Reader's Paradise discussion

Glad you liked "Fairy Metal Thunder," Fernanda. I just barely began "Razor's Edge" bc I usually read during my work breaks. I could tell right away this was written during the 40s since it has a "tell don't show" kind of storytelling, which is rather unpopular these days. People are so accustomed to movies and TV shows, they prefer books that tell a story in similar fashion. Just read a book with the silly title of "Wham!" that pulls off the "show don't tell" technique very well.
I found it interesting how the author tells the reader right away not to expect a kind of traditional ending that ends with a death or a marriage. I guess even by the 40s, a lot of authors used marriage as conflict resolution. He also said his first lead character, Elliot, was an American, and since the author is British, he probbaly couldn't make Elliot sound American. It's true that the slang people use can easily identify what nation they come from, but I think an author can adopt a nation's slang for a fictional character without actually using the slang him/herself.

Happy reading Fernanda and Jason :)
What have you guys picked from each other's shelves?

Hey Gorab, I chose "Fairy Metal Thunder" from Jason's bookshelves and he chose "Razor's Edge" from mine.

Jason!! It's so nice those things you are saying about the book!! I have to google those writing techniques because I don't know nothing about it but now I'm very curious hehe
I wish I had this analitical vein!!

I already finished Fairy Metal Thunder which I found a very pleasant and easy book. I even started the #2 of the serie :)

First, I gotta say, the author doesn't hold back when describing characters. When someone is unattractive, he describes exactly why. Isabela, for example, is said to be pretty but "her arms had fat," and her legs shown under her skirt "had fat." Many authors today would say she's "pleasantly plump," but Maugham likes to use the eff word.
It took a while for the story to really grab me, especially since I wondered if Elliot, a super-snob of French high society, would be the main character. But it looks like the plot is mostly about a love triangle between Gray, Larry, and Isabela. Larry reminds me of myself actually: He's super shy and nice to a fault, and I think it's fascinating to see how he'll cope with inner demons he developed during his time flying planes in WW1. A person can certainly change after fighting in a war, and it looks like Larry's soul has been damaged in such a way that he questions the point of living.

I'm nearlyhalfway done with "Razor's Edge," and I think it's really fascinating. This book deals with the classic conflict of practicality vs. inspiration and reality vs. spirituality, with a little classism thrown in for good measure. I began to really get invested when Larry made the speech about wanting to pursue knowledge while he "loafs," and how he could live on only 3,000 a year. Isabela should get a gold trophy for being incredibly understanding with him, giving him two years in Paris while she waits in Chicago, but ultimately she wants stability as well as the finer things in life which I can't blame her for. Nor can I blame Larry for wanting to delve into philosophy and talk about the mysteries of life rather than shallow things like parties and material things. I can clearly imagine some people thinking him a fool, I can totally understand his desires, especially after his experiences in the war.
One thing I wish the author would have changed is his description of the death of Larry's buddy, which I swear could have come right out of a Monty Python sketch. Crazy.