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4.1 AVERAGE
4.1 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Maugham begins The Razor’s Edge by explaining that it’s barely fiction at all, that all the characters, events, and conversations are real and recreated to the best of his ability with only names changed, except the narrator who goes by Maugham. True or not, the stories of these people/characters are singular in their spread across time and continents, reflecting lifestyles and attitudes both of their time and ahead of their time. Yet they are ordinary in their search for “success” be it in love, business, social standing, or answering the most enduring questions of the human race. The two main characters are Isabel and Larry, young adults at the novel’s start who get engaged only to realize that their aims in life are too different to stay together. Their lives along with the lives of several other characters are pieced together as the the narrator reunites with them sometimes after years of separation. As a result, the dialogue often becomes out of hand because characters are relaying the narrative rather than the narrator. Fortunately, I still enjoyed Maugham’s style which finds a nice balance between description and reportage though he can be too obsessed with women’s appearances. Women seem to be Maugham's weakness because, even though Isabel, who is probably the main protagonist, is written pretty fully, her character falls apart for me at the end due to the author/narrator's interpretation of her motives--the women's actions are ultimately the result of carnal desire and a need for stability. Whether he believes this is the result of social conditioning or women's true nature is unclear.
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really like this book. I've always enjoyed when a character undergoes a spiritual journey and i'm glad it was Larry who did. He found his place, where he wanted to be. That's all anyone asks for. This book was sometimes slow-going, but well-written and sweet.
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
The perfect summer novel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs
Moderate: Racism, Xenophobia
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
“A success story” as Maugham said himself. A European twist on The Great Gatsby. Takes place during the roaring 20s as well, but also continues on through the depression and its disastrous effects. Most of the characters feed into American exceptionalism, highlighting the shallowness of high societies. Everyone can find aspects of different characters to resonate with, making the farfetched story much more personal and touching.