Reviews

The Razor's Edge by W. Somerset Maugham

vangoghssunflowers's review against another edition

reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Interesting read! As it’s set in the 1900’s, I can’t be too shocked on how women are spoken about. My only wish is that we got to see their inner workings as much as the men. 

I quite liked the duality between Elliot and Larry, I think they were perfect foils. One seeking notoriety through social connections, the other on an altruistic hunt for the meaning of life. The difference between Larry’s life and the aristocrats also had a nice balance. 

Structure wise, I think there were chunks of this novel that dredged on and didn’t add much to the characterization. But alas, that is what 20th century literature will do for you. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Antisemitism, and Racial slurs

2lax_cooper's review

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Rediscovered why Maugham is one of my favorite authors. As an American in Europe it particularly speaks to me and the journey of finding one’s self that most statesman ridicule.

susie_m's review

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

The story of the lives of some of the narrator’s friends over the course of a few interwar years and their relationship with one another. The location moves from New York to Paris and the South of France, while one character spends a lot of time relating the story of his spiritual awakening in India. The effects of the First World War on veterans and the effect of the Great Depression lead some of the ‘plot’. Nothing much happens and I found it strangely compelling. 

qwedsa123's review against another edition

emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

liambaker19's review against another edition

reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

meanypanini's review against another edition

4.0

This was my first book by Maugham, but I thought it was great. The characters were all interesting and all had so much life in them. Larry's precarious spiritual journey as he goes against everyone's expectations of him is both enthralling and suspenseful.

xcaity's review against another edition

3.0

It was definitely an interesting read, and I love the author's background and the style of the book, but it's not something I would have read had it not been for a literature class.

paulmichaelpeters's review against another edition

5.0

This is a wonderful story. Larry searches the world to find himself. While he is away the stories of his life long friends are told. Each time I read this book, I find something new and interesting I missed or forget on the previous visit to the world Maugham has made. It has always struck me odd that the author is a character in the book and the way it is told. Not odd bad, but different.

Again, once of my favorites and I encourage anyone to read it at least once.

petrak's review

reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

stephen_coulon's review against another edition

emotional funny reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

A social-study sort of novel that explores a posh group of trans-Atlantic richies whose lives take remarkably different paths. Though the cast starts out in life in the same privileged milieu, their progressing character studies are diverse: there’s an early hippie who looks for enlightenment in the East, a calculating socialite who uses marriage as a safety net, and literature’s biggest snob perhaps, who embodies impossible but inspirational Wildean standards. Maugham’s characterizations are classical and complex, reflecting realities that elicit genuine empathy. His style is akin to having an honest conversation with a friendly aristocrat with his casually elevated diction. His greatest strength though is his tone, his pragmatic English honesty, with its ability to admire another’s virtues and ideals without feeling guilt for rejecting them. This openness to explore the variety of human experiences without passing judgment makes this a lovely book for socially curious souls.