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Cher 'N Books 's Reviews > Of Human Bondage
Of Human Bondage
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4 stars = Fantastic and easy to recommend.
“He hated her, he despised her, he loved her with all his heart.”
I became interested in W. Somerset Maugham, when I read Tan Twan Eng's novel, The House of Doors, which features the author as a character. Since then I have read two books and a novella by him, including this one which the author describes as an autobiographical novel. They have all been enjoyable and I plan to continue reading through his other works.
“When I read a book I seem to read it with my eyes only, but now and then I come across a passage, perhaps only a phrase, which has a meaning for me, and it becomes part of me.”
This classic is a literary philosophical read. While there is a plot and things happen, it is primarily character driven and the MC does quite a bit of thinking. Recurring themes center around the importance of financial security, analyzing religious faith, and trying to solve the age old question about the meaning of life. It also echoes Dickens with his exploration of social class and the incessant struggles of working people. Maguham gives you a lot to ponder in this meaty book.
“He had the unfortunate gift of seeing things as they were, and the reality which was offered him differed too terribly from the ideal of his dreams.”
The ending surprised me. It is not what I would have chosen, not what I expected from the character, and not what the author appears to have decided on in real life, but it was satisfying nonetheless. If you like thoughtful books, enjoy reading classics and are not intimidated by long novels, this one should be added to your list.
“The only way to live is to forget that you’re going to die.”
---------------------------------------
First Sentence: The day broke gray and dull.
Favorite Quote: The rain fell alike upon the just and upon the unjust, and for nothing was there a why and a wherefore.
“He hated her, he despised her, he loved her with all his heart.”
I became interested in W. Somerset Maugham, when I read Tan Twan Eng's novel, The House of Doors, which features the author as a character. Since then I have read two books and a novella by him, including this one which the author describes as an autobiographical novel. They have all been enjoyable and I plan to continue reading through his other works.
“When I read a book I seem to read it with my eyes only, but now and then I come across a passage, perhaps only a phrase, which has a meaning for me, and it becomes part of me.”
This classic is a literary philosophical read. While there is a plot and things happen, it is primarily character driven and the MC does quite a bit of thinking. Recurring themes center around the importance of financial security, analyzing religious faith, and trying to solve the age old question about the meaning of life. It also echoes Dickens with his exploration of social class and the incessant struggles of working people. Maguham gives you a lot to ponder in this meaty book.
“He had the unfortunate gift of seeing things as they were, and the reality which was offered him differed too terribly from the ideal of his dreams.”
The ending surprised me. It is not what I would have chosen, not what I expected from the character, and not what the author appears to have decided on in real life, but it was satisfying nonetheless. If you like thoughtful books, enjoy reading classics and are not intimidated by long novels, this one should be added to your list.
“The only way to live is to forget that you’re going to die.”
---------------------------------------
First Sentence: The day broke gray and dull.
Favorite Quote: The rain fell alike upon the just and upon the unjust, and for nothing was there a why and a wherefore.
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Quotes Cher 'N Books Liked
“The bright hopes of youth had to be paid for at such a bitter price of disillusionment.”
― Of Human Bondage
― Of Human Bondage
“Money is like a sixth sense without which you cannot make a complete use of the other five. Without an adequate income half the possibilities of life are shut off.”
― Of Human Bondage
― Of Human Bondage
“What do the circumstances of your life matter if your dreams make you lord paramount of time and space.”
― Of Human Bondage
― Of Human Bondage
“This did not surprise him, for he was beginning to realise that he was the creature of a God who appreciated the discomfort of his worshippers.”
― Of Human Bondage
― Of Human Bondage
“It is an illusion that youth is happy, an illusion of those who have lost it; but the young know they are wretched for they are full of the truthless ideal which have been instilled into them, and each time they come in contact with the real, they are bruised and wounded. It looks as if they were victims of a conspiracy; for the books they read, ideal by the necessity of selection, and the conversation of their elders, who look back upon the past through a rosy haze of forgetfulness, prepare them for an unreal life. They must discover for themselves that all they have read and all they have been told are lies, lies, lies; and each discovery is another nail driven into the body on the cross of life.”
― Of Human Bondage
― Of Human Bondage
“You will find as you grow older that the first thing needful to make the world a tolerable place to live in is to recognize the inevitable selfishness of humanity. You demand unselfishness from others, which is a preposterous claim that they should sacrifice their desires to yours. Why should they? When you are reconciled to the fact that each is for himself in the world you will ask less from your fellows. They will not disappoint you, and you will look upon them more charitably. Men seek but one thing in life -- their pleasure.”
― Of Human Bondage
― Of Human Bondage
“Insensibly he formed the most delightful habit in the world, the habit of reading: he did not know that thus he was providing himself with a refuge from all the distress of life; he did not know either that he was creating for himself an unreal world which would make the real world of every day a source of bitter disappointment.”
― Of Human Bondage
― Of Human Bondage
“From old habit, unconsciously he thanked God that he no longer believed in Him.”
― Of Human Bondage
― Of Human Bondage
“It is cruel to discover one's mediocrity only when it is too late. It does not improve the temper.”
― Of Human Bondage
― Of Human Bondage
Reading Progress
January 2, 2017
– Shelved
January 9, 2025
–
Started Reading
January 25, 2025
–
Finished Reading
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Haha! That's a really cute story, s.penkevich. Like you, I prefer writing to plot and I really enjoy Maugham's style. I could have read another 700 pages of this story, no problem. It is refreshing though to start in a new city/country/world with new folks when you begin another book.
It's been so long since I've read or thought about Of Human Bondage and love that you tackled this book, which isn't a short read. I trust what you said about this novel being very character driven, with insights into the world from the point of view of a man who goes out into the world to make something of himself so the woman he desires will need him. I think what makes it great is instead of being a list of insights, there's a story here about this bad relationship we want to see the main character resolve.
Joe wrote: "It's been so long since I've read or thought about Of Human Bondage and love that you tackled this book, which isn't a short read. I trust what you said about this novel being very character driven..."Oh my gosh, freaking Mildred. I was yelling so loud at Philip every time she walked on the page, telling him to run, bro! He never listened.
Wonderful insights here!