yjpenny's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
lcgerstmann's review against another edition
1.0
It's hard to have an interesting book when every character is completely, horribly pathetic and detestable! I labored through this hanging in there with hopes of redemption in the end...I was severely disappointed.
velina's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
xanadu_'s review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
ginbottle's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
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? Yes
5.0
Highly readable story of a thoughtful young man finding his way amid life's ups and downs, in an age before the motor car and welfare.
chinchinisbusyreading's review against another edition
4.0
I have such affection for W.Somerset Maugham but I couldn't stop flinching everytime Sally was referred to as a healthy animal.
megansgc's review against another edition
3.0
If you love a book heavy with character development you’ll probably enjoy this one. I wanted to love it because it was one of my mother’s favourite books, but I just didn’t care about the characters and found it too light on plot
yasy_yasy16's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Long, weird, meandering, and beautifully written. I liked this book a great deal, but it was a little boring at times and since it is so long the boring parts tend to drag. Overall a really good read.
bunnieslikediamonds's review against another edition
3.0
Maugham's short stories are wonderful, and I think I've read most of them. I seem to remember liking The Razor's Edge a long time ago. I enjoyed reading a biography of him (can't remember which one), and even liked the immensely bitchy The Summing Up. Yet here I am, trying to figure out why this autobiographical masterpiece made me want to throw things. At Philip Carey, that is, the hapless protagonist who drags his club foot around town chasing after Mildred, the Worst Woman in the World. She really is. Mean, selfish, dumb, cruel and shallow. But she can't help it, Philip affectionately muses, and goes on wooing her for no good reason at all, as she goes on making him miserable. There's also a lot of talk of art and religion, but every time I became interested the narrative got sidetracked by Mildred popping up with a new despicable scheme. I'm not sure this is proof of Maugham's purported misogyny, but it's annoying as hell. Hey Philip, if you're in love with the Worst Woman in the World, what does that make you?
Oh well, maybe poor Philip just reminded me too much of other hapless fellows I've known, or maybe this kind of Bildungsroman simply isn't my thing. The writing of course was excellent, and everyone seems to love this book, so maybe I just don't get it.
Oh well, maybe poor Philip just reminded me too much of other hapless fellows I've known, or maybe this kind of Bildungsroman simply isn't my thing. The writing of course was excellent, and everyone seems to love this book, so maybe I just don't get it.