The Razor's Edge, by W. Somerset Maugham

Oldak

The sharp edge of a razor is difficult to pass over ;
thus the wise say the path to Salvation is hard.
- KATHA-UPANISHAD

Has anyone read The Razor's Edge, by W. Somerset Maugham? It is about a young man who, upon returning to America after serving as a pilot in WWI, finds himself lost. The man eventually heads to India and spends time in an ashram.

The book was released in 1944, and so is an early-ish example of 20th Century Western Indomania.

Stephen Batchelor discusses the book in his article Existence, Enlightenment and Suicide: The Dilemma of Ñāṇavīra Thera, which is where I came across it. Batchelor thinks that Maugham's representation of the Indian spiritual journey is Romanticist and shallow, though his synopsis was enough to recommend it to me.

YOU

I saw the movie. Some of Bill Murray's best work.

From Wikipedia:

Murray began work on a film adaptation of the novel The Razor's Edge. The film, which Murray also co-wrote, was his first starring role in a dramatic film. He later agreed to star in Ghostbusters, in a role originally written for John Belushi. This was a deal Murray made with Columbia Pictures in order to gain financing for his film.[15] Ghostbusters became the highest-grossing film of 1984. But The Razor's Edge, which was filmed before Ghostbusters but not released until after, was a box-office flop.

Upset over the failure of Razor's Edge, Murray took four years off from acting to study philosophy and history at the Sorbonne, frequent the Cinematheque in Paris, and spend time with his family in their Hudson River Valley home.

Did you have any specific questions or topics from the book you wanted to discuss?

robinsoncrusoe

I enjoyed it. It isn't a remarkably well-written book and it is kind of predictable and shallow (I don't remember many details about what insights he learned, just a general, flowery change when he comes back) but it was engaging and the characters were all well-defined. Enjoyable and entertaining, maybe more so for Americans feeling the same way now.

Krishna

I had to read it for my a highschool English class, and I really enjoyed it because I identify so much with Larry's search. I saw both adaptations of the movie as well. I actually enjoyed the 1946 version better.

gal9000

So flipping amazing. If you like The Razor's Edge, you might also want to check out Of Human Bondage.

blahblahbryan

I'm reading it now and loving it.

robinsoncrusoe

People who enjoy The Razor's Edge would probably enjoy Lost Horizon as well, although it is a bit more fantastical.

Dizzeldel

gal9000 said:
So flipping amazing. If you like The Razor's Edge, you might also want to check out Of Human Bondage.

i 2nd that

jjimmy

Gal 9000 I Loved both books! agreed

virusb23

the movie blew my mind in its examination of relationships with women. the girl who gave up on him ended up with a nutcase who laid in bed all day and he ended up with a fun girl with social problems - who eventually exposes herself.

in the grand scheme that has little to do with the movie.

Pat_Hartman

I love that it was a passion project for Bill Murray. What an actor. What a great movie. I adore Theresa Russell. And thanks for the reminder to get the book.

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