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airheadgallery's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
5.0
Absolutely loved this book and I think listening via audiobook is the best way to read this as it feels like someone is gossiping to you.
I will say as much as I liked Maugham’s writing style and flow, I am glad I will never have a chance to meet him. I can only imagine his scalding review of my appearance and behaviour.
I really enjoyed the discussion of the US, France, and England throughout this book. Of course more heavily on Americans and American work ethic and attitudes.
Elliot, despite his snobbery, I did enjoy. Maugham, while cruel at times, did a very good job painting a picture of Elliot and his tastes and mannerisms in relation to what was going on in the world around him. His clinging to the past as he grows old and the trend cycle inevitably moves forward without him. The bitter competition of being in the “in-group.” He also serves as a contrast to Larry (or vice versa really).
Isabel was possibly the character I had a lot of hope for character development wise. With every inch the story moved forward the more hope I had that she would become a better person and subsequently I was let down each time. I also absolutely hated the long descriptions of how “shapely” her legs were or just other weird, annoying comments about her appearance.
Larry is for sure an interesting character that you can sort of admire with his openness, go-with-the-flow attitude, and his eagerness to learn. It inspires me to read more, especially with all the references to religious hindu texts and, while unrelated to the book, Oppenheimer coming out this month (July 2023) with his infamous quote of the Bhagavad Gita.*
*I mean this is a way that I want to become more well-read
Back to the Larry and Elliot contrast thing, it was very interesting the way they end off. Elliot dies with the people around him rejecting him with seemingly only his family and Maugham there to support him. Maugham makes the decision to lie to the man on his deathbed so he wouldn’t have to die in shame for that after all the work he’s put in to stay relevant, was in vain. Larry on the other hand, decides to forgo his fortune and spend his life doing manual labour. He is always coming and going out of people’s lives with more eagerness to help the receive anything in return other than enlightenment. Their spiritual journeys are also interesting in the way that Elliot devoted himself to the church while Larry decided to look to other religions for enlightenment. One thing I do respect Maugham for mentioning Larry’s privilege to do this sort of exploration. “Well, it’s your own money. You’re free, white, and twenty-one.”
Larry is a rich kid who could fall back on money if he so willed it. As Maugham describes “You see, you’ve always had it and I haven’t. It’s given me what I value almost more than anything else in life—independence.”
Of course, Maugham isn’t a stranger to orientalism. He wrote about his travels in southeast asia in The Gentleman and in the Parlour. The Painted Veil on China. There are countless articles on how his “apolitical” travel books still reinforce colonialism. While this book is about Larry, it does lean into these sort of attitudes.
I have so much more to say about this book. I am, however, tired because this is a long review for StoryGraph and I’ve put more thought in this than I was planning to.
I will say as much as I liked Maugham’s writing style and flow, I am glad I will never have a chance to meet him. I can only imagine his scalding review of my appearance and behaviour.
I really enjoyed the discussion of the US, France, and England throughout this book. Of course more heavily on Americans and American work ethic and attitudes.
Elliot, despite his snobbery, I did enjoy. Maugham, while cruel at times, did a very good job painting a picture of Elliot and his tastes and mannerisms in relation to what was going on in the world around him. His clinging to the past as he grows old and the trend cycle inevitably moves forward without him. The bitter competition of being in the “in-group.” He also serves as a contrast to Larry (or vice versa really).
Isabel was possibly the character I had a lot of hope for character development wise. With every inch the story moved forward the more hope I had that she would become a better person and subsequently I was let down each time. I also absolutely hated the long descriptions of how “shapely” her legs were or just other weird, annoying comments about her appearance.
Larry is for sure an interesting character that you can sort of admire with his openness, go-with-the-flow attitude, and his eagerness to learn. It inspires me to read more, especially with all the references to religious hindu texts and, while unrelated to the book, Oppenheimer coming out this month (July 2023) with his infamous quote of the Bhagavad Gita.*
Back to the Larry and Elliot contrast thing, it was very interesting the way they end off. Elliot dies with the people around him rejecting him with seemingly only his family and Maugham there to support him. Maugham makes the decision to lie to the man on his deathbed so he wouldn’t have to die in shame for that after all the work he’s put in to stay relevant, was in vain. Larry on the other hand, decides to forgo his fortune and spend his life doing manual labour. He is always coming and going out of people’s lives with more eagerness to help the receive anything in return other than enlightenment. Their spiritual journeys are also interesting in the way that Elliot devoted himself to the church while Larry decided to look to other religions for enlightenment. One thing I do respect Maugham for mentioning Larry’s privilege to do this sort of exploration. “Well, it’s your own money. You’re free, white, and twenty-one.”
Larry is a rich kid who could fall back on money if he so willed it. As Maugham describes “You see, you’ve always had it and I haven’t. It’s given me what I value almost more than anything else in life—independence.”
Of course, Maugham isn’t a stranger to orientalism. He wrote about his travels in southeast asia in The Gentleman and in the Parlour. The Painted Veil on China. There are countless articles on how his “apolitical” travel books still reinforce colonialism. While this book is about Larry, it does lean into these sort of attitudes.
I have so much more to say about this book. I am, however, tired because this is a long review for StoryGraph and I’ve put more thought in this than I was planning to.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Misogyny, and Racial slurs
enoemo's review
adventurous
funny
reflective
medium-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
4.5
Honestly, this was such a fun classic read. It took me a couple pages to fully get into it, but the author did a great job at introducing the characters and reminding the reader of them if they didn't appear for a while - essential for me as someone who tends to forget side characters easily if they're not always in the picture, especially in a book that spans multiple years like this one. This was entertaining, the characters were well developed and I felt for each one of them in a strange way. I also like how the content foreshadows some of the fascinations that were then again picked up by the beat generation. Beware though, as a lot of books from this era, you will find some -isms here and there.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
Moderate: Misogyny, Infidelity, Antisemitism, Death of parent, Alcohol, Sexism, Racism, Racial slurs, Drug abuse, and Classism
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