I had mistakenly thought that Atlas Shrugged was the 9th book in my summer book project, only to realize that it was actually my 8th book. I should have taken that as an omen then. I also didn't realize that my copy of Of Human Bondage was abridged - something I adamantly try to avoid. That should have been my second sign. But I was fully committed to my book project and dived into Of Human Bondage by W. Somerset Maugham
To be quite frank, I didn't not find this book to be "the greatest novel of our time". When I told a friend that I was reading this, she instantly made a funny face and said she didn't like to read whiny books. Yep, another sign. But I mustered through and finished this book even though I knew early on that I didn't like it. It was the tale of one very whiny man making weird choices. The kind of decisions that have you screaming at the TV, don't go in that dark basement!
I'm glad this book had a therapeutic quality for the author which was loosely based on his life. I'm also glad I didn't have to read the unabridged version which would have prolonged my misery.
Written in 1915, I can understand that this book would have created a sensation when first published and again when my edition was published since the narrator often interacts with prostitutes, starving artists, and other unsavory characters.
When I first discovered that the last page was torn, I had grandiose ideas of seeking out another copy to read the last few words. But when I got the end, I was so over this book that I just didn't want to make the effort.
