David A Gooding

"The Razor's Edge" and "The Moon and Sixpence" show several similarities. Both are narrated in the first person; in both most of the significant action takes place off-screen, and is related seond or third hand by one of the characters; in both, the narrator is largely a passive observer who confesses to fragmentary knowledge and a lack of understanding of the protagonists. I came away from both books somewhat unsatisfied, not at all sure I understood what the author was trying to do.

Gooding's summary and analysis in The Monarch Notes gave me a greater understanding of the works. For each book, chapter summaries are offered, with notes on the author's style and intentions; likewise, the main characters are analyzed. The Monarch Notes offer a useful supplement to the books, but of course are no substitute for reading them… (mehr)