A Magic Window (2nd view)

“God writes the Gospel not in the Bible alone, but also on trees, and in the flowers and clouds and stars.” -Martin Luther

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The Song of the Sirens

The sharp edge of a razor is difficult to pass over; thus the wise say the path to salvation is hard.
-Katha Upanishad

My Favorite Book Challenge… The Razor’s Edge

A challenge, issued by Kevin Morris at Newauthoronline to write a post about our favorite book. (Please visit Kevin at his site; you will be glad you did!)

My choice is, The Razor’s Edge by W. Somerset Maugham published in 1944.

An unusual book in that the author narrates but also plays himself in the story and hints that the novel may have some truth to it. You can Google it and find a few websites dedicated to proving it factual.

The story begins at the end of WW1 and follows Larry Darrell who served as a fighter pilot and saw action over the skies of France. Larry befriends another pilot, a jovial Irishman who dies after saving his life. From here on Larry’s life changes as he searches for answers about death, God and what’s the purpose.  He returns home to his fiancée Isabel and befuddles everyone as he turns down a job offer from his best friend Gray. He decides he wants to move to Paris and ‘loaf’ for a couple of years. Isabel loves him and will wait, but all the while thinking he will come to his senses.