Razor's Edge Discussion Questions

[Markopoloayling]

Hello everyone! Apologies for the long delay in updating this discussion group! If you've been following me and Alex on Instagram you have seen that we've been in Jamaica, Korea, Wales, and Berlin in the last month.

Finally back in LA and able to return my focus to the Book Club! I'll be posting a new video next week about the next book, so stay tuned for that.

For now, I'd like to give you all some discussion questions to chew over and...er...discuss! Haha! If any of you have other questions, feel free to propose your own as well!

1) Which character did you sympathize with the most? Larry? Isabel? Elliott? Gray? No wrong answers here, just a personal preference.

2) What do you think it was about WWI that made Larry the way he was? Is there any modern corollary to this experience of the "Great War", given the fact that warfare has become both more constant but also more removed from everyday life?

3) One of my favorite scenes of any book is the part where Larry takes Isabel to his apartment in Paris. They talk about the importance of the big questions of life. What are your answers to these questions?

4) What do you make of Larry and Isabel's relationship? Of her decision to break up with him? Could they ever have been happy together?

5) The beauty of this novel is how it juxtaposes a handful of very different characters over a tumultuous period of history. What's your final verdict on each of them? Whom do you judge most favorably? Most harshly?

6) What caused Sophie's downward spiral and what you think made Larry attracted to her?

7) I loved how Larry pursued wisdom and knowledge through experience. Which of his experiences was most appealing to you personally? Reading philosophy in Paris? Traveling through Spain? Working in a coal mine? Staying in an Ashram?

8) Great writing meshes personal stories against a background of larger historical arcs - this book does that beautifully in my opinion, much like War and Peace or Midnight's Children. What do the personal narratives show us about the larger historical transformation of America? Europe? Modern spirituality?

9) What do you think happens next to Larry? Does he find what he's looking for?

10) Lastly - did you like the book? If so, what was your favorite bit? Did it impact you at all?

Comment below and let me know what types of books you feel like reading next. Requests will be read and considered!

[Andrea]

I found myself relating to Suzanne, Isabel and Larry. I've asked the "big questions " most of my life as Larry has but, I have found, that you must mix the esoteric with common sense (which I think Isabel represents); my feet must touch the ground or I find myself lost far too much in my head. I think that's why Larry likes doing physical labor. It grounds him but also allows him to "get lost" in his thoughts which would be more difficult if he done work that was always stimulating his mind. Suzanne was trying to live an artistic life in a predominantly male world doing what she could with what she had. I know this book centered around Larry and I can relate to him in an intellectual and spiritual manner but, he was a white man in a man's world, and could "afford" to live his life in a way none of the women could at that time. You have Isabel choosing sensibility over love because where would she be in all of Larry's wanderings? How would the world have treated her as a woman at that time? Not as kindly as Larry I'm sure. And you have Suzanne sacrificing so much just to live the creative life she felt led to live. I believe Larry was drawn to relationships where he could play savior. I feel like it was the only way for him to deal with the quilt he had over the man risking his life to save his. How can life ever be the same after you see death? How could you not ask the big questions after that? But, I also know that trying to answer them all will drive you crazy and the answer is different for everyone. I had a dream once that had stuck with me for years. In the dream, this invisible force is taking me through corridors as if I had a rope tied around my waste. It brings me to a tree that starts pulling me up to the sky. The whole time I'm asking, "what is it? What does this all mean?", and, in the sky something writes, "Love here". It has stuck with me. When my brain goes from being awed by the world to being overwhelmed by it, I think of that...love here...this earth, where you are in place and time, where you are mentally and spiritually...as they say, now is all we have.

[Fiatgal]

This is my second reading of Razor's Edge. The first time was probably about 25 years ago. I've also seen both the 1946 and the 1984 movie of this book.

The first time I read this book, I definitely related to Larry, but now, much like a dream, each character in its way resonates with me, including the observer/narrator Somerset Maugham.

From what I remember, in my first reading of the book, I was pretty intolerant of Isabel, I found her to be very bourgie and not sympathetic. I also remember feeling that Suzanne was weak. Now, I have a deeper understanding and sympathy for all these characters, particularly the choices men & women had during this period.

Surprisingly, I feel less connected to Larry. Yes, I like the idea of him, and the romance of his exploration. The thing is, Larry could only do what he does because he is male and has the means to afford his self-education and spiritual exploration.

I'm happy that after all of this time, the book still holds up. It is part of the "coming of age" books that helped me through my late teens and my 20s.

[Beate]

Really late one, but here it goes!

I feel like I am more Larry than any other character in book. Even though I am not so spiritual, I have a strong desire to explore, experience and learn! He seems to have similar thinking as mine!

Talking about war, I think it is such a strong and hurtful memory... I have experienced loosing a friend, but I have no idea how it can feel when you owe your life to this friend. Also experiencing death in general.. seeing dead bodies, being part of it all should be really hard and makes you re- think your life, values and future plans.

At first, I thought they are a good match because of Isabella's dedication to Larry, her big desire to be with him despite everyone else's thoughts! But then continuing the book, I realized how wrong they would be together.. she would never stop complaining about not having enough money, prestigious friends, parties, luxurious house/apartment and so on, but in his eyes the true value of life was wisdom! I don't they really understood each other!

I love the way the book was written, it is so easy to read it and to get to know each character and their ideals and vision. I guess I judge Elliot the most.. it felt like he never really lived, all he did was trying to please every royal, famous and important people around. He let those people define who he was, money and prestige was his main values in life. From the other hand, I felt sorry that he never truly understood what it means to live for yourself and be happy!

I think Sophie never truly believed that there is a happy ending for her after all! She tried really hard to be with Larry, to be a good person and behave, but lack of self love, faith in people around her and world in general lead her to make decisions that she did. Larry seemed to be really kind but wise man, I believe that he was attracted to Sophie because he saw a potential in her, a person who needs to learn and explore the world to see that there is more then just bad things.

One of my dreams is to learn about Buddhism and meditation, stay in some temple, so it definitely appealed to me the most when Larry stayed in Ashram. It was amazing to acknowledge how in peace with himself he was!

I feel like the big historical transformation is a bit like the one we are feeling nowadays. 10-12 years ago nearly everyone had bunch of money and everyone was spending that money for different stuff, but now here we are experiencing the economical downfall once again.

I think Larry did not exactly knew what he was looking for, but I am sure he had a great life pursuing more wisdom and knowledge and sharing it with others! I feel like he definitely found inner peace and learnt to really live, experience and love!

I loved this book, so much! Already recommended it to a friend! It is amazing how it can make people think by showing different people with different perspectives, backgrounds and future plans!