Katie’s Reviews > The Collected Short Stories of W. Somerset Maugham: Volume 1 > Status Update
Katie
is on page 247 of 448
Finished The Happy Couple. I like when he writes in first person, and so far I’ve found him very consistent in the characterization of his self-inserts so that it seems like I’m peeking into his life and I have to remind myself that the characters aren’t real. THC was good but I was disappointed that it just… ended. I liked the appearances vs reality aspect throughout but I wanted just a bit more drama.
— Sep 06, 2026 06:20AM
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Katie
is on page 234 of 448
Just finished Gigolo and Gigolette but I had also finished The Three Fat Women of Antibes days ago and forgotten to update my tracker. TFWA wasn’t anything to write home about, perfectly okay. Just like he loves a gorgeous loafing boy, Maugham loves to write about an overweight woman gorging herself. G&G was also okay, started strong but didn’t stick the landing. I liked his description of circus folk.
— Sep 06, 2026 05:35AM
Katie
is on page 188 of 448
Finished Appearance and Reality which was a much welcome palate cleanser after the last two stories. This one felt like it could have been a scene from a play wherein the supporting characters throw an exaggerated wink to the audience as we all laugh at Monsieur Le Sueur.
— Aug 29, 2026 05:35PM
Katie
is on page 174 of 448
Finished Mackintosh. God this was bleak and I can see why he chose to have this follow Honolulu. There was good momentum and the tension really ramped up so that I was racing through the last 10 pages. Walker and Mackintosh made a detestable pair but I liked how their traits ebbed and flowed through the story so you could never confidently say who was worse.
— Aug 29, 2026 08:54AM
Katie
is on page 143 of 448
Finished The Pool. This one was meh to me. Definitely a product of its time. Lots of anthropological descriptions contrasting Samoans and Brits. Overall quite bleak and while the ending made sense (I guess), I wasn’t really moved.
I like Maugham’s writing for his wry observations that give way to poignant insights. This story was simply a bummer.
— Aug 25, 2026 07:47PM
I like Maugham’s writing for his wry observations that give way to poignant insights. This story was simply a bummer.
Katie
is on page 110 of 448
Finished The Luncheon, The Ant and the Grasshopper, and Home. Lunch. was cute and bitchy, A&G was an industry vs loafing story that made me chuckle, Home tugged at my heartstrings in a way that was surprising for 4 pages.
Loved being able to read 3 stories on the way to work, I feel like I’ve had a trio of mini croissants (lunch = almond , ant = chocolate, home = plain).
— Aug 24, 2026 05:58AM
Loved being able to read 3 stories on the way to work, I feel like I’ve had a trio of mini croissants (lunch = almond , ant = chocolate, home = plain).
Katie
is on page 96 of 448
Finished Honolulu. A funny twist at the end but overall I found this one a bit dull.
— Aug 21, 2026 08:40PM