March {2017} Discussion [DOUBLE FEATURE] -- CAKES AND ALE by W. Somerset Maugham

[Charity]

Discussion is open.

[Augusta]

A criticism of literary society in London between the wars, I enjoyed this one, especially the bohemian, care-free, loving, character of Rosie.

“You don’t understand...She loved to make people happy. She loved love.”
“Do you call that love?”
“Well, then the act of love. She was naturally affectionate...It was not vice; it was lasciviousness; it was her nature. She gave herself as naturally as the sun gives heat or the flowers their perfume. It was a pleasure to her and she liked to give pleasure to others. It had no effect on her character; she remained sincere, unspoiled, and artless.”

[George P.]

I read this about 5 years ago, it's in a large volume of 5 Maugham novels I have. I found it a reasonably interesting story with Maugham's wonderfully clear writing skill. It wasn't as dramatic a story as some of his others though, and I favor heavy drama. I read his "The Painted Veil" recently and liked that a very great deal. The Razor's Edge is also very good.

[Amanda]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, even though I wouldn't call it mind-blowing. I was going to give it 3 stars most of the way through, but I think the last bit with the baby and the narrator's description of Rosie (the one Augusta quoted above for example) turned it into a 4 star book for me.

Being a huge fan of Thomas Hardy, I loved that Driffield was essentially a thinly veiled version of him. Particularly because a lot of the book was talking about how secretly gross and tactless he was, which was really funny to me. Also, reading the part about the baby and how it was in "his book", was great because the whole time I was thinking "that is soooo about Jude the Obscure" (which is a great book, though one of the most disturbing I've ever read).

And yeah, I loved the contrast between how Amy and most others vs. Ashenden talk about Rosie. How they specifically highlight her commonness and lack of class and modesty to demonize her, versus Ashenden praising her authenticity and artlessness and love for love. It's interesting, because we still see these kinds of women in our culture today who are both lambasted by conservative detractors ("she's not a good role model for dressing like that and being a slut and acting trashy") and praised by the hipster intellectual types ("She refuses to be slut-shamed, this is what the new face of feminism looks like" etc).

Maybe this is just the millennial in me, but the whole time I was reading this book I couldn't help but thinking that this could easily be written about a "Rosie" of today- specifically I kept picturing her as Amber Rose funnily enough.

And I think that's great because this book seems to make the point that maybe, behind so many women we have preconceived ill perceptions of as gold diggers and hussys are legitimately kind women, who love love and inspire it, and use their autonomy and freedom and refusal to become "my fair ladies" as a revolutionary act. And when we think they've "done nothing", they really have just by existing honestly. Maybe we would all respect the Rosie's of the world more if we knew them. I think that's kind of beautiful.

[Jeannie]

This was a very entertaining read. I have seen two films based on books by Maugham:The Painted Veil and Of Human Bondage. I am inspired to read more books by him after this experience.

I am very fond of Hardy's Far From the Maddening Crowd. I had heard the character of Driffield was commonly believed to be based on Hardy and that Maugham denied it. It would be interesting to read Jude the Obscure as Amanda has suggested there's a connection between a character in Cakes and Ale and events in Jude the Obscure.

Part of the appeal of Hardy and Maugham is the notion that all classes of people are worthy of fine writing, not just Kings, Queens and Duchesses.

I was also amazed by the wit and humor in Cakes and Ale. The descriptions of individuals character traits could apply to people that you run across in the course of a modern day. These people are not frozen in a certain place or time. It shows a great deal of talent and insight into human nature. Would love to hear if other members have other favorite Maugham books in addition to C and A, TRE and OHB.

[Casey]

I really enjoyed this novella. I liked how Rosie was portrayed in a positive light, and didn't have a dramatic accident happen to her, as some thinly veiled dig on the type of women she was.

[George P.]

Jeannie wrote: "Would love to hear if other members have other favorite Maugham books in addition to C and A, TRE and OHB.."

I've read 5 Maugham novels- my favorites were The Painted Veil (5 stars) followed by Of Human Bondage and The Razor's Edge (4 stars), followed by The Moon and Sixpence and Cakes and Ale (3 stars). I'm planning to read Theatre, but probably not soon; I'm trying now to read more writers I haven't read before, esp those from non-English-speaking countries.

[Jeannie]

Thanks for the recommendations George. I was looking at the Razor's Edge as well as the Moon and Sixpence last night in the bookstore. The subject of Gauguin is especially appealing. No purchases yet.

[Nicola]

This was the first novel of Maughams that I read. I've been a devoted fan of his short stories for many years but hadn't gotten around to his longer works.

Cakes and Ale is his shortest full length novel I think and probably the least well crafted of those I've since read. I still think it was great, Maugham is too talented to write anything less, but he has done better work imo.

His greatest appeal to me as a writer is his lack of moral judgement; he writes incredibly well represented 'real' people who have personal moral compasses all over the spectrum and he just relays the story and leaves out the morality tale - he always writes with compassion of human weaknesses and foibles. He throws out the hypocrites, deceitful friends, cheating wives and all and sundry and just leaves us to make our own decisions about their actions. I always found that sort of writing very refreshing.

P.S. my recommendation for more reading of this author is his short stories. He is my favourite short story writer (amongst some very stiff competition) and if you like his writing style those showcase him superbly.

[George P.]

Nicola, I don't think I've read any of moms short stories. Are there some you particularly liked?

[George P.]

Of course that last post was supposed to say MAUGHAM'S not mom's. I accidentally touched the post button as I was trying to fix it. )

[Nicola]

George wrote: "Nicola, I don't think I've read any of moms short stories. Are there some you particularly liked?"

I liked all of them fairly much. Loved all of them. I know that Rain is particularly well known and lauded but I wouldn't say that it's my favourite - although it's very good.

They have certain themes from various periods of his life and travels. Many are set in England, others from around Europe and the East. Several are spy stories with the same character Ashenden as was in Cakes and Ale. Some are very very short others a little longer. Many (most) of them have a twist at the end, some are just great writing. One of the reasons I love his short stories is that they don't start to feel 'samey' like other writers can do. I love Saki for instance but after reading a few of his in a row I often need to take a break to read something else so I can continue to appreciate his work at the level I want to.

I don't think I can really pick out a favourite sorry.

[Kirsten]

I just got CAKES AND ALE AND TWELVE SHORT STORIES via interlibrary loan. The first story I just read was The Three Fat Women Of Antibes. Before this, the only Maugham I have ever read was THE PAINTED VEIL, which I read after seeing the movie.

[Jeannie]

Kirsten, How did you think The Painted Veil the book compared to the film? Antibes is a very interesting artsy, gritty seaside town on the Mediterranean with an ancient fortress and house belonging to Picasso. Great setting for a short story.

[Kirsten]

Honestly, it's been so long since I read it. I am not reading some of his short stories and many of them have a very wet and cloying atmosphere.

[Karina]

This is my first introduction to Maugham and I really enjoyed this book. As someone previously commented, it was going to be a thee star but the last two chapters made it four. I love the criticism of the literary society and narrators defense of Rosie's character. I like when stuffy "high class" people are told to sod off, essentially.

[Suki]

This was my first Maugham novel, too. I had a tough time getting through it. I loved the opening paragraph about how people behave differently towards you if they want a favor from you, as opposed to you wanting it from them, and I also enjoyed the author's preface. From the tone these set, I was expecting a different sort of book. I really enjoyed the actual story, but there seemed to be a lot of rambling digression into editorial-type meanderings (for instance, the part about turning the nobility into the creative class). I liked Rosie, and the revelations about her child at the end of the book cast a whole new light on her marriage and her behavior.

[Kirsten]

I read this book along with 12 other stories. I would hesitate to judge all of Maugham's work by Cakes and Ale. While I liked C&A, I really loved some of the other stories especially those set in SE Asia.