Reading the Chunksters discussion

And the emotional roller-coaster lifts us and dashes us yet again.

Mildred is back from Brighton, and she seems happy to see Philip, cuddling up to him in the cab. To give her something to amuse her on the Sunday night with no entertainments available, he invites Griffiths to dine with them. He’s late, but makes a happy party, and Mildred enjoys herself enormously. And she thanks Philip for the evening with a rare kiss.

The next afternoon they spend in Philip’s room, and he watches with pleasure as Mildred, he thinks, “flirts harmlessly” with Griffiths.

But it’s not harmless. Quite the contrary. Mildred has fallen in love with him, as she never has with Philip. And Philip is so – so – is there even a word for it? – that he “[throws] them together now to make the pain he suffered more intolerable.” Griffiths denies, of course, that he is in love with her – when Philip asks point blank, Griffiths laughs it off with "Is that what you've been so funny about this evening? Of course not, my dear old man."

But either he lied to Philip, or he lied to Mildred when he wrote her of his passionate love. And how cruel is it of Mildred to rub Philip’s nose in the letter?

Is even this enough to get Philip to cast Mildred off? To get free of this human bondage? They have a fight in which it looks as though he might – he refuses to pay the bill for the dress, which unless memory fails is the first time he’s refused her money. But it doesn’t last. Mildred comes to him the next day because Griffiths has no money. She is willing to go to Paris with Philip, but is so miserable about it, about having to go with Philip instead of Griffiths, she is so “sick with love,” that Philip gives her the money to go away with Griffiths for the weekend. He is so miserable imagining them together that he even takes a prostitute to dinner to try to get his mind off them. But he can’t, and is still so besotted with Mildred that he can’t wait to see her as soon as she gets back.

But when she does come back, several days later than he expected her, she has moved out of her lodgings and he realizes that she is not coming back to him. Then we get this amazing paragraph of self-awareness:

“He turned away and went back hopeless to his rooms. He might have known that she would do this; she had never cared for him, she had made a fool of him from the beginning; she had no pity, she had no kindness, she had no charity. The only thing was to accept the inevitable. The pain he was suffering was horrible, he would sooner be dead than endure it; and the thought came to him that it would be better to finish with the whole thing: he might throw himself in the river or put his neck on a railway line; but he had no sooner set the thought into words than he rebelled against it. His reason told him that he would get over his unhappiness in time; if he tried with all his might he could forget her; and it would be grotesque to kill himself on account of a vulgar slut. He had only one life, and it was madness to fling it away. He FELT that he would never overcome his passion, but he KNEW that after all it was only a matter of time.

He would not stay in London. There everything reminded him of his unhappiness. He telegraphed to his uncle that he was coming to Blackstable, and, hurrying to pack, took the first train he could. He wanted to get away from the sordid rooms in which he had endured so much suffering. He wanted to breathe clean air. He was disgusted with himself. He felt that he was a little mad.”

Even as he longs for a letter from Mildred, he knows that it is over. He resolves to get on with his studies, move to a different and cheaper set of rooms, exercise the most strict economy. And in another burst of self-understanding,

“He turned away and went back hopeless to his rooms. He might have known that she would do this; she had never cared for him, she had made a fool of him from the beginning; she had no pity, she had no kindness, she had no charity. The only thing was to accept the inevitable. The pain he was suffering was horrible, he would sooner be dead than endure it; and the thought came to him that it would be better to finish with the whole thing: he might throw himself in the river or put his neck on a railway line; but he had no sooner set the thought into words than he rebelled against it. His reason told him that he would get over his unhappiness in time; if he tried with all his might he could forget her; and it would be grotesque to kill himself on account of a vulgar slut. He had only one life, and it was madness to fling it away. He FELT that he would never overcome his passion, but he KNEW that after all it was only a matter of time.

He would not stay in London. There everything reminded him of his unhappiness. He telegraphed to his uncle that he was coming to Blackstable, and, hurrying to pack, took the first train he could. He wanted to get away from the sordid rooms in which he had endured so much suffering. He wanted to breathe clean air. He was disgusted with himself. He felt that he was a little mad.”

He returns to London, meets with Lawson and Hayward, and eventually goes with some trepidation to see Norah, who is with another man to whom, she eventually tells him, she is engaged. When he expresses regret, we get this:

"You were never really in love with me," she said.
"It's not very pleasant being in love."

Not for you it isn’t, Philip. That’s certain enough.

Back at the hospital, Philip avoids Griffiths, but discovers piece by piece the story of their relationship, finding out that Mildred is so besotted on Griffiths that she stalks him. But Griffiths eventually drops her – “Harry’s wonderful at dropping people” says Ramsden.

And so Mildred drops out of Philip’s life, and we see him at the hospital, apparently doing well and finding himself in a role where at last he might be able to make a success of his life. It may be useful to remember that Maugham also studied medicine, and it is likely that the descriptions of the patients, their miseries, the attempts to help them when no help is really available, are based on his actual experiences.

At any rate, Philip meets Cronshaw for dinner, who says he believes he is dying. He has come to London because a publisher has finally agreed to publish his poems. A few days later Philip goes to his room, only to find that Cronshaw is living in squalor and virtually starving. Philip takes him back to his own rooms, and Cronshaw seems to get better. He is still drinking absinthe.

Meanwhile, Philip encounters a case of a boy with a club foot, and he is made to show his own club foot, which reprises the furious anger of his school days when he was forced to show his foot. He wants to kill all those in the room, but the surgeon’s only comment is that he thinks Philip might benefit from an operation.

Meanwhile, Cronshaw is getting worse. He finally agrees to see Dr. Tyrell, but he won’t take any of the advice Tyrell offers him. Philip has done what he can.

I've really enjoyed reading these chapters and seeing the changes in Phillip. It's great to see the compassion with which he deals with patients, trying to do his best for them even if the situation seems hopeless. I'm also keeping my fingers crossed that we've seen the end of Mildred, but from the way he was so desperate to hear news of her, I fear we have not.
I found Phillips's initial meeting with cronshaw really sad, seeing what a sad state he is in but what a wonderful gesture to let him move in with him. Really starting to like Phillip, he's matured into a very likeable character.

Unless my Kindle chapters are numbered differently, I think Cronshaw has already died by the end of this section?

Mildred obsesses over Griffiths like Philip obsessed over her (this is the kind of human behavior that reminds me of Midsummer Night's Dream). It is almost too much to hope that we are through with Mildred... I keep expecting to see her walk into Philip's hospital, poor and sick and in need of care.

Philip is actually enjoying caring for others and practicing medicine. He says he is fascinated by all these different kinds of people that walk into the hospital. I think there is a vein of compassion that runs deep (and well hidden) in Philip. I hope he continues to exercise it.

Everyman wrote: "And the emotional roller-coaster lifts us and dashes us yet again.
...
But it’s not harmless. Quite the contrary. Mildred has fallen in love with him, as she never has with Philip. And Philip is so – so – is there even a word for it? – that he “[throws] them together now to make the pain he suffered more intolerable.” ..."

Philip's behavior about Mildred and Griffiths is so perverse that I can't help but think he consciously or unconsciously has sabotaged himself in order to break with this obsession. He practically sets them both up to fall for each other, he offers the means for them to be together (I don't for one minute believe that he did that because he pitied Mildred's pain), and once he saw it all happening between them, he knew that he'd known it was going to all along.

I think Philip saved himself (or has tried to) by sabotaging his relationship with Mildred. There may be a part of Philip that is still strong and sane and clear headed, looking out for the part of him that was dead asleep to his self-destructive weaknesses. Like you quoted in the opening comment, Philip is capable of witnessing and judging his own behavior.

I agree about the self-sabotage; I just can't explain Phillip's behavior any other way. At least his behavior toward Mildred. It just kept getting worse. Of course she was going to fall in love with Griffiths as well, and I thought it interesting that, at least in his recounting of it, he was the one who was turned off her, and she was the obsessive one in that interaction.

I did enjoy the brief interlude with Norah in this section. Such a quality woman she is. She doesn't let Phillip off completely scot-free, but she doesn't make it terribly difficult for him either. I'm enjoying the compare and contrast of the women in Phillip's life - at least thus far. I keep looking at my book and thinking that we must be about to resolution with at least a couple of them. But Janice I think you're correct that we might yet see her walk into the hospital, destitute and broken. Will be curious to see if that does happen how Phillip is able to handle it.

Interesting to me in this section that he takes Cronshaw in. The compassion that Phillip has, and the horror when he dies and the undertaker has yet to come for the body was interesting to me. Phillip is clearly doing well with the medical practice; feels some real compassion for the patients, along with a slightly detached interest their physical make-up and their situations. It's the artist's eye I think.

Jen wrote: " feels some real compassion for the patients, along with a slightly detached interest their physical make-up and their situations. It's the artist's eye I think..."

Yes, I think you're right. I hadn't thought of that.

Janice George (JG) wrote: "Unless my Kindle chapters are numbered differently, I think Cronshaw has already died by the end of this section?"

Oops! I had in my mind that this section ended with Chapter 84, but you're right, it goes through 85 and Cronshaw does die in chapter 85. Sorry for the error!

Janice George (JG) wrote: "Mildred obsesses over Griffiths like Philip obsessed over her (this is the kind of human behavior that reminds me of Midsummer Night's Dream)."

Very much so, except that this is more a tragedy than a comedy, isn't it?

Everyman wrote: "Janice George (JG) wrote: "Mildred obsesses over Griffiths like Philip obsessed over her (this is the kind of human behavior that reminds me of Midsummer Night's Dream)."

Very much so, except that this is more a tragedy than a comedy, isn't it?.."

There is nothing funny about Philip's story, but while Midsummer Night's Dream is a comedy, at its core it too is a tragedy. Same bondage.

Finally, we've reached a part of the book that doesn't make me wish I could hit Philip upside the head with this chunkster! I agree with Sarah--he's actually maturing into a likable character. He finally seems to have found a profession that he enjoys and seems to have an affinity for the patients. Taking Cronshaw in was also an action that indicated a more caring, selfless persona than he has displayed previously.

I thought Leonard Upjohn was funny--scolding Philip for removing Cronshaw from his filthy shared room to Philip's more comfortable apartment, all because "there was a touch of romance in that sordid attic." Upjohn is all about appearance, and is more than a little melodramatic. I can just see him trying to mash the laurel wreath onto the dead man's head, all because he thought it was "romantic". And then wanting Philip to pay for a long string of empty carriages to follow the hearse! I found him quite comical.

I thought Norah behaved with her customary generosity and graciousness toward Philip--much more so than he deserved! I was glad that he got to see that she wasn't sitting around pining for him. I know he didn't really love her, but hopefully he learned that sometimes a missed opportunity is gone forever. I, too, am afraid that we haven't seen the last of Mildred. I think Janice has come up with a likely scenario--of Mildred appearing at the hospital, sick and penniless and ready to bleed Philip dry.

Cindy wrote: "Finally, we've reached a part of the book that doesn't make me wish I could hit Philip upside the head with this chunkster! I agree with Sarah--he's actually maturing into a likable character. "

Exactly my thoughts, especially after the second part of this section, with Mildred finally (or at least for the time being) out of the horizon. At last Philip is warming up to his new job, and I liked how compassionate and interested he felt about the various patients in the hospital. I also felt uplifted by the way he treated Cronshaw - it was obvious from the beginning that he came to live in Philip's place in order to die peacefully. I'm only sorry that Philip doesn't seem to be able to have female friends. Norah asked him to come by and visit her sometimes, but maintaining an amicable relationship with her was not an option.

I'm very happy for Norah, she deserved this change of fortune. Actually it seems that her breakup with Philip did her some good!

Cindy wrote: "I think Janice has come up with a likely scenario--of Mildred appearing at the hospital, sick and penniless and ready to bleed Philip dry."

But will he have anything left by that time? I keep thinking how long will his money last. He's been spending too much both in Paris and in London, and I very much don't want to see him pawning his belongings like Griffiths had to do!

Finally caught back up.

I was ecstatic to see Mikdred get a taste of her own medicine. And Phillip moved so it would be much more difficult for her to show up on his doorstep. I do have concerns for the child. I haver serious doubts that Mildred will continue to pay for the care of her child.

I enjoyed the descriptions of Phillip with his patients. Having the gift of observation makes for an excellent Dr. I hope he continues to excel in this area.

We have seen glimpses of Phillips compassion throughout the book but he never seemed to act on it. I'm glad he was a good friend to Cronshaw. Perhaps the one person in his life that has not taken advantage of him.

I too suspect Mildred will be back and I wonder too if she will use the child to pull at his heartstrings.

Regarding Mildred's behaviour; in the beginning it didn't particularly bother me because she was honest with Philip about her feelings and he was the one who constantly pressured her to go out with him. I also know that this is a different day and age, women don't 'go dutch'. Mildred wanted to settle down as she got older and after a frank discussion with Philip of his financial prospects he can't have had any illusions that she thought him a suitable candidate. When Miller offered her a better prospect I thought 'all power to her' both because I agreed with her assessment and because I was so pleased to see the back of her. With this section Mildred's behaviour becomes far worse. She was abandoned and Philip was kind to her; rather than being particularly grateful she accepts it as her due and uses him without any sign of a conscience.

The incident with Griffith shows up both of them but I found Griffiths behaviour to be disgusting beyond words. Philip was his friend, he knows his passion for Mildred won't last past turning around and he lies to Philips face and then goes straight out and writes that letter to her. That I found unforgivable. Mildred is low class trash and to a certain extent I can forgive her because she acts according to her nature and upbringing but Griffiths thinks that he comes from a better class of person. This was the first time in the novel where a persons behaviour truly infuriated me.

Teanka wrote: "But will he have anything left by that time? I keep thinking how long will his money last. He's been spending too much both in Paris and in London, and I very much don't want to see him pawning his belongings like Griffiths had to do!

There has been a real thread running through this book of poverty and the pain it can cause, even causing those to take their own lives in despair. With all of the constant references to Philips money situation I was sure Philips monetary state would deteriorate. I was only wondering if it would ultimately lead to his death as it did with Fanny Price.

Nicola wrote: "Teanka wrote: "I was only wondering if it would ultimately lead to his death as it did with Fanny Price. "
I don't believe the author would make us embark on this long journey together with Philip only to see him die in destitution.

As for Mildred, I think I thought along the same lines, Nicola. I became seriously angry with her in this section, for the reasons you mention. Previously I believed she was simply cold and trying to find the best husband she could.

I do see Phillip maturing when I look at his behavior with Cronshaw. And I like seeing him as a medical student. But his attempt to return to Norah is pretty selfish. He still doesn't love her. He only sees her in terms of what she can do for him...

"Philip had thought of Norah often. When Mildred left him his first thought was of her, and he told himself bitterly that she would never have treated him so. His impulse was to go to her; he could depend on her pity; but he was ashamed: she had been good to him always, and he had treated her abominably. "If I'd only had the sense to stick to her!" ... He recollected her solicitude for his welfare and her interest in all that concerned him. She had loved him with a love that was kind and lasting, there was more than sensuality in it, it was almost maternal; he had always known that it was a precious thing for which with all his soul he should thank the gods. He made up his mind to throw himself on her mercy. She must have suffered horribly, but he felt she had the greatness of heart to forgive him: she was incapable of malice."

He's not as bad as the Mildred we see in this section. But he's every bit as selfish as she was towards him in the past. He knows Norah loved him deeply and truly. That she's a wonderful person and wouldn't that be just the ticket to make him feel better. I'm so glad she had a decent relationship in her life when he came calling. Of course, when he finds out all he can think about is how he's humiliated himself, and, no, he doesn't want to be friends, it would make him "too envious" to see her happy. Not that he loved her. He's honest enough about that to himself at least.

So, yeah, in my mind Phil has a ways to go before I find him a likeable character.

Renee wrote: "He's not as bad as the Mildred we see in this section. But he's every bit as selfish as she was towards him in the past. "

One wonders whether he sees this.

Renee wrote: "He's not as bad as the Mildred we see in this section. But he's every bit as selfish as she was towards him in the past. He knows Norah loved him deeply and truly. That she's a wonderful person and wouldn't that be just the ticket to make him feel better."

I agree with you, I was upset with the way he treated Norah too. Actually, I think that the title 'Of Human Bondage' touches this issue: we learn how Norah is 'bound to' Philip who does not reciprocate her feelings, yet he is bound to Mildred who is bound to Miller and later Griffiths. They don't choose the person they love or the person they are loved by, all of them seem to be victims of their feelings and they can't help it. But whereas Norah never hurt anyone (maybe because she wasn't loved by another person at the same time?), Philip and Mildred did.

Everyman wrote: "Renee wrote: "He's not as bad as the Mildred we see in this section. But he's every bit as selfish as she was towards him in the past. "

One wonders whether he sees this."

I'm almost sure that he does not. Nor did he understand how badly he treated Mrs Wilkinson and Fanny.

Teanka wrote: "I'm almost sure that he does not. Nor did he understand how badly he treated Mrs Wilkinson and Fanny. "

Which is perhaps surprising since he is able to show so much empathy toward his patients.

I don't think he treated Fanny particulary badly at all. She was such an extremely irritating and prickly person that you could offend her by looking at her the wrong way. I'm not at all surprised he kept out of her way in the end and if she thought he was 'using her' well, that has some justification but it was the only way he was able to connect with her at all. She was offended if he didn't speak to her and offended sometimes if he did and he had to know which.

I doubt I would have been half so patient.

Everyman wrote: "Teanka wrote: "I'm almost sure that he does not. Nor did he understand how badly he treated Mrs Wilkinson and Fanny. "

Which is perhaps surprising since he is able to show so much empathy toward h..."

I don't think he sees it either, he's navigating without any moral compass to help guide him. As for his empathy for the patients...I get it. Sometimes those who have endured rocky periods in their life, and who remain broken to whatever extent, can be some of the most altruistic people.

I find myself wondering if Phillip really knows what love is. I think he expects it to be painful. I believe he actually loved Norah and just didn't realize it

Stephanie wrote: "I find myself wondering if Phillip really knows what love is. I think he expects it to be painful. I believe he actually loved Norah and just didn't realize it"
I don't think he loved Norah, because at one point he even felt physical repulsion at her touch, so this couldn't be love, he only needed her. That said, I know that his definition of love differs greatly from i.e. mine (his love is only about a great passion which in my opinion cannot last very long).

Frankly, it was nice to see both Philip AND Mildred getting a taste of their own medicine in this section. Norah has matured beyond Philip and I'm very glad for her, and she showed a lot of class to him. Mildred, on the other hand... She's just a mess. And Griffiths! Well, his despicable acts have already been well discussed.

My biggest quibble with Philip in the Mildred situation is that he didn't stick to what he said. He FINALLY shows a backbone to her, telling her he won't pay for something, but then he backs down. If she ever HAD a shred of respect for him, she certainly doesn't after that maneuver.

It's so painful to witness Philip's observations of Cronshaw's life. He basically feels that Cronshaw's life has been completely worthless, that it doesn't matter whether he lived or not. In a sense, Philip takes good things from that, in that he wants his life to count for something. On the other hand, though, who is he to judge what has value in someone's life? How does he know whether someone else's life has been meaningless? That's very presumptuous of him. I liked when Crownshaw told him that the meaning of life wouldn't be valuable to Philip unless he figured it out for himself, though. There's truth to that.

Was anyone else infuriated by the scene when the doctor makes Philip present his foot to his fellow students? It would be one thing if Philip had offered himself for a kind of study, because it was something his coworkers could learn from and if it didn't bother him. But for a teacher to demand that of his student! That's something that could lose you your job today! But more curious is how much his anger flares up again at this scene. Yes, he's being treated unfairly and humiliated, but he's not just mad, but murderous with rage! He imagines jabbing them in the neck and the tortures they will face in hell (if he believed in hell). Talk about overreaction! By contrast, Philip is amazed at the nonchalance of the young boy being examined. "He could not understand why the boy felt none of the humiliation which always oppressed himself. He wondered why he could not take his deformity with that philosophic indifference." The fact that he's even HAVING this thought I think shows that he is starting to mature. He's at least recognizing that it's possible to be indifferent about it, even if he can't see how for himself yet.

And, once again, Philip is being generous toward others in caring for the duties after a friend's death. I found the interactions with the funeral home and other salespersons interesting; Philip is enough of a gentleman to want to keep up appearances, so he doesn't want to do a pauper's funeral, even though he has the perfect right to do so. But neither does he go to full expense of the elaborate charade that Upjohn wants to do (since he's not paying for it, of course!) Isn't it strange how we can be goaded into paying too much for something because we feel it's disrespectful to barter over someone who's died? That's certainly still a relevant issue.

Alana wrote: "Frankly, it was nice to see both Philip AND Mildred getting a taste of their own medicine in this section. Norah has matured beyond Philip and I'm very glad for her, and she showed a lot of class t..."

Teanka wrote: "Stephanie wrote: "I find myself wondering if Phillip really knows what love is. I think he expects it to be painful. I believe he actually loved Norah and just didn't realize it"
I don't think he..."

Stephanie wrote: "I find myself wondering if Phillip really knows what love is. I think he expects it to be painful. I believe he actually loved Norah and just didn't realize it"

I don't think he does either, it's not sound or clear to him as to what true love really is, or else he wouldn't be so flighty with his emotions...He's full of mixed extremes.

Was anyone else infuriated by the scene when the doctor makes Philip present his foot to his fellow students?
Yes, I was feeling good about things for a little while regarding Philip and then this scene pops up...My stomach turned and heart fell. Man alive! Can't this kid catch a break?

Yes, he's being treated unfairly and humiliated, but he's not just mad, but murderous with rage! He imagines jabbing them in the neck and the tortures they will face in hell (if he believed in hell). Talk about overreaction!
Oh, see...I understand the context of his rage, he's in pain, feeling anguish over the amount of attention his club foot receives, and he's endured this since childhood...No? Think about how his club foot kept him from enjoying school yard games, the bullying from other children, it's always been a sore subject for him. His foot is his greatest weakness and the root of his insecurity. And now to have a teaching doctor make a spectacle of him in front of the other students...I would be overwrought with ill thoughts as well? I think about all of the bullying issues regarding kids today, and those that have led others to suicide...The amount of pain they must be in to take their own lives, is it not comparable to Philip's situation at all? Granted, Philip isn't trying to off himself literally, but the measures he takes to self sabotage, and to inflict pain upon himself over and over again...It's all so wretched for a young man of his potential and reach, but he hasn't been able to see around otherwise; however, there are moments that make me think different, having hope for Philip.

The fact that he's even HAVING this thought I think shows that he is starting to mature.
So, true. I'm hoping there's light at the end of the tunnel for this kid. I have about 25% left to read, and it's taking me forever. It's the first time I've ever found myself reading a book that I love reading while it's in my hands, but I'm not drawn to it once I've put it down...It's takes me days to get back into it. It really is the most fitting title for an "emotional gut wrencher," or whatever the exact theme is?

Anyway, I really enjoyed reading your post. :)

I feel the same way! I'm really liking the story and like it when I'm reading it, but once I've put it down, I'm not dying to know what happens next and it's a couple of days before I pick it up again.

Alana wrote: "It's so painful to witness Philip's observations of Cronshaw's life. He basically feels that Cronshaw's life has been completely worthless, that it doesn't matter whether he lived or not....On the other hand, though, who is he to judge what has value in someone's life? "

That's a nice point.

I also enjoy hearing about Philips medical training and seeing the patients.

What is the deal with the letters--How did people get the letters? Who decided if someone was poor enough to get a free doctor's appointment?

Chapter 81:
--"...one went to the House Physician and the other to the clerk, handing in their letters..."
--" 'If you can afford to wear jewelry you can afford a doctor. A hospital is a charitable institution,' said Dr Tyrrell. He handed back the letter and called for the next case.
'But I've got my letter.'
'I don't care a hang about your letter, you get out. You've got no business to come and steal the time which is wanted by the really poor.' "

I liked the details, lighthearted and sad, in Chapter 80. Really brought it to life.

"The unwieldy crowd which had entered the Medical School two years before had thinned out..." Then multiple descriptions of what had happened to various students.

During the stalking, Griffiths begged Mildred not to wire, since it was difficult to explain all the telegrams to his mother, an old-fashioned person for whom a telegram was an event to excite tremor.

" 'Oh, [Griffiths] hasn't seen [Mildred] for ten days. You know, Harry's wonderful at dropping people. This is about the toughest nut he's ever had to crack, but he's cracked it all right.' "

Well I certainly understand leaving this novel down and not picking it up again - it took me a year! I have even left it down again since.

Nevertheless I do enjoy it. What a damaged character is Mildred! The trouble with such people is that they hurt others around them. Griffiths, the cad, was a very ready collaborator in team Mildred - a cocktail for disaster. Of course that 'relationship' fizzles out while Phillip licks his wounds. Thankfully, Phillip throws himself into work and shows that he has what it takes to succeed in his profession.

Poor Cronshaw. At least he was not alone. It is very serendipitous that Phillip was able to be there for him in the end.

Perhaps you don't want to leave Maugham's world? :)

Hilary! I'm giggling at how your adventure with this book was the complete opposite of mine. I didn't vote in this poll, didn't intend to read this book when it won, but somehow came home from the library with it under my arm "just to see". And then once I started reading it I absolutely couldn't put it down! :)

Haha Haaze, you're right! Perhaps there is an inbuilt magnet in my psyche that keeps drawing me back every year or so. :p

Och Linda, that is too funny! I can just imagine you with your 'just-to-see' library book under your arm. It is funny, at one point in my on-off relationship with this book, I felt pretty much as you did. I couldn't get enough of it ... but then ... inexplicably ... If I had to choose between Don Quixote and this? :D

Linda wrote: "Hilary! I'm giggling at how your adventure with this book was the complete opposite of mine. I didn't vote in this poll, didn't intend to read this book when it won, but somehow came home from the library with it under my arm "just to see". And then once I started reading it I absolutely couldn't put it down! :) ."

when I first read it, I thought it was one of the most powerful books I had ever read.

When I re-read it 20 years later, though, I wondered what I had been thinking.

Everyman, what is it with this book?! Mine was a similar experience though it didn't take me quite 20 years to come to my senses! :p

I don't think I thought it was "powerful", but I was certainly intrigued by the decisions Phillip made and wondering where they would lead him next.

Yes, Linda, I wonder if I had read this without the ridiculous break, what my opinion would be. My guess is that it would have been a definite 5 star! :-)