Murmur | Litsy

Murmur | Will Eaves

so-so

So dense I felt like a dunce. Beautiful but boring. Audiobook format was definitely a poor choice for the material. Eaves‘ talent as a poet is evident but the narrative was unnecessarily obscure. Add to that, the character (based on Alan Turing) is undergoing forced chemical castration; his mental health deteriorates and he‘s not always lucid. Normally meditative, introspective books are my go-to for escapism but this one left me frustrated.

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TiminCalifornia

Murmur | Will Eaves

Read six #queer themed books during pride month plus my current read, tagged. Got 1 bingo but still a number of squares to go!

#LGBTQ2021 #LGBTQBookBingo2021

Poetry or Novel in Verse: The Black Flamingo – Dean Atta

Read During Pride Month: Every Man Wants to Know – Nina Bouraoui

F/F Romance: The Price of Salt – Patricia Highsmith

Trans Author: Little Fish – Casey Plett ⬇️

TiminCalifornia Free Spot: ManBug - George Ilsley

Nonfiction: Lost Prophet, The Life and Times of Bayard Rustin

No Love Interest: Trans Medicine - Stef Shuster

M/M Romance: Red, White & Royal Blue - Casey McQuiston

Fantasy: Future Feeling - Joss Lake

Memoir: All Boys Aren‘t Blue - George M. Johnson

YA: Pet - Akwaeke Emezi ⬇️

(edited) 3y

TiminCalifornia Own Voices: Memorial - Bryan Washington

Published in 2021: 100 Boyfriends - Brontez Purnell

Non-binary author: Maia Kobabe‘s Gender Queer

Published before 2020: Larry Kramer‘s The Natural Heart

Coming out story or scene: I Have Something To Tell You by Chasten Buttigieg

Local Author: 99 Erics by Julia Serano

Coming of Age: Rubyfruit Jungle by Rita Mae Brown
3y

Kenyazero Great progress and many excellent reads added this week! Congratulations on getting a bingo! 3y

29 likes3 comments

jhod

Murmur | Will Eaves

Happy belated #jolabokaflodswap!!
Thanks so much @LittleBug, an absolurely gorgeous edition of this one which I'm really looking forward to! And the chocolate looks yummy and crazy!! Thank you! 😘
@MaleficentBookDragon thanks for organising!!

LittleBug Glad you like it! The chocolate is Dutch. No one knows, but we‘re quite good at making chocolate🤩🤪 5y

83 likes1 comment

quietlycuriouskate

Murmur | Will Eaves

pick

Well this is a conundrum! It's well written but not what I thought I was getting. I bought it after hearing Part 1 (originally a short story) on the radio. However, the larger part of the book is formed of dream sequences punctuated by letters between Alec and June. I admit I got lost. Granted, it's not the best time of year to attempt reading something quite so intellectual: I would like to read it again, when I can give it more time and thought.

TrishB I have to stick to books I can dip in and out of this time of year- as you real time to concentrate! (edited) 5y

34 likes1 comment

andrew61

Murmur | Will Eaves

pick

A remarkable piece of writing as the author imagines the effect of chemical castration upon the genius mind of alec Pryor (Alan turing). Using his theory of AI, dreams, mirrors and memory the prose is poetic, challenging, + letters to ex fiance, it is rewarding & heartbreaking that the state chose to destroy a man whose contribution to the war effort and science cannot be quantified. I will reread this bk as i feel i will benefit rdg again.

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Abailliekaras

Murmur | Will Eaves

pick

A bracing read. Alec Pryor (inspired by Alec Turing) undergoes chemical castration which affects his mind (& changes him). Wonderful insight into how his mind shifts from lucid thoughts & ideas to dreams & hallucinations. I loved his letters with June (based on Turing‘s friend Joan). It‘s challenging: it jumps in time, characters morph & the line between memory & dreams is blurred. Clean, beautiful writing, I loved the dry humour & compassion.

36 likes

jhod

Murmur | Will Eaves

Pretty pleased with today's #libraryhaul
Also got the Rick Stein book for 50p in their sale so Toby can cook me lots of nice things 😊

andrew61 Great haul - i really want to read murmur so look forward to your comments. Mouthful of birds is bonkers. 6y

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Moray_Reads

Murmur | Will Eaves

pick

Will Eaves imagines the inner life of Alan Turing following his arrest for gross indecency and enforced hormone therapy. This incredibly dense short novel is tender, humane, heartbreaking and fiercely intelligent. Its three sections describe the journal entries, dreams and correspondence of Alec Pryor (Alan Turing analogue). ⬇️ #GoldsmithsPrize

Moray_Reads As the drugs destabilise his mind and transform his body "Pryor's" theories of intelligence combine with his history to create vivid visions, sometimes bizarre, sometimes terrifying but always moving. Though each scene is full of emotion Pryor's narration is often heart-breakingly calm and matter-of-fact. The ideas are fittingly complex and I feel like it after discovering more of Turing's theories a second reading will be even more rewarding 6y

charl08 Sounds excellent. Going to look for it. 6y

Moray_Reads @charl08 challenging but worth it 6y

See All 11 Comments

vivastory An informative, thoughtful review! I've been meaning to learn more about Turing since watching the overly ambitious Imitation Game last month. 6y

Moray_Reads @vivastory the film didn't quite work for me either. It might be worth reading a biography first, that gives the basics of his theories, Eaves has put so much into this short novel that I KNOW I missed some of the subtleties because I didn't read up first. This one had been recommended as good for covering both life and work well (ignore the film cover) - and I already have it! I should have ready it first 🙄

Alan Turing: The Enigma: The Book That Inspired the Film "The Imitation Game"

vivastory Thanks for the recommendation! I'm adding that to my list. It'll be interesting to read the two back to back. 6y

andrew61 It's only when i added it on GR that i realised that he had written a short story in 2017 national short story award which i listened to at time and it was incredibly moving - i think it may still be available as it then expanded into the novel. 6y

Moray_Reads @andrew61 I think this is it! I think I remember reading that the first chapter or so was published as a short story 6y

andrew61 @Moray_Reads https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0952zlk 6y

andrew61 I hope this link is right 6y

RohitSawant Such an excellent review! 6y

49 likes6 stack adds11 comments

Moray_Reads

Murmur | Will Eaves