Of Human Bondage by W. Somerset Maugham

Oh, poor Phillip.  Orphaned as a young child, he is sent to live with conservative Christian relations who raise him as their own, instilling in him their morally uptight religious views.  Born physically deformed with a clubfoot, Phillip spends a week as a teenager fervently praying for his foot to be healed.  When this doesn't happen, he begins to doubt an omnipotent God.  Eventually he desires to become an artist in Paris.  After spending two years there, he accepts the realization that though talented, he will never become more than a mediocre artist.  Moving back to England, he decides to follow in his father's footsteps and attend medical school. During med school, he meets Mildred, an ugly, self-absorbed waitress who Phillip falls passionately in love with.

This book is on my 100 books list.  I was intrigued by the back of the book, which promised things like "sexual obsession", which would at least guarantee an easier read.  W. Somerset Maugham is a skilled writer.  The book, though 700+ pages in length, read quite well.  Phillip does become obsessed with Mildred, although the only reason I can fathom as to why is because he couldn't have her. Mildred could care less about Phillip, although she has no qualms taking his money, lying to him, and letting him help raise another man's baby.  Eventually he grows repulsed by her, although all the love he felt for her never dissipates entirely. Despite his deformity, several women do fall in love with him, none of whom he loves back.

And I guess the morale of the story is: people always want what they can't have.  Phillip loves the only woman who doesn't want him.  Woman love Phillip who he can care less about, although does care about hurting their feelings, which is always nice to hear about men (even fictional men!)  Phillip never quite figures out his religious stance.  He falls somewhere into the agnostic group.

I also read this in Paris, which was awesome, since parts of the book took place in Paris.  I've read Maugham The Painted Veil which I really liked.  Books aren't very similar at all.