And not a dinosaur in sight. Parliament Lawns, Hobart. March 2011. Under the Net is Iris Murdoch's first novel. It's a fun romp with plenty of laughs, some great set pieces and decent philosophical ruminations. It has its flaws, but nothing that should stop you reading it! Very funny stuff. David Lodge's Home Truths is a compact little farce. Essentially a set piece that explores a writer's responsibility to their talent, celebrity culture and the tendency towards mean-spirited 'attack' journalism. A decent read, but a pretty poor conclusion.