Instruct: Classify Amazon reviews into positive or negative sentiment
Query: New themes, fantastic character development

I approached Maugham reluctantly, as I do many British authors. But, the Razor's Edge was clear, descriptive, yet not mired in page-long sentences. Maugham does not try to present a "theme" to the reader, although he does set up situations in which the reader can try to grasp lessons from the plot.But that is all the reader can do--grasp. Maugham is Dickensian in his character development. Each character is ethereal, and readers can project themselves on them--especially Larry. Maugham seems to understand that we cannot simplify characters to simple symbols or thoughts, and he uses this to his advantage.Brilliant book, lucid enough for reading on vacations...stirring