The Moon and Sixpence by W. Somerset Maugham

The Moon and Sixpence (1919) is a novel by W. Somerset Maugham about a man named Charles Strickland who abandons his wife and children and his career as a stockbroker in London to become an artist. Maugham’s story is based in part on the life of Paul Gauguin.

The story is narrated by a man who is an aspiring writer in London. He meets Mrs. Amy Strickland who hosts literary parties at her home. The narrator then meets her husband Charles. Unexpectedly, Charles Strickland abandons his family and leaves for Paris. Mrs. Strickland asks the narrator to go to Paris and talk to her husband.

In Paris, the narrator locates Charles Strickland and asks him why he left his wife. The narrator suspects that Strickland left to be with another woman. Strickland responds, "What poor minds women have got! Love. It's always love. They think a man leaves only because he wants others. Do you think I should be such a fool as to do what I've done for a woman?" The narrator asks, "Then, what in God's name have you left her for?" Strickland replies, "I want to paint."

Strickland is poor, but he cares little about his living situation. He is focused on his art. A Dutch artist named Dirk Stroeve recognizes Strickland’s genius and helps him. Coincidentally, Stroeve and the narrator are old friends. Friend may be the wrong word because the narrator doesn’t respect Stroeve, and he considers him a buffoon. Dirk Stroeve is a sharp contrast to Strickland. Stroeve’s paintings may not be considered great, but they are popular, and he is a successful and happy man. Many of his fellow artists ridicule Stroeve, but they borrow money from him all the same and take advantage of him. When Strickland falls deathly ill, Stroeve and his wife Blanche help him recover. Sadly, following Strickland’s recovery, Blanche leaves her husband for Strickland. When Blanche realizes that Strickland only wanted her as a model, Blanche kills herself.

Later, the narrator visits Tahiti after Strickland’s death, and he tries to learn about Strickland’s last years by talking with people there. The narrator learns that Strickland married a seventeen-year-old native girl named Ata and had children with her. Strickland became sick with leprosy and painted his best work on the walls of his hut. In the end, Strickland died of leprosy and lost his eyesight, and his wife burned his final work according to his wishes.

The theme of the book was that true artists must choose their art over everything else in life. Strickland was compelled to live this way. The narrator seemed to idolize Strickland for his devotion to his art although he knew that Strickland made cruel choices that adversely affected those around him. It’s a strange idea that a person cannot be devoted to their family and friends and also be an artist.

The most distasteful and disturbing thing about reading this novel was the misogyny running throughout it. Here are several quotes as examples:

When Strickland is speaking to the narrator, he says: "My dear fellow, I only hope you'll be able to make her see it. But women are very unintelligent."

Blanche’s doctor says this about her, “Women are constantly trying to commit suicide for love, but generally they take care not to succeed. It's generally a gesture to arouse pity or terror in their lover."

Strickland talks to the narrator about love, saying: "I don't want love. I haven't time for it. It's weakness. I am a man, and sometimes I want a woman. When I've satisfied my passion I'm ready for other things. I can't overcome my desire, but I hate it; it imprisons my spirit; I look forward to the time when I shall be free from all desire and can give myself without hindrance to my work. Because women can do nothing except love, they've given it a ridiculous importance. They want to persuade us that it's the whole of life. It's an insignificant part. I know lust. That's normal and healthy. Love is a disease. Women are the instruments of my pleasure; I have no patience with their claim to be helpmates, partners, companions."

Here's another quote from Strickland: "Women are strange little beasts," he said to Dr. Coutras. "You can treat them like dogs, you can beat them till your arm aches, and still they love you." He shrugged his shoulders. "Of course, it is one of the most absurd illusions of Christianity that they have souls."

This hatefulness towards woman disturbed me. I found Blanche Stroeve to be a more interesting character than either Strickland or the narrator. Mrs. Strickland was a compelling, strong character as well. In the end, I would have rather read more about them than the male characters.

I was also left wondering how much of the story was truly based on Paul Gauguin’s life and how much was fictionalized. One day, I’ll read a biography of Gauguin to find out.

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Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage by Haruki Murakami

Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage (2013) by Haruki Murakami is a story about lost friendship. In his youth, Tsukuru Tazaki had four close friends: two boys and two girls. Each of his friends’ names has a colorful meaning, while Tsukuru Tazaki’s name is colorless. His male friends are named Akamatsu and Oumi, which mean “red pine” and “blue sea,” respectively. His female friends are named Shirane and Kurono, which mean “white root” and “black meadow,” respectively.

While in college, in 1995, Tsukuru’s friends decide to break ties with him completely. He is left isolated, depressed, and alone. Tsukuru drifts through life, only finding satisfaction in his job as a railroad engineer. Sixteen years later, in 2011, Tsukuru begins dating a woman named Sara who suggests that he track down his friends to learn the truth about why they cut him off. She refuses to commit to a relationship with him until he resolves his issues about this loss.

With Sara’s help, Tsukuru begins to track down his friends. Oumi talks with him and explains that Shirane (Shiro) accused Tsukuru of rape, and that this was why all his friends stopped speaking to him. Six years ago, Shiro was strangled to death. He then visits Aka, who tells Tsukuru that he didn’t believe Shiro’s story. Next, he visits Kuro in Finland. Kuro tells him that Shiro was mentally ill. Although Kuro knew that Tsukuru had not raped Shiro, she said that someone did rape Shiro and that she was pregnant and miscarried. His friends decided to cut Tsukuru off to avoid confronting Shiro and alienating her.

After following Tsukuru’s long quest, I found the explanations dissatisfying and disappointing. The idea that a woman would falsely accuse a friend of rape was disturbing. Moreover, the way Tsukuru viewed women was sexist. This novel was the first Murakami story that I read, and I was expecting a better ending.

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The Happiness of Pursuit by Chris Guillebeau

The Happiness of Pursuit (2014) by Chris Guillebeau is a book about creating and pursuing complex, long-term, personal goals. Guillebeau’s own goal was to visit every country on Earth by age 35. He writes about his journey in detail and how he overcame challenges along the way.

In addition, Guillebeau describes the passions, pursuits, and quests of many others through storytelling and interviews. He talked with people who had committed themselves to many types of quests, including artistic, athletic, environmental, culinary, and interpersonal endeavors.

This book was a nice one for me to end the year with. It was full of inspiring stories about the joy of pursuing challenging goals and finding your calling in life.

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The Secret History of Wonder Woman by Jill Lepore

Jill Lepore’s The Secret History of Wonder Woman (2014) is a biography of William Moulton Marston, who created the iconic comic book heroine. It describes Marston’s personal life and work and how factors in his life influenced the development of the superhero Wonder Woman.

William Marston was a psychologist who was educated at Harvard University. He was an inventor and developed an early version of the lie detector test. In addition, Marston was a writer, who penned academic essays and screenplays. In the 1940s, Marston created the character Wonder Woman as a powerful female superhero. The character was illustrated by the artist and cartoonist H.G. Peter. When Wonder Woman first appeared in All Star Comics #8 in 1941, male superheroes abounded in comic books. Wonder Woman was a novel creation, a woman who represented the feminist ideals of strength, sisterhood, anti-violence, and respect for human life.

The book delves into the personal, titillating details of William Marston’s complex family. He was married to Elizabeth Holloway Marston. Elizabeth contributed to his work on the lie detector test and to the development of Wonder Woman. Together, William and Elizabeth had two children together. Marston also had a relationship with his psychology student Olive Byrne, who was the daughter of Ethel Byrne and the niece of Margaret Sanger. In 1916, Ethyl and her sister Margaret opened the first birth control clinic in the US in Brooklyn. Olive moved in with William and Elizabeth Marston, and William had two children with Olive. Even after William Marston’s death, Elizabeth and Olive continued living together.

These women influenced Marston and contributed to his ideas of Wonder Woman as powerful and good. Marston’s lie detector became Wonder Woman’s “Lasso of Truth.” Olive Byrne’s bracelets inspired Wonder Woman’s indestructible bracelets. The fight for women’s liberation is reflected in Wonder Woman’s repeated escapes from bondage. I especially liked the presentation and descriptions of old Wonder Woman comics that illustrated these themes. The book was a fascinating, surprising read.

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Goodbye, Mr. Chips by James Hilton

Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1934) by James Hilton is a look back at the career of an English schoolmaster named Arthur Chipping. Mr. Chipping first arrived at Brookfield as a young teacher in 1870. Through his care and commitment, he changed the lives of his students, who gave him the nickname Mr. Chips. Arthur is briefly married to a charming woman named Katherine, who dies in childbirth. Over time, Mr. Chips is known for his solitary, bachelor life.

After more than forty years teaching, Mr. Chips retires in 1913. During the war, he’s asked to return to work at the school, and following the war, he returns to retirement. The book is a reflection on his life and career, his brief marriage, the profession of teaching, and the isolation of growing old.

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A Lantern in her Hand by Bess Streeter Aldrich

A Lantern in Her Hand (1928) by Bess Streeter Aldrich is a story of maternal sacrifice and pioneer life. Abbie Mackenzie is full of dreams to be a lovely woman like her grandmother. She has a beautiful voice and dreams of singing and playing music on the stage. She wants to write something and make her mark on the world. As the story plays out, it's painful to watch Abbie put away and sacrifice her dreams one by one.

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