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Summary: A picture of human emotion
Review: How Maugham can portray the depths of human suffering with so much reality, without being over-emotional or wishy-washy is a feat within itself. "Of Human Bondage" is the story of a man constantly at war with himself; bombared with feelings of fear and guilt, of elation and excitement. As Philip Carey travels throughout Europe, his acquaintances are depicted with so much grace and truth that you feel as though you can relate to each character individually. By most standards, Philip is not a very likeable character because he is too real. His sufferings come one after the other, but since he handles his problems like a mere human being, flawed and foolish, some might find it difficult to sympathize with him. I thought his trials and how he confronted them were portrayed with so much purity and truth that it was difficult not to sympathize or relate. "Of Human Bondage" is not exciting or happy or romantic. It is simply real.
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Summary: Read can be difficult at times
Review: It is the life story of Phillip Carey until he is 30 years old. He is an introvert with a club foot. You follow his many adventures and indecisions. From being an artist student in Paris to a doctor in London. Obsession with a waitress to using his club foot to gain sympathy. I will admitt, as much as I have enjoyed this amazing piece of literature I have found myself skim reading from time to time to get to the next adventure. As it is the story of someone's LIFE - it can get a little on the boring side at times. But the book is written so beautifully that even the boring parts are ART. However, this is a very LONG read and if you find yourself getting impatient half-way thru, rent or buy the Bette Davis film made from the book (of the same title). This actually helped me regain interest about half-way thru. I really am an avid reader not usually intimidated my length of novels, but I did need the film to reinstate my interest and then it was a more relaxing read. (Call me lazy if you like). After reading *almost* all of the book and taking a break for the film, I did not feel like the film ruined the story for me. It is one of those books that you can see the film and WANT to read the book to see what you missed.
Rating:
Summary: Simply the Best
Review: One of the most compelling human portraits ever sketched. Through Philip Carey, Maughm paints an unforgettable picture of human emotion. Whether or not you like Philip, you will undoubtedly identify with his core issues. If I could have just one book on my deserted island, this would be it. A word of caution: Maughm's narration can at times move a bit slowly. I suggest reading this when you are not pressed for time.
Rating:
Summary: Classic
Review: Of Human Bondage is an excellent look into the pshchology of the male mind. It is the most honest book on love that I have ever read.It is easy to sympathize with the main charecter as he comes across as a real person with true flaws. It shows that the story is loosely based on the life of the author. The main characters actions may make you angry, but you will always beleive them. Although the plot slows toward the middle of the book, the story remains compelling throughout. In addition this book provides the reader with a lifelike recreation of the protagonist's world. I felt like I knew what it would be like to live the life of a young artist in early 20th century paris. I highly recommended read.
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Summary: Can it possibly get any better?
Review: This tale is one that will touch anyone who picks up this book. Maugham did an unbelievable job of taking his readers through the life of Philip Carey, the story's lovable protagonist. I have read more than a few novels in my time, but none have been as special to me as this one. I love this book and so will you.
Rating: 
Summary: Passion versus reason
Review: This story is a poetic, beautifully written description of the universal struggle of passion versus reason as experienced by the protaganist Philip Carey. The characters are vividly realized through Maugham's masterful command of human dialogue. The experience of obsession and it's consequences are depicted in a way that draws the reader into an emotional connection that is irresistable. This man could write!
Rating:
Summary: Better than psychoanalysis
Review: This was one of the finest novels I have read, though at times I had a love-hate relationship with it. Early on I became fed up with Philip's whining and bad choices. Him leaving school to go to Germany struck a chord with me, since I see a number of young college students wash out this way no matter what I or anyone else can do about it. People who downgrade this book because they disagree with Philip's choices and mental self-torture seem to be missing the point, and reflect a commonplace desire for fairytale stories which runs through American culture. By the end of the book I had made my peace with Philip and allowed him to "live his life" as Maugham intended. Many of the hard lessons he learned serve as a useful object lesson for the reader. Besides this, we get an incredible array of characters reminiscent of Dicken's best work at no extra charge. I take exception to reviewers who complained that the ending lacked weight. That was precisely the point: after all the grand dreams and ponderings on the meaning of life, settling down in a comfortable relationship in a seaside village is as good as anything else. The key line in the last pages: "It seemed to him that he had followed the ideals that other people, by their words or writings, had instilled into him, but never the desires of his own heart" is so dead-on for so many of us. That alone was worth the length of the book.
Rating:
Summary: good
Review: very good synopsis of the infatuating aspect of love... highly recommended...
Rating: 
Summary: Talk about hopeless!
Review: Love as many of us has experienced it. But when you thought it was bad, you see how low we can stoop. This was a good book for those interested in relationships.
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Summary: Read this book, it's truly one of the best!
Review: This book is probably one of the best books I've ever read in my life, after Les Miserables and Atlas Shrugged. It's poignant and heart-rending, and beautiful all the same. The language is probably one of the best things about it, Maugham has a true gift for prose and he writes in a way that leaves you on the point of tears for poor Phillip. The fact that the novel is more or less autobiographical makes it all the more powerful, and adds to the story's beauty. Never before has someone written with such beauty of the pain and trials of being a prisoner of one's emotions, and to read this novel is to fall in love with the little boy who grows to be a man and fights with himself and with cruel society his whole life.
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