I hate solitude, but I’m afraid of intimacy.
Iris Murdoch – Under the Net
"Under the Net" by Iris Murdoch is a novel about a struggling writer named Jake Donaghue who is searching for a sense of purpose in life. He becomes entangled in a series of absurd and comical situations involving his ex-girlfriend, a dog named Finn, and a mysterious philosopher named Hugo Belfounder. Throughout the book, Jake navigates his relationships and grapples with existential questions about the nature of reality and the meaning of life. The story is told through Jake's witty and self-deprecating narration, which adds to the book's humor and charm. In the end, Jake finds a new sense of purpose and learns to appreciate the simple joys in life.