"Blade" is one of Maugham's many masterpieces. It mainly tells the story of a World War I pilot named Larry Darrell. In the army, Larry had a very close comrade. In an encounter with the enemy, the comrade died trying to save Larry. His sacrifice caused great stimulation to Larry. After retiring from the army, he gave up the easy material life and wandered around the world like an ascetic, seeking philosophical questions about "evil and misfortune".
Reader comments
Whether it is plot arrangement or artistic techniques, it is somewhat similar to "The Moon and Sixpence". There is no shortage of famous quotes, which is great, but we just need to pick some that are applicable. Different ages, moods, and experiences will absorb some different truths. Don't accept them all, and don't feel worthless. Whether a book is good or not is up to you. Whether a statement is reasonable and applicable, up to you. Different people have different views.
Larry has been pursuing detachment all his life, how enviable this is, how admirable this sunny mentality is, not caring about other people's opinions, and just wanting to be himself! How admirable!
I think if I knew more English, I might have a different understanding if I could read the original version, but how different could the translation be? There is no way to judge. Without any evidence, the reasoning can only be imagined.
The author intersperses the story with the first person, and talks about different lives, material and spiritual, which may be two extremes. One is only focusing on worldly life and pursuits, including wealth, love, and mortal desires; the other is the pursuit of the spiritual world, including freedom, open-mindedness, and no vanity. I don't dare to say which one is better. I always feel that it would be better if I could have both. I can create wealth and promote social progress while being strict with myself and neither being humble nor arrogant. In short, I have benefited a lot from reading this book. The author has left many blank spaces for readers to imagine. I hope you will have different feelings about your life after reading this book.
I accidentally learned about this novel from a recommendation on a short video platform. The recommendation said it was related to different people's lifestyles, so as I was about to enter my thirties, I opened the title page out of curiosity...
From my personal understanding, there is more than one protagonist in the book, and judging from the author's tone of description, the person I admire and yearn for the most is probably Larry. After reading the entire article, I also think Larry is an admirable person - his tireless pursuit of truth, courage to stick to his own choices, sincerity, truthfulness, kindness, true beauty and other excellent qualities can even make people feel ashamed.
Why can't I do this with my own life? Why can't I face my heart like this?
The impression is only for a moment, and I may forget this novel in the blink of an eye. I hope that one day in the future, when I am confused and confused, I will remember that I have read a novel called "The Blade". The protagonist Larry in it was once confused like me, but by himself, he found the direction of life!
The discussions about women and men, about faith, and about Islam and Buddhism are fascinating. Like Larry, I feel that the book contains the answers I want, but I am not as free and easy and perseverant as him [laughing and crying]
I think the author still uses the exchanges between multiple protagonists to present the changes of the times and the different influences brought by various cultures, and the author, as a supporting role, helps to promote the development of the story, sometimes in the third person, sometimes in the first person, which makes people feel that the story is very real. The author does not follow a grand world view, but only narrates it through the perspectives and lifestyles of some people, which makes me feel the empathy of ordinary people.
I came to understand the protagonists with the attitude of not being able to read them, but there is no doubt about the author's narration from beginning to end. The expression is explicit but without losing the attitude towards the protagonists, which is the only recognition in the world.
I have also thought about the meaning of life. Human life is limited, so what is the meaning of our existence? Here, Larry never stops thinking about life, but we stay in the camp of life. In this regard, Larry is the realm that we all yearn for.
Except for the long conversation between Chapter 6 and Larry that gave me a headache, this book can be said to be very attractive to me. As long as I click on it and read for a while, I can't help reading for a long time. People like Larry are too rare. I like Isabel even more. She is rational and intelligent, and always knows her own position and bottom line!
Human society is a big melting pot, in which all kinds of substances react. There are always some new substances going in and some ash going out. But it is undeniable that the reaction of each substance is essential, but it can also be replaced.
Teacher Luo recommended it. After watching it, I found out whether a person should live step by step according to the secular life in his short life, or should he pay more attention to spiritual feelings and explore qualities other than material things! Everyone should have their own answer!
I finally finished reading it. It's a very good book. I can only understand a concept after reading it once. I hope I can gain more insights when I come back next time! Happiness does not come from material things, but from spirit... Blade 2023.7.14 Li
The novel is very exciting. It describes many details from different levels of people. It also allows us to see that everyone has their own choices. There is no right or wrong for each choice. It just depends on personal choice.
Money, fame, fortune and status are not the only criterion for judging the value of life, but the freedom of the soul.
I think this book is deeper than "The Moon and Sixpence", probably because in Chapter 6 Larry explains religion and philosophy to the protagonist, and because the book not only contains the pursuit of life and human emotions, but also the constant changes, confusion and doubts in our life experience. But when I finished reading this book completely, I took a long break and my thoughts were a little confused.
Larry's story is so attractive. I admire his courage in giving up material life to pursue the truth. Especially his experience in India was an eye-opener for me. The character of Elliot is also very interesting. Although completely different from Larry, it also allowed me to see the complexity of human nature. Overall, this book made me think about a lot of issues about life and is well worth reading.
Detailed description, human nature, divinity, animal nature, heaven and earth, I have become enlightened after writing this article.
A good book for pursuing the soul
Although I finished reading it, I still don't know why. But it doesn't matter, reading is such a process, and I can't figure out the protagonist's concerns anyway. But precisely because of this, we can say that reading is a kind of spiritual practice, and I have already completed it.
Gorgeous flowers bloom, we witness them on the roadside, they are all different.
Everyone has their own way of living
I envy Larry's attitude towards life. He travels around the world at such a young age, but he never forgets to enrich himself with reading. I admire him very much.
The meaning of life, keep searching, recognize the sins in the world, and search for goodwill deep in the soul
It's a very good book. That's how life is. I think it's better than the novel The Moon and Sixpence.
Pursue the meaning of life
Very relaxing and pleasant
Very interesting book, very rewarding
The plot is touching and touching
Help whoever is in need, save whoever is about to fall off a cliff, and whoever has fallen [smile]
Be patient and watch, good things are coming later [smile]
Whether it is plot arrangement or artistic techniques, it is somewhat similar to "The Moon and Sixpence". There is no shortage of famous quotes, which is great, but we just need to pick some that are applicable. Different ages, moods, and experiences will absorb some different truths. Don't accept them all, and don't feel worthless. Whether a book is good or not is up to you. Whether a statement is reasonable and applicable, up to you. Different people have different views.
Larry has been pursuing detachment all his life, how enviable this is, how admirable this sunny mentality is, not caring about other people's opinions, and just wanting to be himself! How admirable!
I think if I knew more English, I might have a different understanding if I could read the original version, but how different could the translation be? There is no way to judge. Without any evidence, the reasoning can only be imagined.
The author intersperses the story with the first person, and talks about different lives, material and spiritual, which may be two extremes. One is only focusing on worldly life and pursuits, including wealth, love, and mortal desires; the other is the pursuit of the spiritual world, including freedom, open-mindedness, and no vanity. I don't dare to say which one is better. I always feel that it would be better if I could have both. I can create wealth and promote social progress while being strict with myself and neither being humble nor arrogant. In short, I have benefited a lot from reading this book. The author has left many blank spaces for readers to imagine. I hope you will have different feelings about your life after reading this book.
I accidentally learned about this novel from a recommendation on a short video platform. The recommendation said it was related to different people's lifestyles, so as I was about to enter my thirties, I opened the title page out of curiosity... From my personal understanding, there is more than one protagonist in the book, and judging from the author's tone of description, the person I admire and yearn for the most is probably Larry. After reading the entire article, I also think Larry is an admirable person - his tireless pursuit of truth, courage to stick to his own choices, sincerity, truthfulness, kindness, true beauty and other excellent qualities can even make people feel ashamed. Why can't I do this with my own life? Why can't I face my heart like this? The impression is only for a moment, and I may forget this novel in the blink of an eye. I hope that one day in the future, when I am confused and confused, I will remember that I have read a novel called "The Blade". The protagonist Larry in it was once confused like me, but by himself, he found the direction of life!
The discussions about women and men, about faith, and about Islam and Buddhism are fascinating. Like Larry, I feel that the book contains the answers I want, but I am not as free and easy and perseverant as him [laughing and crying]
I think the author still uses the exchanges between multiple protagonists to present the changes of the times and the different influences brought by various cultures, and the author, as a supporting role, helps to promote the development of the story, sometimes in the third person, sometimes in the first person, which makes people feel that the story is very real. The author does not follow a grand world view, but only narrates it through the perspectives and lifestyles of some people, which makes me feel the empathy of ordinary people.
I came to understand the protagonists with the attitude of not being able to read them, but there is no doubt about the author's narration from beginning to end. The expression is explicit but without losing the attitude towards the protagonists, which is the only recognition in the world.
I have also thought about the meaning of life. Human life is limited, so what is the meaning of our existence? Here, Larry never stops thinking about life, but we stay in the camp of life. In this regard, Larry is the realm that we all yearn for.
Except for the long conversation between Chapter 6 and Larry that gave me a headache, this book can be said to be very attractive to me. As long as I click on it and read for a while, I can't help reading for a long time. People like Larry are too rare. I like Isabel even more. She is rational and intelligent, and always knows her own position and bottom line!
Human society is a big melting pot, in which all kinds of substances react. There are always some new substances going in and some ash going out. But it is undeniable that the reaction of each substance is essential, but it can also be replaced.
Teacher Luo recommended it. After watching it, I found out whether a person should live step by step according to the secular life in his short life, or should he pay more attention to spiritual feelings and explore qualities other than material things! Everyone should have their own answer! I finally finished reading it. It's a very good book. I can only understand a concept after reading it once. I hope I can gain more insights when I come back next time! Happiness does not come from material things, but from spirit... Blade 2023.7.14 Li
The novel is very exciting. It describes many details from different levels of people. It also allows us to see that everyone has their own choices. There is no right or wrong for each choice. It just depends on personal choice.
Money, fame, fortune and status are not the only criterion for judging the value of life, but the freedom of the soul.
I think this book is deeper than "The Moon and Sixpence", probably because in Chapter 6 Larry explains religion and philosophy to the protagonist, and because the book not only contains the pursuit of life and human emotions, but also the constant changes, confusion and doubts in our life experience. But when I finished reading this book completely, I took a long break and my thoughts were a little confused.
Larry's story is so attractive. I admire his courage in giving up material life to pursue the truth. Especially his experience in India was an eye-opener for me. The character of Elliot is also very interesting. Although completely different from Larry, it also allowed me to see the complexity of human nature. Overall, this book made me think about a lot of issues about life and is well worth reading.
Detailed description, human nature, divinity, animal nature, heaven and earth, I have become enlightened after writing this article.
A good book for pursuing the soul
Although I finished reading it, I still don't know why. But it doesn't matter, reading is such a process, and I can't figure out the protagonist's concerns anyway. But precisely because of this, we can say that reading is a kind of spiritual practice, and I have already completed it.
Gorgeous flowers bloom, we witness them on the roadside, they are all different.
Everyone has their own way of living
I envy Larry's attitude towards life. He travels around the world at such a young age, but he never forgets to enrich himself with reading. I admire him very much.
The meaning of life, keep searching, recognize the sins in the world, and search for goodwill deep in the soul
It's a very good book. That's how life is. I think it's better than the novel The Moon and Sixpence.
Pursue the meaning of life
Very relaxing and pleasant
Very interesting book, very rewarding
The plot is touching and touching
Help whoever is in need, save whoever is about to fall off a cliff, and whoever has fallen [smile]
Be patient and watch, good things are coming later [smile]