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Susan's Reviews's Reviews > The Razor’s Edge
The Razor’s Edge
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A Timeless, stirring drama, scaling the heights of ecstasy to the dregs of utter despair.
Larry Darrell is a likable fellow, engaged to young socialite, Isabel Bradley. Larry goes off to war, but returns a changed man. He breaks his engagement to Isabel and leaves his former life behind, and sets off on a series of spiritual quests. (My teen self fell in love with the ideal that was Larry Darrell!)
Larry Darrell was as close to Nirvana as a human could be, according to the narrator in this story. I just saw Larry as a simple, decent person who took life as it came and made the best of things, refusing to be sucked into the sham that was success and social status.
There were a few somewhat decent movie adaptations of this book, but I was totally upset when comedian Bill Murray was cast in the part of the luminous Larry Darrell. Talk about miscasting: it put Larry in a totally foolish, bumbling light! Catherine Hicks and Theresa Russell were excellent as Isabel and the tragic Sophie.
Sophie's character stayed with me long after I finished this story: in the beginning, she had the perfect life. But her happiness would be painfully fleeting: she lost her adoring husband and sweet little baby in an accident and turned to alcohol and drugs to dull her pain. Maugham described her fall from the sublime to the dregs so eloquently and with such moving compassion.
This was a stirring melodrama that often had me on the edge of my seat. I didn't know what to make of the ending, but I was so very young at the time. Now, I would just turn the page, sigh, and say: such a thrilling life! Highly recommended!
"The sharp edge of a razor is difficult to pass over; thus the wise say the path to Salvation is hard." (Paraphrased from the Katha Upanishad)
Larry Darrell is a likable fellow, engaged to young socialite, Isabel Bradley. Larry goes off to war, but returns a changed man. He breaks his engagement to Isabel and leaves his former life behind, and sets off on a series of spiritual quests. (My teen self fell in love with the ideal that was Larry Darrell!)
Larry Darrell was as close to Nirvana as a human could be, according to the narrator in this story. I just saw Larry as a simple, decent person who took life as it came and made the best of things, refusing to be sucked into the sham that was success and social status.
There were a few somewhat decent movie adaptations of this book, but I was totally upset when comedian Bill Murray was cast in the part of the luminous Larry Darrell. Talk about miscasting: it put Larry in a totally foolish, bumbling light! Catherine Hicks and Theresa Russell were excellent as Isabel and the tragic Sophie.
Sophie's character stayed with me long after I finished this story: in the beginning, she had the perfect life. But her happiness would be painfully fleeting: she lost her adoring husband and sweet little baby in an accident and turned to alcohol and drugs to dull her pain. Maugham described her fall from the sublime to the dregs so eloquently and with such moving compassion.
This was a stirring melodrama that often had me on the edge of my seat. I didn't know what to make of the ending, but I was so very young at the time. Now, I would just turn the page, sigh, and say: such a thrilling life! Highly recommended!
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April 1, 2021
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Rich
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rated it 5 stars
Feb 28, 2022 02:40PM
Thanks for this heartful review, Susan. I'm an author relatively new to GR, so it is a pleasure discovering posts like this that do justice to one of the great pieces of modern literature. It's a book that impacted me deeply as a young fellow (living in Paris, appropriately!) and one which I've felt called to re-read through subsequent adventures down the years. Beautiful job. Best, Rich Flanders
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Rich wrote: "Thanks for this heartful review, Susan. I'm an author relatively new to GR, so it is a pleasure discovering posts like this that do justice to one of the great pieces of modern literature. It's a b..."Thank you so much, Rich. Very nice of you to say so!
I was young when I read this one: I was downright awestruck. It started me down the path of researching reincarnation and examining all of my belief systems. Somerset Maugham was an amazing person and author. So many of his novels were made into movies and plays. I don't think there will ever be an equal to his talent.
Stay well,
Susan
A writer's writer. What reach and power he achieved, to inspire you, and so many of us, to seek and explore essential questions of life. And do it in such a beguiling way. Looking forward to being Goodreads friends. My best, Rich
Rich wrote: "A writer's writer. What reach and power he achieved, to inspire you, and so many of us, to seek and explore essential questions of life. And do it in such a beguiling way. Looking forward to being ..."Likewise!
The writing in this novel is sublime. But I also felt that Bill Murray's performance as Larry was one of his most interesting. Anyway, wonderful review!
Kimber wrote: "The writing in this novel is sublime. But I also felt that Bill Murray's performance as Larry was one of his most interesting. Anyway, wonderful review!"Well Kimber, we each have our views. Larry was my idol growing up. Bill Murray kind of shattered an angelic image for me.
I've been trying to meditate, to stay in the NOW, to try to stay present and not look back. COVID stole two years of our lives. It also forced us to prioritize and decide to make life choices so that we could be happy NOW.Question: is happiness the true object of life?
Does enlightenment lead to this elusive "happiness"?
Or are we supposed to seek peace instead?
Maybe peace leads to true happiness - a sort of contentment?
But I would miss the giddy heights of being in the middle of a new adventure. I can never control my laughter - it just bursts out. Unfortunately, I find so many things hilarious and my friends often want to kill me when I am wheezing with laughter in public, unable to contain myself.
What price peace? I wonder if Larry ever found out?
