How to Be Book Club - "The Sea, The Sea" by Iris Murdoch

Book Club Bar's in-person philosophical fiction book discussion group! This month, we're reading The Sea, The Sea, by Iris Murdoch.

Existential crises are like a persistent rash. There's no cure, but if you're suffering from the Big Questions, maybe the How To Be Book Club can be a cooling ointment. Come hang out in Book Club Bar's back garden one Saturday each month, and join us in discussing works of philosophical fiction, from across different eras and parts of the globe. We'll read the book beforehand (and do us a solid, if you can—get your book from our store), and then gather for casual conversation over drinks. Our usual fanfare will be available--coffee, beer, wine, and cocktails, plus some special brunch offerings! No preparation needed; just bring your book, your sweet self, and your curious mind!

There will be no How to Be Book Club meeting in December. Let's take advantage of this two month stretch between meetings to read a longer book than usual—Iris Murdoch's 1978 Booker Prize-winning novel The Sea, The Sea. It's funny, it's ridiculous, and it stars a narrator you are going to love to hate. Inspired by Shakespeare's The Tempest, The Sea, The Sea tells the story of a spurned, egotistic writer who secludes himself on an island to write a memoir about his extremely riveting life. (It doesn't go well). We will use our reading to explore vanity, revenge, forgiveness, and above all, morality.

Murdoch herself was a philosopher, so let's expand our understanding of morality with one of her own meditations on the subject, The Sovereignty of Good. This book is a collection of three essays derived from lectures given by Murdoch in the 1960s at three different universities across the U.S. and U.K. Because they were originally delivered as lectures, these essays are straightforward and accessible, and clock in at just 100 pages collectively. It seems fitting that in the first month of the new year, as we make new resolutions and goals, we'll be tackling perhaps the most essential philosophical question: How do I be a good person?

This month's pick: by Iris Murdoch
Optional companion text: , by Iris Murdoch

What your ticket includes:

• $8 off any drink at the bar

Grab a brunch cocktail at the bar and tell us what you thought of the book! Our informal discussion will be led by BCB bookseller Keri Kelly.

Registration is capped, so please register early if you are planning on attending. Please note: gratuity for the bartenders is not included. Please use your tickets at the beginning of the event.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Book Club Bar, 197 East 3rd Street, New York, United States