CC Spin #38 - The Razor's Edge by W. Somerset Maugham

Concerning the title (from Wikipedia). "The novel's title comes from a translation of a verse in the Katha Upanishad, paraphrased in the book's epigraph as: "The sharp edge of a razor is difficult to pass over; thus the wise say the path to Salvation is hard." I guess that is what Larry discovers along his path to finding a meaning with life.

For once, I am pleased to say, I did finish the spin book. And very early as well. It must have been over a month since I finished it. I have not read a lot by Maugham, only The Moon and Sixpence. I did like that one, my review is under the link.

This is a total different kind of book. When I read it, and even when I had finished it, I did not know what to think. Usually, it would be a book that I did not finish, since I found it rather slow, but still, I had to finish it, to see what happened to the characters. Having said that, I am not sure what I think about the characters.

Larry Darrell is a young American in search of the absolute. The progress of this spiritual odyssey involves him with some of Maugham's most brillant characters - his fiancee Isabel, whose choice between love and wealth have lifelong repercussions, and Elliot Templeton, her uncle, a classic expatriate American snob. The most ambitious of Maugham's novels, this is also one in which Maugham himself plays a considerable part as he wanders in and out of the story, to observe his characters struggling with their fates.

(from Goodreads).

Larry and Isabel are best friends since childhood and everyone expects them to marry. When Larry comes back from World War II and its horrors, he is another person. He decides to take a few years 'off' and go to Europe to try to find a balance in his life. Isabel is devastated, but agrees as she loves him. Her mother tries to steer her out of the relationship, but Isabel persists. Isabel's uncle Elliot Templeton is an American expat living in Paris, joining the jet set circles and is a snob, in all things in life. The narrator is Maugham himself, who enters into the lives of these characters from time to time.

All characters are wealthy people, are proud of it, or at least takes it for granted. Neither of them, except Larry, can think of living a different life. Larry is the character that eveything circles around. Maybe, because he does take a stand in life, he does not just follow the marked, or trodden, path. He is looking for something else. Something that can explains life and one's soul.

I did not entirely take to Larry, found him somewhat vague, even in his way of searching for a higher meaning. However, he definitely stands out in the crowd, at the same time as he is part of every crowd he is encountering. One could maybe call him an adventurer, but it is not entirely right. Everyone is against what he is doing, except maybe Maugham himself, who seems to just listen and note without any critisism. Maybe it is the writer in him.

I did find Elliot Templeton a rather loving character. At least he stood up for what he was, a snob and enjoyer of life. I loved how he kept up his life style until the very end.

It is a difficult book to review since it goes in so many directions. If you are a fan of Maugham you definitely have to read it. Maybe the story is applicable also today, when there are many people, with a lot of money, but not knowing what to do with their life. I think that is the most important thing, that you have a goal or a path to follow in life. Otherwise, you are lost. I find that several of the characters are lost, except maybe Elliot and his sister. She has both feet on the ground in all situations. Maybe that is why these two characters come out as the only real characters of the story. Or, is it the Larry comes out as the winner?

If you have read it, I would be interesting in knowing what you think.