“Iris and Her Friends” is the second book John Bayley wrote
about his wife, novelist and Oxford don Iris Murdoch, and her decline from
Alzheimer’s disease. The term ‘her friends’ does not refer to people in her
life, but to the compensations that her disease brings with it- the fact that
she nearly instantly forgets bad things that happen, the warmth of simply
holding someone you love, and that she no longer has to obey rules of decorum.
Bayley, who had a lot of time to examine all facets of their life while caring
for Iris (he took care of her at home up until a couple of weeks before her
death), seems to have been determined to see all sides of the situation.
Most of the book is about Bayley’s life before meeting Iris.
He reminisces about his childhood and young adulthood while lying in bed, unable
to sleep because Iris is not settled into sleep herself. He was a bookish,
introverted lad who stood apart from his older brothers (and his parents) in
having no love for golf- they lived on a golf course. He spent most of his
childhood playing by himself. While boarding school was hell for him, he took
to the military quite well- he knew what was expected of him there. These
memories are interspersed with the daily life of caring for Iris- walks, meals
(spoon feedings), and the odd habits she developed as her disease progressed. Through
it all, despite occasional episodes of rage on his part due to sheer
frustration, is the love that held them together for so many decades.
While not as incredible a book as ‘Elegy for Iris’, it’s a
thoughtful and moving treatise on love and loss- when the person you lose is
still right in front of you.
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Sounds like I should start with the first book.
ReplyDeleteIt's not necessary to read them in order, but it helps, I think. And if you're only going to read one, make it 'Elegy for Iris'. It's amazing, and the book that they based the film 'Iris' on (which is also really good just not as good as the book). 'Widower's House' takes place after Iris's death and has some humor to it.
DeleteIf you want to read all three, I can send them to you. I've kept 'Elegy' for years because I loved it so much but have realized I won't read it again.