The Razor's Edge

Rating:
Summary: timeless
Review: This is a facinating story of a man who turns his back on the ambitions of his fellow Americans to follow his own path. This novel works on many levels: it is a love story and one of revenge, of spiritual journey and social snobbery, selfishness and love of fellow man. The author tells the story as a character in the novel. His language is rich yet strangely free of phrases and cliches that would detract from his story; in this way it transcends the setting. The lives of its main characters unfold gradually; we hear only the essential elements that move the story along. It is intriguing to see how the characters evolve as the novel progresses. First rate!! It certainly causes you to question what is essential in life.

Rating:
Summary: One man's search for meaning
Review: The book begins (as all of Maugham's works) slowly, only after you are in the story do you appreciate the foundation he has laid. This is a book to read and put away for six months and read again. Maugham introduces you to to many characters wandering in and out of Larry Darrell's life, each with their own hidden agenda. Each one of them falls victim to their own weaknesses, Larry remains true to his agenda and not only survives but thrives. If you like this novel, then The Moon and Sixpence should be your next book.

Rating:
Summary: a spiritual quest across continents, life and history
Review: Yes, it starts out oh so slow, but don't give up. I thought how could this old English chap, writing about the time between the World Wars, write a story that is so much more inspiring and intense than all the manuals on Zen, Taoism and Christian mysticism that are popping up in the nineties. So many books today explain the spiritual life, but Larry actually lived it. Wish I could be as strong as him.

Rating:
Summary: nostalgic, brilliant, wistful,
Review: Brilliant: The true beauty and significance of "loafing" is certainly comparable to the dreamy life Sebastian and Charles lead as they loafed around the English countryside, sat beneath shady trees and ate strawberries with cream while washing them down with some particularly fine wine. Larry's loafing, although propelled by a strong will to search for a meaning in life, is nevertheless just as heightened with a beauty that is idyllic and nostalgic, and that penetrates beyond the mundane world and reaches for the stars.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent story of a mans search for personal truth
Review: I challenge and recomend all who for whatever reason might have the opportunity to read this book, to do so. It is one of the most enlightening and life changing books that I have ever had the opportunity of reading. My mother, whom I didn't consider a very spiritual or enlightened person by any means, saw what was happening in my life at the time and recomended that I see this movie (the origional not the new version) I became so inspired by the movie that I had to go on a search for the book that had been out of print for some time. I happened to find it in a used book store and I probably don't have to tell you that the book is one thousand times better. If you have the opportunity read the book, get the tape, or at least invest two hours and see the movie; it's black and white, under the same title. I can honestly say that this book is one thing that literly changed my life and gave me some answers that I was searching for. If you do read it you can decide for yourself, I can't tell whether or not this is a true story or is it a work of fiction? Maughm says it's true but you neveer can tell with some writers. Wishing you all good reading and enjoy.

Rating:
Summary: frightfully chic that Mr. Templeton
Review: Elliott Templeton for me was the most intriguing character, much more so that Larry. Elliott, the quintessential social climber could never be satisfied because underneath all his grandeur and amour propre he really didn't love himself at all. However, this book is one of my favorites for being on one hand "as shallow as a dinner plate," and also piercing a profound depth. Would do wonders for a youngster striving to know the ways of the upper class. A must read for all you money snobs in the corporate world who really haven't a single CLUE about the rarified world of aesthetic pursuits.

Rating:
Summary: Disappointing overall.....
Review: After being stunned by the force of his Of Human Bondage, this felt strangely pedestrian and dispassionate. Those looking for enlightenment or spiritual discovery will be disappointed. The passion of Maugham as a young author has indeed been replaced by a workman-like effort.

Rating:
Summary: "In art honesty is not only the best but the only policy."
Review: Maugham's description of reading Homer -- "You can't imagine what a thrill it is to read the Odyessy in the original. It makes you feel as if you had only to get on tiptoe and stretch out your hands to touch the stars." -- is about as close as I can come to describing how I felt the first time I read The Razor's Edge. Over the years, I have returned to the novel four or five times to discover that it becomes more profound with each reading. The story continues to exalt the spirit and confirm the fact that in the cosmos, Man is truly something, but to fulfill our potential we must connect with God. When we do, the life that can ours is the one that Maugham's central character describes: "I wish I could make you see how much fuller the life I offer you is than anything you have a conception of. I wish I could make you see how exciting the life of the spirit is and how rich in experience. It's illimitable. It's such a happy life. There is only one thing like it, when you are up in a plane by yourself, high, high, and only infinity surrounds you. You're intoxicated by the boundless space. You feel such a sense of exhilaration that you wouldn't exchange it for all the power and glory in the world."

Rating:
Summary: A life changing book
Review: I feel very strongly that this book is a must-read for anyone who feels lost. I read this book some time ago, as I was reading Somerset Maugham at the suggestion of my English teacher. After wading through a beginning that I thought was somewhat discouraging, I found myself being spoken to on a level that I have never found before. At a time in my life when I felt lost in a whirlwind of forced maturity, I found myself calmed and comforted by this book. Alongside The Razor's Edge, I found myself learning from my hardships and seeking out my own path. That was a much-needed dose of courage when I had none. Now I find myself living in another city, where I have absolutely nothing but my job and the clothes I wear. My first month was not what I had long hoped for, and I again feel lost. I find solace in this book, relearning the lessons that he taught me. Somerset Maugham wrote a masterful book about finding one's path, and by doing so, he showed me the way.

Rating:
Summary: Self discovery through reading and writing
Review: Maugham's classic novel of Larry traveling the world in search of himself is one of the few up front philisophical narratives. The story reads well, however one will need patience to get through the first half until the story picks up. When you reach this point, you will be glad you did. Characters were well drawn, with some sketchy situations about relationships between the characters, particularly Maugham himself. If you read the book, I would not bother watching the 1946 Tyrone Powell movie, for it loses it 'classic' name when you have read it. Besides all the questions of realism, the story was told well and made its point quite clearly.