beini's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
lenamarie1's review against another edition
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
ranyayounis's review against another edition
5.0
My new favourite read - beautiful story told in simple, delicate prose that shines.
Love the idea of Maugham being a character/narrator, captures the unreliable narrator idea so beautifully.
Love the idea of Maugham being a character/narrator, captures the unreliable narrator idea so beautifully.
meyerlemonsketches's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
ipb1's review against another edition
5.0
Synopses of this book generally use terms like 'spiritual odyssey' - and that has been enough to deter me for a long time, fearing something sanctimonious, moralistic, judgmental, awful... What I was not expecting was 'funny'.
Larry Darrell, the putative central character of the book, does not in fact appear often, and his explorations of anti-materialism and Brahminism serve more to counterpoint the other characters rather than to turn the novel into some sort of spiritual bildungsroman. What you actually get is a more gentle and highly readable story in which snoops are cocked at snobbery, old vs new world, social and sexual mores, etc. etc. Particularly effective is Maugham's interpolation of himself as a character in the narrative which allows an observational objectivity and wry humour throughout.
Larry Darrell, the putative central character of the book, does not in fact appear often, and his explorations of anti-materialism and Brahminism serve more to counterpoint the other characters rather than to turn the novel into some sort of spiritual bildungsroman. What you actually get is a more gentle and highly readable story in which snoops are cocked at snobbery, old vs new world, social and sexual mores, etc. etc. Particularly effective is Maugham's interpolation of himself as a character in the narrative which allows an observational objectivity and wry humour throughout.
goldenreader24's review against another edition
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.5
blueangel12's review against another edition
inspiring
reflective
slow-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? It's complicated
4.0