not many people can write like Iris Murdoch, and she is missed by many. Luckily, she left her legacy in her writings that we can all enjoy for many, many years to come.
Rating:
Summary: Tops
Review: As an Iris Murdoch "junkie", I relish all of her works, and I'm still in the process of completing the list. My personal favorites have to be A Severed Head, The Sea, The Sea, Bruno's Dream and The Green Knight, so far. A Severed Head is particularly enjoyable because its plot is fast-moving and doesn't get sidetracked with lengthy philosophical or religious theory that is inherent in so many of her books. While I do enjoy examining these topics, it's also great just to get engrossed in a good story without having to think existentially, if you know what I mean. She has incredible talent as a novelist in developing characters, describing setting, developing plot and building suspense. She uses these gifts, combined with her great sense of humor, to bring her stories to an unanticipated climax, with an even more unexpected, and often happy, ending. She treats her readers as intellectual equals, which is a nice compliment, although I know I've come up short a few times -- particularly when one of her characters spouts off a phrase in a foreign language. It's the price you pay for good art, and I wouldn't change a thing. This book is a great jumping off point for new Iris Murdoch readers, who can then graduate to her lengthier, (and more philosophical) works later. Not many people can write like Iris Murdoch, and she is missed by many. Luckily, she left her legacy in her writings that we can all enjoy for many, many years to come.
Rating:
Summary: Will become a classic!
Review: Honor Klein is one of the most fascinating of all of Murdoch's memorable characters. Murdoch uses humor deftly in this novel weaving a web of enchantment that underlies the more serious discussions of sex, human responsibility and morality. I will never forget the the scene in the cellar between Honor and Martin, the ride from the train station and the hilarious and touching final scene are etched in my memory forever. I have read hundreds of "serious" novels in my life and The Severed Head has become my favorite. With her recent death we lost one of the worlds best writers.
Rating:
Summary: Read this
Review: I have read other works by Ms. Murdoch, and this one stands out as a superb treat. By far it is the most "moral" of her books yet read (by that, I mean those which deal with the ruthless shifting of justifying morality). It is also one whose over-arcing lesson has been learned and remembered. It has deeply challenged my thinking, and several books later I still think independently of it when faced with the challenge of upholding my own morals. Your bubble will be burst; your preconcieved notions of what your "needs" are will be bent. It is truly a book that will leave you with an indelible impression, and one which deserves reading over.
Rating:
Summary: Read this
Review: I have read other works by Ms. Murdoch, and this one stands out as a superb treat. By far it is the most "moral" of her books yet read (by that, I mean those which deal with the ruthless shifting of justifying morality). It is also one whose over-arcing lesson has been learned and remembered. It has deeply challenged my thinking, and several books later I still think independently of it when faced with the challenge of upholding my own morals. Your bubble will be burst; your preconcieved notions of what your "needs" are will be bent. It is truly a book that will leave you with an indelible impression, and one which deserves reading over.
Rating: 
Summary: A severed reality
Review: I read this book after seeing the excellent film Iris. I still intend to read the entire Murdoch set, however I have not been too impressed with this first outing. Clearly the tale is not to be taken in any literal sense, however I am at a loss to understand the level on which it is to be understood. It doesn't seem like comedy, so I think it must be an irony. However, is there a trick to inventing ironic (or ironical) situations? The plot and characters aside, the language is a breath of fresh air. In a modern light, the syntax may seem a little stilted, however the apparent care in crafting the words inspires care in reading them. In the end, this is probably what I enjoyed most about the book - not the characters (all of whom seemed spineless in uninteresting ways), not the plot (which I assume is intentionaly ridiculous).
Rating:
Summary: Understanding this book
Review: I read this book in college. Some previous reader had underlined every appearance of the word "understand" - and for once I was grateful. I suggest you try that too.
Rating:
Summary: Understanding this book
Review: I read this book in college. Some previous reader had underlined every appearance of the word "understand" - and for once I was grateful. I suggest you try that too.
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