Of Human Bondage (SPOILERS)

[novelsryou]

I had to put the book down for a while at the end of chapter 49; not because I didn't like it or I was bored with it but because I was kind of stunned with the suicide of Fanny Price.

I really thought Philip was going to see past her uncleanliness and tattered clothes and fall in love with her. He was even vaugely aware that she loved him, but no, he had to run off for the summer and leave her in Paris by herself.

I guess he's a victim of his own deformity. Self conscious of it and percieving everyone else as not being able to look past it and he in turn is not able to see past other's faults.

I don't think Fanny's suicide had as much to do with her dire straits - out of money and starving - although she was forced to leave Amitrano's, her first true love, as it had to do with a broken heart.

[dfloyd]

It is not a story of romance; it is a story about obsession. But it is only a story. Go on with your reading and try some other Maugham novels. his shorter novels I have always enjoyed more than the overly long but well written Bondage. I like The Razor's Edge, Cakes and Ale,and The Moon and Sizpence.

[novelsryou]

Maybe I did get carried away saying I thought Philip would fall in love with Fanny but at the least I figured he would have cared more about her than he did. Maughm did spend considerable time on Philip's relationships with women, namely Miss Wilkinson and Fanny.

So if one is going to disect Philip's psyche one has to look at his relationships.

[wessexgirl]

SPOILERS!!!!!!!!! This is one oif the novels of Maugham's that I hadn't yet read......now I know what to expect :rolleyes:.

[Veho]

SPOILERS!!!!!!!!! This is one oif the novels of Maugham's that I hadn't yet read......now I know what to expect :rolleyes:.

I haven't read it yet too... :frown2: I didn't expect a spoiler straight away within the post.

[dfloyd]

In my second reading of Bondage, I enjoyed it as much as the first time, although I knew what would happen. Although I didn't post what you term the SPOILER, classics, which most people who are readers and are aware of their outcome, should not be less enjoyed when their outcome is known. After all, this is not a Hercule Poirot novel.

[Emil Miller]

In my second reading of Bondage, I enjoyed it as much as the first time, although I knew what would happen. Although I didn't post what you term the SPOILER, classics, which most people who are readers and are aware of their outcome, should not be less enjoyed when their outcome is known. After all, this is not a Hercule Poirot novel.

I agree, the suicide of Fanny Price is only one action in a long series of others. I also enjoyed my second reading of the novel as much as the first because, like the majority of Maugham's work, it is such a well crafted novel. Mildred Rogers is one of literature's great female creations. I do not think the novel is overlong in itself although it is much longer than Maugham's other works.
As an aside, the French newspaper Le Figaro announced yesterday that a new edition of some of his short stories has been published in France and is highly recommended.

[wessexgirl]

In my second reading of Bondage, I enjoyed it as much as the first time, although I knew what would happen. Although I didn't post what you term the SPOILER, classics, which most people who are readers and are aware of their outcome, should not be less enjoyed when their outcome is known. After all, this is not a Hercule Poirot novel.

That's the point. I didn't know the outcome. Not everyone knows every aspect of every book. If I like a book I would read it again, but I don't need to know part of the plot before my first reading. I find your assumption that we should all know what happens presumptious and patronising. The comment about the character could have been made a little more cryptic, without a name given, which wouldn't have spoiled it for those who haven't read it yet. It's irrelevant whether it's a mystery novel or not. I agree that there are lots of parts of "Classics" which many people would know without having read the books, as they have seeped into the consciousness of many nations over centuries (I'm thinking of things like stories from Homer etc.), but I don't think this is one of them.

[dfloyd]

I didn't post the spoiler as you call it. But I see no harm in knowing the twists and turns of such a well-known work. If I told you Edmond Dantes would escape from the Chateau d'If, would that spoil The Count of Monte Cristo for you? I think not.

[Veho]

I didn't post the spoiler as you call it. But I see no harm in knowing the twists and turns of such a well-known work. If I told you Edmond Dantes would escape from the Chateau d'If, would that spoil The Count of Monte Cristo for you? I think not.

I'm pleased for you, but obviously wessexgirl (and myself) do. It wouldn't have cost the OP much just to warn people at the beginning of the post that it contains spoilers, so that people can choose to read further or not. Just because it doesn't bother you, don't assume that everyone else should be the same, unless you want to be accused of narrow-mindedness.

[dafydd manton]

Knowing the eventual outcome is not half as rewarding as watching how the author gets to that point, and the development of the character.

[Scheherazade]

I think it is common courtesy not to give away the story line and spoil the reading experience for others.

A reminder has been added to the thread title.

[Emil Miller]

I think it is common courtesy not to give away the story line and spoil the reading experience for others.

A reminder has been added to the thread title.

The storyline in Of Human Bondage is so vast that the instance cited will not disturb the reader. The main part of the novel deals with the relationship between the protagonist and his irresistible obsession with an utterly worthless woman.

[Scheherazade]

The main part of the novel deals with the relationship between the protagonist and his irresistible obsession with an utterly worthless woman.Aaaaand another spoiler!

[Emil Miller]

Aaaaand another spoiler!

Perhaps, but any potential reader will read the blurb on the book cover in order to get some idea what he will be reading. I knew exactly what the nature of the novel was, before I read it. The joy, for that's what it is, is in reading each chapter as it unfolds a story concieved in the mind of one of the most unsentimental and brutally honest novelists of the 20th century.

[dfloyd]

This is just one episode of many in the life of Philip Carey. This book is over 800 pages long. If one is to discuss it at all, some aspects of the novel must be revealed. The outcome of the novel is not dependent at all on the suicide of Fanny. Anyone who is going to attempt to read such a long novel wants to know something about it. We all know Napoleon retreated from Moscow and this was the beginning of Nappy's downfall, but this doesn't stop anyone from reading War and Peace.

On shorter less complex novels, a spoiler post may be necessary. I just think in this case a spoiler post is not necessary. To relate the outcome of this book would take several paragraphs at the minimum.

[novelsryou]

Im, sorry if the Fanny blurb spoiled the novel for some members but like dlfloyd said, it's such a small part of the story that it won't detract from your enjoyment. Now, on the other hand, if I had said something about Philip having a heroin addict amputate his club foot in the back of a Chinese laundry during an alcohol induced depression, that would be a real spoiler.

[Veho]

Im, sorry if the Fanny blurb spoiled the novel for some members but like dlfloyd said, it's such a small part of the story that it won't detract from your enjoyment.

I'll be the judge of what detracts from my enjoyment of something.

[Scheherazade]

Dfloyd> I am sure Brian will be glad to have your support and we will feel less guilty about giving away the story line on the books you have not read yet, seeming how this does not bother you.

However, out of respect for the majority of Forum readers, I will ask everyone to be more sensitive while giving away story lines and, at least, post a "spoiler" warning, leaving the choice to the others on how much they would like to find out on the books they are reading.

Since this thread is not serving its original purpose anymore, it will now be closed

novelsryou> Please feel free to start another thread to discuss the book (with appropriate warnings).