Theo’s review of The Razor’s Edge > Likes and Comments

This is an AMAZING review! Thanks so much, my friend. And of course you are right now to share the Master's opinion of it.

Thanks, Fergus. I appreciate your kind words. Always interesting to review a book that impacted one’s life as much as this one did mine.

I haven't read this one. However... must say, I think YOUR review could be better than the book! A great review, well done. CB

Thanks, Colin. It’s a pretty good book, and stood the test of time with me - loved it at 20, and found it even better at 58.

I’m a few years on you, so my memory sometimes fails, but I think I’ve only read ‘Of Human Bondage’, and did enjoy it.

Fantastic review. I loved hearing your journey with this story. And I'm going to seek out the movie because I think I'd like it too!

Thank you, Kathleen. The movie has gathered a small, cult following over the years.

I liked your review, very heartfelt. I read Maugham a lot when youngish and that certainly included this novel. I preferred The Painted Veil, finding it the least cynical of all Maugham's novels, while Of Human Bondage has a broader scope.

But this book is a very honest attempt to understand the human yearning for spiritual fulfillment. Ultimately Maugham though a great storyteller had, in my opinion, little understanding of spirituality, though he had more than the makers of the film (with the possible exception of the great Bill Murray).

For me, Maugham was a great short story teller and I could read this travel writing all year. It is a great pity he's not read more.

Bravo! That wonderful movie led me to the book as well (also leading to my high school GF breaking-up with me shortly after we saw it together, catalysing her into a worried Isabel to my callow, rebellious Larry) ... thanks for the memory!

Great review. It’s really interesting to reread works that changed your life. Lovely way to reflect.

Thanks, Lizz. Seems to be these days I’m rereading as many old books as I am new ones.

Great review, Theo! I liked the movie when it came out and read the book, too. Now you have me thinking about revisiting it, too.

Thanks, Michael! I think that I enjoyed it more this time around than I did 40 years ago.

Great review Theo, I’m just 25% in for my first WSM novel, Of Human Bondage.

Thanks, Graham.

Oh, dayum! I've never seen the movie, but Bill Murray sounds perfect for Larry.

Kevin, he was great in the role. It was a passion project for him. Story is that he would only agree to star in Ghostbusters if the studio would green light his remake of Razors Edge.

Theo wrote: "Kevin, he was great in the role. It was a passion project for him. Story is that he would only agree to star in Ghostbusters if the studio would green light his remake of Razors Edge."
It is now on my watch list.

Echoing my betters, the film was immensely influential on this poor bastard. I second your observations about the novel as well. Cheers.

"I think I identify more with the character of Somerset Maugham himself, the non judgmental observer who knows and likes all of these vastly different people, and can identify the humanity in them all."--A lovely sentiment!

A fantastic review, and I couldn't agree more. It was a book and a movie that profoundly impacted my worldview. The book sits squarely in my top ten list.

Thank you, Michael. Top ten seems about right.

One of my all time favorite books but I felt Murray was not the character I saw in my mind. Glad you love the book as well.

Kerry, it probably helped that I saw the movie with Murray before I read the book. He seemed a natural in the role, and of course I pictured him as Larry when I went on to read the novel.

Saw the Murray movie in Cinema after my first reading with 19, was 26 at second reading and had the same experience, the structure was more prominent than Darrells fate.

Armin, the book was delightfully eclectic with its handling of characters.

The best friend/confident-narrator familiar with all the characters was 19th-Century-narrative-strategy a it's best, but somehow out of time in the middle of the 20th century, Anyway I loved it. Never was in the Himalayas, my spiritual Journey went through the charismatic movement in Germany until the last illusion was consumed. But as my native country turned into a woketatorship, I migrated to paraguay and enjoy my spiritual freedom in my house in the mountains. My razors edge is located still in Germany, maybe I reread it, next fall, when I visit my family.

I foresee another reread of this one sometime in my future as well, Armin

Having watched the movie now, I agree he was great in the role. Working his eulogy for Belushi into it struck me as pretty forced, but that's my only quibble. The convo with Isabel after Sophie's death was perfect.