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4.1 AVERAGE
4.1 AVERAGE
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
challenging
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:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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:
Complicated
adventurous
reflective
medium-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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Sexual content, Murder, War
Minor: Abortion
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
If I had to sum up this book in two words it would be "mixed bag."
The writing, in the close up sense, is beautiful and it's the sort of book where I highlighted many lines on many pages. But the zoomed out writing, the story, the arcs, the characters, was more hit and miss.
Some sections had me so engaged while others had me zoning out and extremely bored.
This was made worse for the fact that I didn't find any of the characters terribly likeable. (Save Elliot and I was very sadwhen he died )
I also found Larry very annoying and pretentious and privileged? At first, I was sort of intrigued but his spirituality and philosophical tendencies didn't speak to me. And, again, very hard to get over the fact that he was so ridiculously privileged and didn't realise it.
I guess just wasn't a book made for me, but I'm disappointed in the end because I had high hopes for it.
The writing, in the close up sense, is beautiful and it's the sort of book where I highlighted many lines on many pages. But the zoomed out writing, the story, the arcs, the characters, was more hit and miss.
Some sections had me so engaged while others had me zoning out and extremely bored.
This was made worse for the fact that I didn't find any of the characters terribly likeable. (Save Elliot and I was very sad
I also found Larry very annoying and pretentious and privileged? At first, I was sort of intrigued but his spirituality and philosophical tendencies didn't speak to me. And, again, very hard to get over the fact that he was so ridiculously privileged and didn't realise it.
I guess just wasn't a book made for me, but I'm disappointed in the end because I had high hopes for it.
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-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
"...nothing could touch me and when I had worked out the karma of my present life I should return no more. The thought filled me with dismay. I wanted to live again and again. I was willing to accept every sort of life, no matter what its pain and sorrow; I felt that only life after life, life after life could satisfy my eagerness, my vigor, and my curiosity."
[b:The Razor's Edge|31196|The Razor's Edge|W. Somerset Maugham|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1386925123l/31196._SY75_.jpg|2095259] is the story of Larry Darrell's, (not to be confused with Larry, Darryl, and Darryl from the Bob Newhart show), spiritual journey.
The turn of the 20th century America was a major turning point. America was coming into its own, waking up to a wider world, and there was a pull of eastern religions and theologies. Larry Darrell is seeking answers to life's big questions - the existence of God, why are we here?, etc. It is a well told story, and I enjoyed [a:W. Somerset Maugham|4176632|W. Somerset Maugham|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1414096390p2/4176632.jpg]'s writing style. It was just very enjoyable to read and it flowed very nicely.
[a:W. Somerset Maugham|4176632|W. Somerset Maugham|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1414096390p2/4176632.jpg] put it perfectly in his line, which kind of summarizes my thoughts about the book: "I had no idea reading could be so interesting. Those old writers weren't such fatheads as one would think.". Very true! This is a thought provoking novel. I plan to read [b:Of Human Bondage|31548|Of Human Bondage|W. Somerset Maugham|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1386924695l/31548._SY75_.jpg|2547187] later this year.
3.5 rounded up to 4 stars for [b:The Razor's Edge|31196|The Razor's Edge|W. Somerset Maugham|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1386925123l/31196._SY75_.jpg|2095259]. I enjoyed it.
[b:The Razor's Edge|31196|The Razor's Edge|W. Somerset Maugham|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1386925123l/31196._SY75_.jpg|2095259] is the story of Larry Darrell's, (not to be confused with Larry, Darryl, and Darryl from the Bob Newhart show), spiritual journey.
The turn of the 20th century America was a major turning point. America was coming into its own, waking up to a wider world, and there was a pull of eastern religions and theologies. Larry Darrell is seeking answers to life's big questions - the existence of God, why are we here?, etc.
Spoiler
His search takes him far and wide and he researches and experiences numerous religious and economic systems to find his answers. From working hard labor in mines, "loafing" and reading/studying classical philosophical treatises, communing with Benedictines, eventually making his way to India to become one with the Absolute, rejecting all material things (disposing of his source of money), and then returning in a full circle to where it all began - "living simply".[a:W. Somerset Maugham|4176632|W. Somerset Maugham|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1414096390p2/4176632.jpg] put it perfectly in his line, which kind of summarizes my thoughts about the book: "I had no idea reading could be so interesting. Those old writers weren't such fatheads as one would think.". Very true! This is a thought provoking novel. I plan to read [b:Of Human Bondage|31548|Of Human Bondage|W. Somerset Maugham|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1386924695l/31548._SY75_.jpg|2547187] later this year.
3.5 rounded up to 4 stars for [b:The Razor's Edge|31196|The Razor's Edge|W. Somerset Maugham|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1386925123l/31196._SY75_.jpg|2095259]. I enjoyed it.