The Line of Beauty by Alan Hollinghurst - Goodreads

Line of Beauty is a 2004 Booker Prize-winning novel by Alan Hollinghurst. It is about gay men, most of them rich, in Thatcherite Britain in the early to mid- ... Goodreadshelpsyoukeeptrackofbooksyouwanttoread. Startbymarking“TheLineofBeauty”asWanttoRead: WanttoRead saving… WanttoRead CurrentlyReading Read Othereditions Enlargecover WanttoRead saving… Errorratingbook.Refreshandtryagain. Ratethisbook Clearrating 1of5stars2of5stars3of5stars4of5stars5of5stars OpenPreview SeeaProblem? We’dloveyourhelp. Letusknowwhat’swrongwiththispreviewof TheLineofBeautybyAlanHollinghurst. Problem: It’sthewrongbook It’sthewrongedition Other Details(ifother):   Cancel Thanksfortellingusabouttheproblem. ReturntoBookPage Notthebookyou’relookingfor? Preview—TheLineofBeauty byAlanHollinghurst morephotos(4) TheLineofBeauty by AlanHollinghurst 3.73  ·  Ratingdetails ·  26,636 ratings  ·  1,568 reviews Inthesummerof1983,twenty-year-oldNickGuestmovesintoanatticroomintheNottingHillhomeoftheFeddens:conservativeMemberofParliamentGerald,hiswealthywifeRachel,andtheirtwochildren,Toby-whomNickhadidolizedatOxford-andCatherine,highlycriticalofherfamily'sassumptionsandambitions.Astheboomyearsoftheeightiesunfold,Nick,aninnoc Inthesummerof1983,twenty-year-oldNickGuestmovesintoanatticroomintheNottingHillhomeoftheFeddens:conservativeMemberofParliamentGerald,hiswealthywifeRachel,andtheirtwochildren,Toby-whomNickhadidolizedatOxford-andCatherine,highlycriticalofherfamily'sassumptionsandambitions.Astheboomyearsoftheeightiesunfold,Nick,aninnocentintheworldofpoliticsandmoney,findshislifealteredbytherisingfortunesofthisglamorousfamily.Histwovividlycontrastingloveaffairs,onewithayoungblackclerkandonewithaLebanesemillionaire,dramatizethedangersandrewardsofhisownprivatepursuitofbeauty,apursuitascompellingtoNickasthedesireforpowerandrichesamonghisfriends.Richlytextured,emotionallycharged,disarminglycomic,thisU.K.bestsellerisamajorworkbyoneofourfinestwriters. ...more GetACopy KindleStore $8.54 AmazonStores ▾AudibleBarnes&NobleWalmarteBooksAppleBooksGooglePlayAbebooksBookDepositoryAlibrisIndigoBetterWorldBooksIndieBoundThriftbooksLibraries Paperback,438pages Published 2004 byBloomsbury MoreDetails... OriginalTitle TheLineofBeauty ISBN 0739464469 (ISBN13:9780739464465) EditionLanguage English Setting UnitedKingdom London,England LiteraryAwards BookerPrize(2004),NationalBookCriticsCircleAwardNomineeforFiction(2004) OtherEditions(68) AllEditions | AddaNewEdition | Combine ...LessDetail EditDetails FriendReviews Toseewhatyourfriendsthoughtofthisbook, pleasesignup. ReaderQ&A Toaskotherreadersquestionsabout TheLineofBeauty, pleasesignup. PopularAnsweredQuestions Doesthishaveahappyortragicending? like 9monthsago Addyouranswer LiamJ. Youprobablywon'tlikemyanswer-itdoesn'thaveaobviouslyhappyendinginaconventionalway-mosthonestlyitcouldbesaidtobeunresolved-…moreYouprobablywon'tlikemyanswer-itdoesn'thaveaobviouslyhappyendinginaconventionalway-mosthonestlyitcouldbesaidtobeunresolved-butinthesensethatitisnotconventionallyhappyitmightbesaidtobeunhappy.Thenovelisanexaminationoflifeforagay,youngman(atthestartofthenovel-lessobviouslyyoungbytheend-butnotconventionallyold)duringthe1980s,soitwasatimeofgreatchange,bothforgaymenandforBritainasawhole-itwastheeraofMargaretThatcher-butitended,forgaymen,withconsiderablechangeinsocietalattitudesandAIDS-soitastossupastowhetheritcanbeseenashappyorsad.Abitlikelifereally.Literarynovelslikethisveryrarelyhaveeasystoriestotell.(less) flag IpickedthisbookupatalibrarysalebecauseitsoundedlikesomethingthatIwouldlovetoread(IloveallthingsBritish!).I'dliketoknowifthereisalotofdetailedsex,whichIdon'tcaretoreadaboutwhetherit'sstraightORGay.So,couldsomeonehelpmeouthere?Thanks. like 3yearsago Addyouranswer Callie Ijustfinishedreadingthisbookforaschoolproject,andtherearequitealotofsexscenes(whichIwasnotpreparedfor).Iwouldn'tsayit'sve…moreIjustfinishedreadingthisbookforaschoolproject,andtherearequitealotofsexscenes(whichIwasnotpreparedfor).Iwouldn'tsayit'sverydetailedforthemostpart,butinsomeinstances,itcanbeprettygraphic,especiallyinthelanguage.(less) flag See2questionsaboutTheLineofBeauty… ListswithThisBook BestGayFiction 2,188books — 3,373voters BookerPrizeWinners 57books — 1,919voters Morelistswiththisbook... CommunityReviews Showing1-30 Averagerating 3.73  ·  Ratingdetails  ·  26,636 ratings  ·  1,568 reviews AllLanguagesDeutsch‎(1) English‎(1454) Español‎(10) Français‎(2) Italiano‎(1) Latviešuvaloda‎(1) Magyar‎(1) Nederlands‎(5) Norsk‎(2) Português‎(6) Pусскийязык‎(6) Română‎(1) Suomi‎(1) Svenska‎(1) česky,čeština‎(6) Ελληνικά‎(1) العربية‎(1) Morefilters  |  Sortorder StartyourreviewofTheLineofBeautyWriteareview May11,2008 Jessica ratedit itwasamazing Recommendsitfor: peoplewholikeold-timeybritishnovelsaboutrichpeople,butwantmoregaysex RecommendedtoJessicaby: myex-professorwhoiamazon-stalk;eric-with-the-drink Shelves: love-and-other-indoor-sports, groups-of-people, substance-related-disorders, favorites, hagging-out, crazy-ladies Istartedthislastnight,headinghomeafteroneofthemostdreadfuleveningsinrecentmemory.Solatelymylifedoesseemlikeapotofthick,scaldingacridcoffee;Ireadbooksinthehopethatthey'llhelpmechokeitdown.ButforsomereasoneverythingIpickuplately'sbeenunsatisfying,likeskimmilkorsoy.Itmighttaketheedgeoff,butnotnicely,andwithsomeofthisstuffIthinkImightbebetteroffdrinkingthecoffeeblack.ThatMartinAmisislikesomesyntheticcreamer, Istartedthislastnight,headinghomeafteroneofthemostdreadfuleveningsinrecentmemory.Solatelymylifedoesseemlikeapotofthick,scaldingacridcoffee;Ireadbooksinthehopethatthey'llhelpmechokeitdown.ButforsomereasoneverythingIpickuplately'sbeenunsatisfying,likeskimmilkorsoy.Itmighttaketheedgeoff,butnotnicely,andwithsomeofthisstuffIthinkImightbebetteroffdrinkingthecoffeeblack.ThatMartinAmisislikesomesyntheticcreamer,withanartificialflavorthat'skindofalluringlydisgusting....IkeepdrinkingthisshitbecauseIhaveto.Butitdoesn'ttastegood.Anyway,ridingbackhomehalf-drunkfromanovelisticallybadparty,IopenedTheLineofBeauty,andstartedtoread.I'dputthisonmyto-readlistagesagoafterpillagingabelovedprofessor'sAmazonreviews,andreviewsbyterrifyingly-literate-Eric-of-the-drink-and-wide-smirkhaverecentlypushedHollinghurstbackintomymind.Thisman'swritingislikecreamyouonlygetatthefarm.Iamholdingmymugunderneaththecow'steathere,Iguess,whileFarmerAlansquirtsthismagicalsubstancein.It'slikesmoothwhitegold,adreammouthful,delicious.Thiscoffeetastesfabulous.Icoulddrinkitallday.Maybethat'sagrossmetaphor,justwrongortoodumb.Andyeah,I'monlyfiftypagesin,butseriously,hewriteslikeadream.It'sbeenawhilesinceI'vestartedanythingthatfeltthisgood.Latelastnightfinishingacigaretteonthefireescape,inventoryingthebitter,dark,stinkingthingthat'smylifethesedays,Itriedtothinkofpromisingreasonstowakeupinthemorning,todrinkliteralcoffeeandwalkoutthedoor.AndwhenIthoughtofreadingmoreofthisnovel,Igotreallyexcited.Becausehonestlyitkindofdoesn'tmatterifyourlife'swateryburntcrap,ifyou'rereadingsomethinggoodenough,youcanusuallygetby.Ihopethisbooklivesuptoitspromisingopening.Butevenifitdoesn't,I'mgratefulforthefeeling.Sometimesyouhaveabadrunwhennobookscanengageyou,andyoustarttowonderwhatthepointofreadingis,ifit'sanythingmorethanabanaltime-fillinghobby.Likeisthisanybetterthanplayinggamesonmycellphone?AmInotjustkillingtimeonmydailycommute?Ilovebeingremindedthatthat'snotitatall.Wereadtosaveourmouthsfromburning,wereadtoslowtheulcers.Wereadbecausewehaveto,becauseotherwisethiscupful'sjusttooranktoswallow.****Okay,I'mdone.Ihaveaccomplishedlittlethisweekbesidesreadingthisbook.Ilookedforwardtocommutes,tookthelocaltraininsteadoftheexpress;IwaitedforbusesandelevatorswhenInormallywould'vewalked,andshowedupearlyatdinnerdatessoI'dhavetimefirsttoread.MymainimpressionwhilereadingwasanimageofAlanHollinghurstencounteringTheEnglishLanguageonenightonastrollthroughthepark.Ipicturedhimcoaxingitintosomeunlitshrubbery,andthengentlybutmanfullybendingTheEnglishLanguageoveragainstanoaktree,sortofholdingitthere,unzippinghistrousers,andmasterfully--generously--turningitgay.God,theseENGLISHandtheirNOVELS.Howdotheydoit?AlotofsentencesinheremademefeelIshouldstopembarrassingmyselfanddegradingthelanguagebywritinganymoresentencesofmyown.Ofcourse,IusedtosaythataboutIanMcEwan,butHollinghurstcanmakeMcEwansortoflooklikeahack.MaybeMcEwanshouldstopwritingsentencestoo!TheonlyreasonMcEwan'smorefamousmustbebecausehisTMIsexscenestendnottobegay,andalotofpeoplereallyareinexplicablyfreakedoutbygaymalesex.Notthisreader!Thesexintheopening(andbest)sectionofthenovelconveysthethrilloffirstloveandbeingyoungandthefiguringofthatstuffoutwithatouchingaccuracythatmanywritershaveshotforbutfewhavesosuccessfullynailed.ThisisabookthatwouldmakeE.M.Forsterblush,notjustforbeingtoographicforhisera'ssensibility,butbecausehemight'vewishedhe'dlivedlongenoughtohavewrittenit.TomethiswasaboutasgoodasaForsternovel,whichisHIGHPRAISE,FRIEND!Ialmostneversaydumbstufflikethat....howembarrassing....ActuallyIguessit'ssupposedtobeJamesian,astheprotagonist'saJamesscholar/fanboy,butit'sbeensolongsinceI'vereadJames,andI'vereadsolittle,thatIreallydon'tknowifthiswasJamesianornot.IdothinkthoughthatTheLineofBeautymight'vehelpedhealmefromtheancientthwartingtraumaoftryingtoreadTheAwkwardAgeincollege,somaybeI'llgivetheoldguyanotherchance...Anyway,wherewasI?WhatwasIsaying?Oh,Iwasfawninganddroolingalloverthisbook,anditwasfranklypathetic.ObviouslynoteveryonewouldlovethisasmuchasIdid.It'saverystraightforwardnovelsetinThatcher-eraEngland,followingthewinkingly-namedNickGuest,amiddle-classgayaesthetewhohasinsinuatedhimself,thoughhisfriendshipwithanOxfordclassmate,intotheverywealthyhouseholdofaToryMP.Ittakesplacebetweentheyears1983and1987,andfollowsNick'srelationshipwiththefamily,hisromancesandsexualdevelopment,hispreoccupationswithbeautyandpleasure,andsomeotherstuff....Youknow,it'syourfairlystandardkindofthing,Ijustthoughtitwasspectacularlywell-written.TheplotdevelopmentsandcharacterswerepredictableandIcouldseehowonemightarguetheywerecliched,butsomehoweventhiskindofworkedforme,andmadeitseemmorelikeanoldernovel,inagoodway.IguessIcould'vedonewithoutallthedrugs--whydodrugsfollowmeeverywhereIgo?I'llbereadingtheclassiest,mostseeminglytogetherbook,andallofasuddentheauthorpullsoutabag!--butIguessthat'swhatIgetforpickingupanovelaboutrichpeopleintheeighties.TherewereafewthingshereIwasn'tsocrazyabout.Foronething,whileImustapplaudAlanHollingsworth'sdiscoveryoftheadverb"illusionlessly,"whichtrulyisprecious--evenpriceless--whenusedtodescribeafacialexpressionortoneofvoice,Iwishsomeonehadtoldhimhecouldonlyuseitonce.Maybetwice....butnoteverythirtypages!Alan!Restrainyourself!Please!Therewereacouplethingsinherelikethat,overuseofcertainwords,andwhileonsomeI'llgivehimawho-knows-how-rich-people-talk-over-there-not-mepassonsome(suchas"longing"),thelanguagewassogorgeousandmemorableandalmostperfecttome,thattheexceptionsglaredout.Isn'tthiswhateditorsarefor?Tocountfrequencyofuseforyourfavoritepetwords,andmakeyoucutdown?Ifeellikeyoutendtoseethisproblemmoreinshortstorybooks;it'slessforgivableinanovel.MaybeIammissingsomein-jokeaboutHenryJames,whousedtheseparticularwordsceaselessly,andIjustdon'tgetit.Still.Oh,butIonlycomplainbecauseotherwiseI'dmelt!Thereweresentencesinherethatmademecry.Asyoumayknow,Idocryeasily,butit'snotusuallyjustfromsentences.Therewereafewinhere,man....whew.Ohboy.Theother,potentiallymoreseriousthingItookissuewithherewastowardstheend,whenthebookgotallplottyandreachedwhatIfeltwasanunnecessaryandawkwardlyclunkyclimax.IlikethekindofbooksIcanonlyassumeHollinghurstalsolikesinlargepartbecausetheydon'truinthemselveswithplots.I'mobsessedlatelywiththeideathatsomecompulsiontoplotoftenpreventsanauthortellingtherealstory.Ithinkthathappenedhere,somewhat.Theeventsfeltdistractingfromwhatwasreallygoingon,andjustonthewhole,themorethatwashappeningthelessmasterfullyitwashandled.NickGuestisreallyanincrediblemaincharacter.ReadingthisgavemethefirstfaintinterestinrereadingGatsbyforthefirsttimesincehighschool,becauseIfeellikethere'sajokethereandIwanttogetit.Isn'tthemaincharacterinthatNicktoo?Anyway,thewayhemakesthisguyandtherelationshipIdevelopedwithhimasthereaderwasjustawesomeintheoldersenseoftheterm.Iwasawedbyit,really.I'membarrassedbythisreview.I'mnervousaboutallthisgushingbecauseIdon'twanteveryonetorunoutandgetthisandthenbelike,"What'syourproblem,Jessica?Whythefuss,psycho?"Iguessalotofthisjustappealedtocertainofmyownsensibilities.If,forinstance,youaresomehownotcaptivatedbygaymalesexuality,ThatcheriteEngland,ornovelsaboutrichpeople,youmightnotlovethis.There!Youhavebeenwarned.Butseriously:you'renotintothatstuff?Really?Howcanyounotbe?MaybeYOU'REtheonewiththeproblem,youeverthinkofthat?Anyway,I'mdawdlingbecauseI'mnotthatexcitedaboutgoingtobedrightnow.I'mtrulydreadingtomorrow'scommutetoworkforthefirsttimethisweek.WherecanIgofromthis?Middlemarch?Ithinkitmightbetime.Thisisthefirstbookthat'sreallymademefeelthiswaysincetheendofthataffairwithProustallthosemanymonthsago,andIjustcan'tseeareboundnowwithsomerandomlibrarypickup.IguessI'llhavetotryaclassic,andhopeforthebest....Highpraiseagain:truly,atoughbooktofollow. ...more flag 294likes · Like  · seereview Viewall40comments Dec30,2010 Fabian ratedit itwasamazing Shelves: favorites ItmakesmeangrythatIdon'tknowmuchaboutU.S.history,modernU.S.history...&Britishhistory?Fuggedaboutit!IwishIknewmoreabouttheThatcheradministrationsincethenoveliscoupledwiththoseyearsasefficientlyasTHEHUMANSTAINgoeshand-in-handwiththeLewinskiscandal.Onemustknowhowmuchpathosisingrainedintheseparticulareventsfromnottoolongago...sinceitaddstherequisitemagictoelevatethem,thesemodernclassics.It'sabout:gaysex&drugs,the1980's ItmakesmeangrythatIdon'tknowmuchaboutU.S.history,modernU.S.history...&Britishhistory?Fuggedaboutit!IwishIknewmoreabouttheThatcheradministrationsincethenoveliscoupledwiththoseyearsasefficientlyasTHEHUMANSTAINgoeshand-in-handwiththeLewinskiscandal.Onemustknowhowmuchpathosisingrainedintheseparticulareventsfromnottoolongago...sinceitaddstherequisitemagictoelevatethem,thesemodernclassics.It'sabout:gaysex&drugs,the1980's&financialpower.Thepoliticsdotakesecondstage(&withgrace).What'snottolove?Insanelysexyandexquisitelyoldfashioned(ithasthecloutofHenryJames...too,it'ssomewhatdifficulttoread,butthat'swhyit'sallthemore...exquisite),THELINEOFBEAUTYhasallthebestofwhat(American)BretEastonEllishastoofferintheworldofrisquelit.,plusamoredistinguished,intelligentlanguageofitsown,&amaster'seffortlessnesswithprose&form.Imustsaythatpoliticsaside,thestoryisBRIDESHEADREVISITED2.0.WhatwasnevershowninthatparticularworkofBritishmanners&bourgeoislifeisfoundnestledhere.ThankgodfortheModernAge! ...more flag 95likes · Like  · seereview Viewall8comments Sep03,2010 Agnieszka ratedit itwasamazing Shelves: 2016, own-a-copy, london-calling, reviewed Therearemanymodelsofbeautyandasoldsayinggoesbeautyisintheeyeofthebeholder.ThereisaclassicdefinitionofthelineofbeautydepictedbyHogarthinhisworkAnalyseofbeauty,it’saS-shapeddoublecurve,thoughforNick,themainprotagonistofAlanHollinghurstnovel,theperfectlineofbeautycreatesdelicatecurveoflover’sback.Novelstartsinthesummer1983whenyoungNickGuestmovesintothehouseofhisfriendTobyFedden.Thispartbreathesnewnessandfreshn Therearemanymodelsofbeautyandasoldsayinggoesbeautyisintheeyeofthebeholder.ThereisaclassicdefinitionofthelineofbeautydepictedbyHogarthinhisworkAnalyseofbeauty,it’saS-shapeddoublecurve,thoughforNick,themainprotagonistofAlanHollinghurstnovel,theperfectlineofbeautycreatesdelicatecurveoflover’sback.Novelstartsinthesummer1983whenyoungNickGuestmovesintothehouseofhisfriendTobyFedden.Thispartbreathesnewnessandfreshness,thereisanexpectationofloveandanairofinnocencethoughthewayNickloseshisvirginityisfarfromromanticism.SecondpartbringsmoresophisticatedNick,morefatiguedinhispursuitofpleasure,rathersatiatedthanfulfilledwithlovebutalsoanewromancewithnotsounexpectedpartner.Thefinalchapterisjustovershadowedbydeathandsadnessofrecognition.Iwascaptivatedbythatnovelthoughneitherthebackground,politicalandsocial,norprotagonistsaremything.AlanHollinghurst’sproseisexquisite,sharpandironicwhendepictstheFeddens,theirfriendsandrelativesandthewholeTory-relatedmilieu.ButwecanaswellsensethespiritandthemoodofE.M.ForsterandEvelynWaughhere.Thesamestoryofayoungmanfromthelowerclassesseducedbywealthyfriends,theirbeautifulhouses,impeccablemanners,falsehoodandhypocrisylurkingbehindthebrightfacade.ThoughitisHenryJameswhoprovidespatronageforwholestory.HenryJameswhomNickadoresandgenerouslyquotes.NickGuestisnotalllovablefigure.Hedonist,admirerofbeautyandconnoisseurofart.Strangelypassiveandunreflective,withhismouthpackedwithplatitudesonbeautyandstyle.Feddens’eternalresident,somehowinepttoliveonitsown,stillloyalandattachedtothefamily.Hisattitudebespeakssomekindofemptinessandindolence,emotionalimmaturityandhissearchforloveandpleasureendswithdesperatespasmsinthefumesofalcoholandcocaine.ButtowardstheendwhenNickmakesanappearanceofperfectscapegoatandinanairofscandalabandonstheFeddens’house,justthen,embracingallspentthereyears,forebodingyearsthatwereyettocome,sensinginfacthisabsence,onlythenhasfinallybriefvisionofclearbeauty.4,5/5 ...more flag 84likes · Like  · seereview Viewall15comments Jul28,2016 Hugh ratedit itwasamazing  ·  reviewofanotheredition Shelves: read-2017, booker-winners, modern-lit, mookse-madness, modern-classics Sometimesonehastoadmitthatone'spreconceptionsaboutabookareentirelywrong.DespitehavingreadmostoftheBookerwinnersIhadbeenoddlyreluctanttotacklethisone,partlybecauseIhadheardaboutitsgraphicdescriptionsofgaysexandthatisjustnotasubjectthatinterestsme.Thisbookconfoundedsuchbaselessexpectations,andthefinalpartinparticularisverymoving.Ican'treallydojusticetothebookinashortreview,forwhichIapologise.ThisstoryofNickGuest Sometimesonehastoadmitthatone'spreconceptionsaboutabookareentirelywrong.DespitehavingreadmostoftheBookerwinnersIhadbeenoddlyreluctanttotacklethisone,partlybecauseIhadheardaboutitsgraphicdescriptionsofgaysexandthatisjustnotasubjectthatinterestsme.Thisbookconfoundedsuchbaselessexpectations,andthefinalpartinparticularisverymoving.Ican'treallydojusticetothebookinashortreview,forwhichIapologise.ThisstoryofNickGuest,ayoungmanwhosepositionasalodgerinthehouseofaToryMPinKensingtonputshimattheperipheryofvariouspowerfulcirclesattheheightoftheThatchergovernmentinthe80s,worksonmanydifferentlevels.Onthesurfaceitisastudyoftheseelites,howtheyoperateandhowruthlesslytheyditchthosewhonolongerservethem,onanotheritisagaycomingofagestory,inwhichtheshadowofAIDSinevitabilylooms,andathirdisasatributetoHenryJames.IwasstruckbyaparagraphwhereNickistryingtojustifyhisvisionofanartisticfilmofaJamesbook(TheSpoilsofPoynton)toarichbutphilistinepotentialbackerwhohasjusttoldhimthatthestory"kindasucks":"'Doesit...?'saidNick;and,tryingtobecharming,'It'sjustlikelife,though,isn'tit-maybetoolikelifefora...conventionalmovie.It'saboutsomeonewholovesthingsmorethanpeople.Andwhoendsupwithnothing,ofcourse.Iknowit'sbleak,butthenIthinkit'sprobablyaverybleakbook,eventhoughit'sessentiallyacomedy.".Nickcouldequallybetalkingaboutthebookinwhichheisthecentralcharacter,whichdoescontainsomebrilliantsatire,butisultimatelyrathertragic. ...more flag 76likes · Like  · seereview Viewall8comments Apr12,2014 Paul ratedit reallylikedit Shelves: lgbt 3.5starsroundedupBookerprizewinnerin2004,Hollinghurstwritesaboutthe1980sandmoreparticularlyaboutThatcher’sBritainandtheonsetofHIV/AIDS.ItisthestoryofNickGuest,ayounggaymanfromamiddleclassbackground.Hemeetstheson(Toby)ofarisingToryMP(GeraldFedden)atOxfordandaftergraduatingmovesinwithToby’sfamilyasalodger.ThebackdropisLondonofthe1980s.NickmovesinglamorouscirclesandthelineofbeautygoesbacktoHogarth’ssshapedcurvei 3.5starsroundedupBookerprizewinnerin2004,Hollinghurstwritesaboutthe1980sandmoreparticularlyaboutThatcher’sBritainandtheonsetofHIV/AIDS.ItisthestoryofNickGuest,ayounggaymanfromamiddleclassbackground.Hemeetstheson(Toby)ofarisingToryMP(GeraldFedden)atOxfordandaftergraduatingmovesinwithToby’sfamilyasalodger.ThebackdropisLondonofthe1980s.NickmovesinglamorouscirclesandthelineofbeautygoesbacktoHogarth’ssshapedcurveinhisbook.ItrunsthroughthebookviaHenryJames,(Nickisstudyinghimatpost-gradlevel)tococaine;anotherbeautifullineinthebookandontotheconceptofbeautyinphysicalterms.ForNickthisismalebeauty.Againsttheglamourandthewealthisapoliticalbackdropoftheconservativesinpower.TheshadowofThatcherisneverfarawayasGeraldworkshardtoingratiatehimselfandgainpoliticalpower.Nick’ssexualityisalsototheforeaswefollowhimthroughtworelationships;withLeowhoisblackandworkingclassandWaniwhoisveryrichandLebanese.ThespectreofAIDSgraduallygrowsasthebookgoeson,althoughitdoesnotreallyaffecttheFedden’sandtheirpoliticalcircles,northesectionsoftheupperclasstheymixwith.It’sallbeautifullywrittenandHollinghurstcapturesanaspectofthecultureofthetimeverywell.Nickisanamiablenarratorwhoseemstodriftthroughthebookwithoutbeingtoogreatlyaffectedbyitall.Inevitablycomparisonshavebeenmadewithotherworks.IcanseethesimilaritiestoBridesheadRevisited,lesssotoMaurice.ThemoreobviouscomparisonistoPowell’sDancetotheMusicofTimeseries,butitdoesn’thavethescopeanddepthPowellgavetohisseries.Therewas,forme,hollownessatthecentre.Nickisamiable,butformehischaracterissummedupbyanincidentneartheendofthebook.Hegoesintoabarandseessomeonehehadarelationshipwithearlierinthebook.Thissomeoneisgaunt,veryill,anddyingofanAIDSrelatedillness.Nickavoidshimandmanagestoleavewithoutbeingseen.HemanagestodriftthroughthelivesoftheFedden’sandtheircirclewithfewmoralqualms.Idorememberthe80s;IwaslivinginthenorthofEngland,mostlyinworkingclassandminingareas;theToriesandThatcherweretheenemy.Itwasdifficulttoengagewithanyofthecharacters,apartfromLeo;butitdoescaptureaplaceandtime. ...more flag 63likes · Like  · seereview Viewall14comments Jul13,2014 Helle ratedit reallylikedit Shelves: 1001-books, books-i-own, english, guardian-1000-must-read Update:TheBBCWorldBookClubpodcastwithAlanHollinghurst,inwhichhetalksaboutthisnovel,isavailablenowathttp://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3csvtz0(andImakeabriefappearancewithaquestionabout42minutesintotheprogramme.JustFYI).(ReviewbelowfromOctober2014)Iwantedtosavoureverywordinthisnovel.Ialternatelydraggedoutthereadingexperiencetorelishthelanguage,andspedthroughsectionsbecauseIfeltgreedyandimpatientandwantedtoseewhatlinguisti Update:TheBBCWorldBookClubpodcastwithAlanHollinghurst,inwhichhetalksaboutthisnovel,isavailablenowathttp://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3csvtz0(andImakeabriefappearancewithaquestionabout42minutesintotheprogramme.JustFYI).(ReviewbelowfromOctober2014)Iwantedtosavoureverywordinthisnovel.Ialternatelydraggedoutthereadingexperiencetorelishthelanguage,andspedthroughsectionsbecauseIfeltgreedyandimpatientandwantedtoseewhatlinguisticmarvelsAlanHollinghurstcouldproducenext.Thestoryiscenteredroundanupper-middleclassfamilyinLondon,whosesonofthehouse,Toby,hasafriend,Nick,stayoveratthefamily’sposhKensingtonhome-asituationthatlastslongerthananyofthemhadexpectedandwhichhasconsequencesforall.Duringthissameperiod,Nickcannolongerignorehisownhomosexualityandbeginsaguilt-riddenyetthrillingexplorationofit.AsinTheSwimmingPoolLibraryandtheStranger’sChild,thereisn’t(inmyview)muchplotinTheLineofBeauty.Itislargelycomposedofscenesandsituations,asatireofrichpeopleandpoliticiansasexperiencedbytheprotagonistNickGuest,whoindeedfeelslikeaguestintheprivilegedliveshewitnessesbutneverquitebelongsto.Thenovelpaintsapictureofthe1980sandofThatcher’sBritainasseenfromtheperspectiveofayoungman,whocan’tquitefindhisfeetorasenseofpurposeinlife,andtowardstheenditalsobecomesastoryaboutAIDS.Thatsaid,thestorydidn’treallygetunderway,orbecomeinteresting,tomeuntilalmost300pagesintothebook,exactlytheoppositeofTheStranger’sChildwhereIlovedthefirstfewhundredpagesandthennotsomuchtherest.Hollinghursthastheuncannyabilitytoturnevenbase,humanemotionsintobeautiful,lyricalprosewhichtimeandagainmademestopandwonderathisincredibleskill.Butitisn’tjustthewords.Itisalsohisinsightintohumanpsychology,hisknowingnesswhenitcomestohumanstupidity,triumphsandpretensions,hisabilitytoobserveandnameeverylittletic,gestureandhiddenmeaningwhichconversationsinsocietyaresofullof.(WhereZadieSmithcapturesthecharacteristicsofsomeoftheconversationsbelongingtoLondon’sNW,Hollinghurstcapturesthoseoftheprivilegedclasses,andthesepartswereamazing–acomedyofmannersalmost).Tome,thisissomeofthemostbeautifulEnglishproseincontemporaryEnglishliterature.Andyet,atthesametime,thereisn’tasinglecharacterthatIreallyinvestedin.Especiallythemaincharacterfeltratheranemictome,patheticeven,inhisstrangeinsistenceonpolitenesswithoutintegrity,whichofcoursesetsofftheshallownessofsomeoftheothercharactersbutstillhadtheeffectthattherewasnoonetorootfor.I’mstillwonderingwhattheintendedeffectwasexactly.PerhapswhatIlovemostabouthisstyleishowitisthecompleteantithesistothemuch-praisedScandinavianminimalismthatIfeelsurroundedby(livinginDenmark),andforthataloneIapplaudhim.HollinghurstisinspiredbywriterslikeForsterandJames,whoseworkswerewrittenahundredyearsagoormore,andevenifIwasnotexactlybowledoverbyhisstory,thereweretimeswhereIalmostwantedtoweepattheexquisitenessofhisprose,hislinesofbeauty.(2-3starsforthestory,5starsforthelanguage,leavingmealittleabove3,5.Sodifficulttoratesometimes…) ...more flag 42likes · Like  · seereview Viewall9comments Oct13,2019 PeterBoyle ratedit reallylikedit Shelves: booker-winners TheLineofBeautybeatCloudAtlastowinthe2004BookerPrize.IfitwasdeemedamoredeservingrecipientthanDavidMitchell'smagnumopus,Ithoughttomyself,itmustbeworthreading.Anditisverygoodindeed.Thestorybeginsin1983.OurprotagonistNickGuestmovesintotheNottingHillhomeofGeraldFeddenMP,havingbefriendedhissonTobyatOxford.HeisgiventhejobofkeepingoneyeonCatherine,Toby'sunstablesister,andquicklybecomesamemberofthefamily.Comingfrom TheLineofBeautybeatCloudAtlastowinthe2004BookerPrize.IfitwasdeemedamoredeservingrecipientthanDavidMitchell'smagnumopus,Ithoughttomyself,itmustbeworthreading.Anditisverygoodindeed.Thestorybeginsin1983.OurprotagonistNickGuestmovesintotheNottingHillhomeofGeraldFeddenMP,havingbefriendedhissonTobyatOxford.HeisgiventhejobofkeepingoneyeonCatherine,Toby'sunstablesister,andquicklybecomesamemberofthefamily.Comingfromamuchhumblerbackground,Nickisthrilledathisinductiontohighsociety,attendinglavishpartiesandholidayingwiththeFeddensattheirFrenchmanoir.HealsoindulgesinLondon'sgayscene,losinghisvirginitytoaJamaicancouncilworkerandlustingafterWaniOuradi,awealthyLebaneseassociate.Asthedecademoveson,Nick'sfortunesbecomeentwinedwiththatoftheFeddens,andthereisanaggingfeelingthattheremaybeapricetopayforthislifeofdecadenceanddebauchery.Ilovedthebook'sportrayalofBritishlifein80s.TheConservativePartydominatedthepoliticallandscapeandMPslikeGeraldFeddenmusthavebelievedthatthegoodtimeswouldneverend.Thematerialismandgreedthatcharacterizedthisdecadeisdepictedbrilliantlyinthestory.MenlikeGeraldcanonlyfailupwards,whilehispeersviefortitlesandtheapprovaloftheLady,asThatcheriscommonlyreferredto.ForNick'sgeneration,lifeisaboutthepursuitofpleasure-sexanddrugsarehisownparticularvices.Ialsofoundthenovel'sdepictionofthegayscenequitefascinating.Homosexualitywasstillquiteataboosubjectbackthen.Nickbeginshisjourneythroughaninnocentlonelyheartscolumn.Ashegrowsmoreconfident,hefrequentsbathhousesandgaybars,andbytheendheknowswhichpublictoiletswillservetosatisfyhissexualappetite.HeconductsasecretrelationshipwithhiscrushWani,whoisengagedtoawoman.It'sallveryhush-hush-forWanithereisstillasenseofshameandguiltattachedtobeinggay.Andofcourse,thedarkshadowofAIDSeventuallytouchestheirlives.IfIhaveasmallcomplaint,it'sabouttheamountofdrugsandsexinthebook-itjustbecomesalittlewearisomeafterawhile.Butthereisstillsomuchtoenjoyhere.TheintelligenceandwitofHollinghurst'swritingisapleasuretobehold.Adazzlingandsharplyobservedodetothedecadeofexcess. ...more flag 42likes · Like  · seereview Viewall16comments Nov12,2019 Pedro ratedit itwasamazing  ·  reviewofanotheredition Shelves: wow-a-booker Thiswasn’tmyintroductiontoHollinghurst’swriting.SomeyearsagoIreadhisultra-boringbutbrilliantlywellwrittentome“TheStranger’sChild”.Becauseofthatfirstreadingexperiencemyexpectationswerenotexceptionallyhighforthisone,which,weallknow,canonlybeagoodthing.Anditwasagoodthingindeed.IfinishedthisbookfeelingtotallysmashedbythepowerandbeautyofHollinghurst’swritingskills.I’mnotgoingtogoroundandroundincircleswiththisreviewtryi Thiswasn’tmyintroductiontoHollinghurst’swriting.SomeyearsagoIreadhisultra-boringbutbrilliantlywellwrittentome“TheStranger’sChild”.Becauseofthatfirstreadingexperiencemyexpectationswerenotexceptionallyhighforthisone,which,weallknow,canonlybeagoodthing.Anditwasagoodthingindeed.IfinishedthisbookfeelingtotallysmashedbythepowerandbeautyofHollinghurst’swritingskills.I’mnotgoingtogoroundandroundincircleswiththisreviewtryingtoconvinceyoutoreadthis.IknowIdon’thavethewordsinmetodothisbookjustice.Ijustdon’t.Andperhapsnoonedoes.Thewriting,thecharacters,thestunningimagery,theeighties,sex,love,money,power,betrayal,lossandhope.Yes,there’sdefinitelyalineofbeautyrunningthroughthesepages,andbeautyisnotsomethingthatcanbedescribed,ithastobeexperienced.Astrongfourstarreadallalong,boosteduptofivestarsbecauseofthatunforgettableending.Stunning.Idon’tusuallywearahatbutifIdidI’ddefinitelytakeitofftoyouMrHollinghurst. ...more flag 38likes · Like  · seereview Viewall18comments May06,2008 Kimberly ratedit itwasok BeForewarned.Thiswell-writtensocietycritiqueandwinnerofthe2004ManBookerprizewillborethepantsoffyouunlessyouaredeeplyinterestedinclassstruggle,gayness,politics,ethnicity,andAIDs,(theintersectionof)inEnglandinthemid-to-late80s.Oh,andantiques.Talkaboutaniche!ItwasoneoftwobooksIbroughtonmy20hourflighttoSingapore,whereIwasplanningonenjoying,atlonglast,sometimetomyselftoread.About50pagesintoit,mymindcried,"Noooooo"a BeForewarned.Thiswell-writtensocietycritiqueandwinnerofthe2004ManBookerprizewillborethepantsoffyouunlessyouaredeeplyinterestedinclassstruggle,gayness,politics,ethnicity,andAIDs,(theintersectionof)inEnglandinthemid-to-late80s.Oh,andantiques.Talkaboutaniche!ItwasoneoftwobooksIbroughtonmy20hourflighttoSingapore,whereIwasplanningonenjoying,atlonglast,sometimetomyselftoread.About50pagesintoit,mymindcried,"Noooooo"andIwasresignedtowatchingthefullcatalogofinternationalTVcomedies(HumPaanch,anyone?)onSingaporeAirline'sTVondemand.Thanksalot,ManBookerPrizecommittee! ...more flag 38likes · Like  · seereview Viewall5comments Jun29,2019 Laura ratedit didnotlikeit Shelves: paul-s-reviews, contemporary-british, booker, men OK-that'sit.Boredbeyondbelief.IthinkthefinalcincherwasthisdescriptionofGeraldFedden-toryMPfromtheearly80sThatcherera.Geraldcamedowninadarksuitwithcharacteristicpinkshirt,whitecollarandbluetie.Heseemedtorecognize,withaforgivingsmilethathehadsetasartorialstandardtheotherswereunlikelytorecognize.BookerPrizeWinner-2004.Jeez!Thewritingstyleisdense,althoughtherearesomeexcellentconversations-forexamplebetweenLeoandNick OK-that'sit.Boredbeyondbelief.IthinkthefinalcincherwasthisdescriptionofGeraldFedden-toryMPfromtheearly80sThatcherera.Geraldcamedowninadarksuitwithcharacteristicpinkshirt,whitecollarandbluetie.Heseemedtorecognize,withaforgivingsmilethathehadsetasartorialstandardtheotherswereunlikelytorecognize.BookerPrizeWinner-2004.Jeez!Thewritingstyleisdense,althoughtherearesomeexcellentconversations-forexamplebetweenLeoandNickandPeteinPete'santiqueshopinthePortobelloRoad-lotsofnuancedjostlingforclassversusexperienceoflifeasagayman.Butatthesametime-Hollinghurstisconstantlypackingendlessmarkers-everysingleitemintheKensingtonParkGardenshouse,orinHawkeswood-homeofLordKessler-iscrammedintothestoryline,weightingitlikelead.There'snoplot-justincrediblystiltedsceneswithLadyPartridgeandMPs-severalJaneAustentypeinteriorsinthefirstfourchapters,jarringlydullconversationandNickwanderingaround.Austenatleasthasdynamicplots.Andthetwogirlleads-CatharineandSophie;theyareaduoPinocchioact.Hollinghurstclearlyhasn'taclueaboutthefemalepsyche,orhasneverbotheredtostudygirls.Tryanothersentence:AndthentherewasthesheerbadtasteofapplyingthehighmetaphysicallanguageofWagnertothebanalitiesofbourgeoislife,anabsurdityStraussseemedonlyintermittentlyawareof!NickandGeraldarelisteningtoaRadio3typecommentaryonapiecebyStrauss-whichGeraldlikesandissupposedtoillustratehispoorquality,flamboyanttasteandmeanwhileNickargueswithhiminanunderdogmanner,usinghisOxfordeducationtopoopooGerald'smusicknowledge.It'squiteafunnypiece-butwhowantstowadethroughsentencesliketheabove.Ifeelasifthewriter-isbeingtoocareful-skillfullyrecreatingthestiffupperclasswithitspompousmixofpoliticiansandlandedgentry,plustediousWorcestergrads,butfailingtomovethenarrativealong.Therealstoryisdrownedinthedetailsofthesedeplorablepeople-weneedsomuchlessofthem.Ifelthewantedtomakeasocial,orbetter,apoliticalstatementforhisbooktobetakenseriouslyandthenheslidinthetopicshereallywantedtowriteabout-suchas-howitistobeagayman.Thereareerotic,convincingsexscenes;lotsofstuffaboutthedifficultyofyounglove;negotiatingyourwaythroughthetrickytrapsofdating-thisisinteresting.IknowNickendsupinarelationshipwiththeinternationalrichboyWaniOuradi,andweneedtounderstandhowNickriseseffortlesslyintotheseechelonsofprivilege,hencethedetailedsocialdynamicsbutIcouldn'tcareabouteitherofthem.IwasyawningoverWani'sheavilyfringed,darkeyes,andArabicrefinement;hisToy-Boylife-style-Icouldn'tgiveatoss.PerhapsHollinghurstwasattemptingaGreatGatsby-afascinationwiththeultra-richsortoftale,setin80sLondon.Ifmostofthecharactersaretedious,yousimplyhaveatediouslydullbook.IsupposetheBookerpanelawardedtheprizeonthemeritofHollinghurst'sfinelyconvolutedsentences,sophisticatedvocab,andfly'seyeviewoftheseriouslyrich?Ormaybetheyjustwantedtohonourthe80s;orthesubplotaboutAIDs?Orjustastatementasto-we'reveryenlightenedandopen-mindedandwanttoshowit!Yah! ...more flag 31likes · Like  · seereview Viewall7comments May25,2011 K.D.Absolutely ratedit likedit RecommendedtoK.D.by: 1001BooksYouMustReadBeforeYouDie(2008-2010) Shelves: 1001-non-core, gay-lit, booker, sex AlanHollinghurst’sproseissimplybeautiful.HiswordsmakemademebreathlessevenifhismilieuissomethingthatIamnotveryfamiliarwith:Londonintheeighties.HisproseissobeautifulthatIfeltthatIwouldneverbeabletowriteanovelmyself.HollinghurstislikeagodintheOlympusandIamjustamortalslaveandIamnotevenworthytokissthegroundhestepson.Itissobeautiful,Ifeltlikeputtingitatthealtarstareatpraythatitwouldinspiremetocontinuewrit AlanHollinghurst’sproseissimplybeautiful.HiswordsmakemademebreathlessevenifhismilieuissomethingthatIamnotveryfamiliarwith:Londonintheeighties.HisproseissobeautifulthatIfeltthatIwouldneverbeabletowriteanovelmyself.HollinghurstislikeagodintheOlympusandIamjustamortalslaveandIamnotevenworthytokissthegroundhestepson.Itissobeautiful,IfeltlikeputtingitatthealtarstareatpraythatitwouldinspiremetocontinuewritingthatlittlenovelthatIhavestartedwritingafterattendinganovel-writingworkshopthreemonthsago.LineofBeautyisa2004BookerPrize-winningnovelbyAlanHollinghurst.Itisaboutgaymen,mostofthemrich,inThatcheriteBritainintheearlytomid-80’s.Itisthefirstgay-themedbookthatwontheBooker.BasedonWiki,thecompositionofthepanelofjudgeschangeseveryyearsomaybeitsmemberswerepredominantlygaysduringthatyearsince2(theotherwasColmToibin’sTheMaster)ofthe6finalist-booksaregay-themedandthisonewonoverthestylist–andmyfavorite–DavidMitchell’sCloudAtlas.Priortoreading“Beauty”,Ialreadyread“Cloud”and“TheMaster”andbothgavethem4stars.Ilikedthebrilliantstructureof“Cloud”andtheetherealproseof“TheMaster”andtheydidnotpreparemetothefactthatthereisstillabetterbookthanthemandthatisthisHollinghurstbook.IagreewiththeBookerjurors.LineofBeautyistautandcohesive.Itisneitherpretentiousnorself-serving.Ittellsthestoryflawlesslylikethereisnostoryworthtellingthanthoseofthecharactersinit.Theplotisfocused,crystal-clearinsharpnessthatitisilluminatingandmesmerizing.IttellsthestoryofNickGuesta21-y/ovirgingaywhojustgraduatedfromOxfordandiscurrentlyworkingonhisanalysisofHenryJamesworksforhismasteraldegree.(Interestingly,Toibin’sfinalistbook,“TheMaster”istheretellingoftheearlypartofHenryJames’life.)NickisinvitedbyhisfellowOxfordgraduateandsecretcrush,astraightman,TobytostayintheatticoftheirbeautifulLondonupperclasshouse.TobystillliveswiththerestoftheFeddens:hisfatherGerald,motherRachelandhisbi-polarsisterCatherine.Whatfollowsisthe4-5yearawakeningofNickfromthenaïveandalmostcluelessOxfordgraduatetosomebodywho’sawareofwhat’sgoingoninhissurroundings.HeendsuplookingatthestarkrealitiesofLondon’slifeinthe80s:beinggayandrelativelypooramidstthehighlymaterialisticandgenerallyhomophobicLondonupper-classsociety.AllthesepunctuatedbytheemergingthreatofAIDSthatspreadlikewildfireinthe80’sinallcountriesandlevelsofsociety.ItwillbeoutrightdishonestyifIsaythatIreallylikedthisbookbecauseofitsgaytheme.Thehomosexualactsarejusttoomuchformytaste.However,IamnotfamiliarwiththesexlivesofgaypeopleandIdon’thaveanyideahowfrequentanaveragegaymangetslaidorneedstogetlaidforhimtohaveasexuallyfulfillinglife.IamnotsureifHollinghurstonlywantstoprojectanhonest-to-goodnessportrayalofthelivesofgaymenintheLondoninthe80’sbutthelanguageheusedinthisnovelcouldbetoomuchforsomereaders.ItwasabitshockingformeconsideringthatthisisaBookerwinner.However,ifyoulookoverthissupposedly“honest”languageandportrayalandfocusontheprose,theme,plotandcharacterdevelopment,youwillseethebeautyinthenovelasawhole.Iamjustnotsureaboutthemetaphorofthedouble“S”beingtheso-called“lineofbeauty”sinceIhavenotseen–notthatIamlooking–amanwiththatcurveallmylife.ThankstoAngusforbeingmybuddyreadforthisbook.Yourock,Eng-ghez! ...more flag 29likes · Like  · seereview Viewall32comments Jul11,2007 Yulia ratedit itwasamazing Shelves: gay-lit AnunusuallypowerfulanddeservingwinneroftheManBookPrize,thisisoneofthefewbooksthattookmeoverayeartoread,notbecauseitwaseverboringorsluggish,butbecauseeachsentencewassobeautiful,Iwantedtogiveeverypassageitsdueattention.Irarelysaysuchthingsaboutbooks,soHollinghurstmustbeamagicianorahypnotist.Asittookmesolongtoread,IspentanembarrassingamountoftimerepeatingtopeoplewhoaskedmewhatIwasreadingthatitwasLineofBe AnunusuallypowerfulanddeservingwinneroftheManBookPrize,thisisoneofthefewbooksthattookmeoverayeartoread,notbecauseitwaseverboringorsluggish,butbecauseeachsentencewassobeautiful,Iwantedtogiveeverypassageitsdueattention.Irarelysaysuchthingsaboutbooks,soHollinghurstmustbeamagicianorahypnotist.Asittookmesolongtoread,IspentanembarrassingamountoftimerepeatingtopeoplewhoaskedmewhatIwasreadingthatitwasLineofBeauty,aboutayounghomosexualduringThatcher's80sEngland,stayingathisstraightfriend'shome,makingalifeforhimselfafterOxford,andthattheyjusthadtoreadit.Infact,afterI'dcaughtmyselfrecommendingittohimforthesecondoreventhirdtime,mydoctornolongerasksmewhatI'mreading:hemustthinkIactuallydon'treadmanybooksafterallorthatIhaveasecretagendatogethimtocomeoutofthecloset.Mybrothersaidit'dbeendonebefore,thestoryofascholarshipstudentinaworldhedoesn'tbelongin.Butthisisn'tjustaboutamiddle-classboyintherarefiedworldofOxford,aservantamonglords,ahomosexualina"straight"family,aliberalamongconservatives,oryoungadultsfindingtheharshnessofrealityafterthecollegecocoon.Hollinghurst'ssocialwitgentlyrevealstheabsurdityineachoneofhischaracters.Hollinghurstisaboveallahumaneandempatheticauthor,notawriterofBritishmannersorawriterofgayliterature.ThattheBookercommitteeawardedhimtheirprizemakesmeforgivethemforeveryhorrendousmistakethey'vemadeintheyearssince.Sometimes,theydogetitright(astheydidwithCoetzee). ...more flag 29likes · Like  · seereview Viewall5comments Sep21,2015 Maxwell ratedit likedit  ·  reviewofanotheredition 3.5starsAreallymasterfulnovel,thoughnotonethatI'dsayIalwaysparticularlyenjoyed.Thedraggingmiddlewasbook-endedbysomewonderfullyflagrantandemotionalmoments.IespeciallylovedhowHollinghurstwasabletostirupsoemotioninthefinalscenes.Ittouchesonpublicandprivateselves,love,beauty,allrathergrandiosethemes,inastartlinglyhumorousanddown-to-earthmanner. 3.5starsAreallymasterfulnovel,thoughnotonethatI'dsayIalwaysparticularlyenjoyed.Thedraggingmiddlewasbook-endedbysomewonderfullyflagrantandemotionalmoments.IespeciallylovedhowHollinghurstwasabletostirupsoemotioninthefinalscenes.Ittouchesonpublicandprivateselves,love,beauty,allrathergrandiosethemes,inastartlinglyhumorousanddown-to-earthmanner. ...more flag 25likes · Like  · seereview Aug19,2016 ClaireFuller ratedit itwasamazing Shelves: read-in-2016 Ittookmealittlewhiletogetintothisbook,butwhenIdid,Icouldn'tstop.ForalittlewhileIcouldn'tseewhatthepointofthestorywas.The1980sandespeciallyConservativepoliticians,andrichfamiliesweren'tsomethingthatIthoughtinterestedme,butalthoughthat'sthedecadethisbookissetin,andthat'sthebackdroptowhathappens,itisn'taboutthatatall.It'saboutthinkingthatyouareacceptedandwelcomed,andthensuddenlythosethatyouthoughtlovedyou,turni Ittookmealittlewhiletogetintothisbook,butwhenIdid,Icouldn'tstop.ForalittlewhileIcouldn'tseewhatthepointofthestorywas.The1980sandespeciallyConservativepoliticians,andrichfamiliesweren'tsomethingthatIthoughtinterestedme,butalthoughthat'sthedecadethisbookissetin,andthat'sthebackdroptowhathappens,itisn'taboutthatatall.It'saboutthinkingthatyouareacceptedandwelcomed,andthensuddenlythosethatyouthoughtlovedyou,turningandsuddenlyyoucanseethemforwhattheyare.Hollinghurst'slanguageisbeautiful-nearlyeverylineisatreat-andhiswritingsosubtlethatheletsthereaderworkthingsoutallbythemselves.Wonderfulstuff.www.clairefuller.co.uk ...more flag 20likes · Like  · seereview Viewall3comments Feb28,2008 David ratedit itwasamazing ThegayGreatGatsbyinThacher'sEngland.Also,thebestbookI'vereadinyears. ThegayGreatGatsbyinThacher'sEngland.Also,thebestbookI'vereadinyears. ...more flag 20likes · Like  · seereview Jan07,2016 BrittaBöhler ratedit likedit  ·  reviewofanotheredition Shelves: fiction, 2016 Ifinditdifficulttorateandreviewthisbook.ThereareaspectsIthoroughlyenjoyed(thethemes,thewriting,thewit)andothersthatIdislikedequallystrongly:thepacing,thecliché-characters;noteventhemaincharacter,Nick,comealiveforme,hestayedblandandsomewhataloof.Despitethesenegativeaspects,thebookprovidedaninsightfulviewonthepoliticsoftheThatcher-years,and(moreimportantlyformepersonally)itbroughtbackthe'beginning'ofAIDSintheearlyand Ifinditdifficulttorateandreviewthisbook.ThereareaspectsIthoroughlyenjoyed(thethemes,thewriting,thewit)andothersthatIdislikedequallystrongly:thepacing,thecliché-characters;noteventhemaincharacter,Nick,comealiveforme,hestayedblandandsomewhataloof.Despitethesenegativeaspects,thebookprovidedaninsightfulviewonthepoliticsoftheThatcher-years,and(moreimportantlyformepersonally)itbroughtbackthe'beginning'ofAIDSintheearlyandmid-eighties.Irememberthattimevividly,thefirstarticlesappearinginthepopularpressinwhichthenewdiseasewasdubbed'gay-cancer'&thefirstofmyfriendsgettingillanddying.Forthoseinterestedinthesetopicsthebookiscertainlyworthwile. ...more flag 18likes · Like  · seereview Apr29,2016 RogerBrunyate ratedit reallylikedit Shelves: gay-lesbian  Maggie,Charlie,andtheBoysTheeffusivepresscommentsquotedonthecoverandflyleafofthepaperbackeditionofAlanHollinghurst'sTheLineofBeautyaretotallycorrectineverythingtheyactuallysay;theymerelyfailtomentiononeofthemostimportantaspectsofthebook.HollinghurstwritesbrilliantlyaboutlifeamongthemoversandshakersofMargaretThatcher'sLondonintheearly1980s.Hisabilitytoportrayhischaracters,asonecriticputsit,"fromjustaninchtotheleft"  Maggie,Charlie,andtheBoysTheeffusivepresscommentsquotedonthecoverandflyleafofthepaperbackeditionofAlanHollinghurst'sTheLineofBeautyaretotallycorrectineverythingtheyactuallysay;theymerelyfailtomentiononeofthemostimportantaspectsofthebook.HollinghurstwritesbrilliantlyaboutlifeamongthemoversandshakersofMargaretThatcher'sLondonintheearly1980s.Hisabilitytoportrayhischaracters,asonecriticputsit,"fromjustaninchtotheleft"ofhowtheywouldseethemselvesismasterly,andtheresultissomethingliketheportraitsofGoya,aflatteringlikenesswithjustahintofsatire.Hollinghursthasperfectpitchwhenitcomestothesocialsensibilitiesandsmallhypocrisiesofthewell-bred.AsaliterarydescendantofTrollope,James,andForster,heisawell-deservedwinnerofthe2004ManBookerPrizeforFiction.Butnoneofthereviewsquotedinthebookmentionthegaysex,whichispervasiveandoftenexplicitlyphysical.Byportrayingthenarratorofthebook,NickGuest,asagaymaninanostensiblystraightworld,Hollinghurstachievesanobliqueangleonthepeopleheobserves,movingconsiderablymorethananinchfromtheaxisonwhichtheywouldideallyseethemselves.Theglamorouslifeisglimpsedthroughaforegroundthatstraightreadersmightfindfarfromglamorous,especiallywhenitdealswithbodilyinteractions.Ultimately,thisbecomesessentialtotheplot,butforalongtimeitseemsmerelyanauthorialdevice.Itisdifficulttoknowwhethertheauthorseestheseelementsasaheighteningofthesexualcharge,orwhethertheyaredeliberatelyintroducedasanantidotetoromanticism,andasmuchanemblemofdecadenceastheincreasinglyfrequentuseof"charlie"(cocaine)bythenarratorandhisfriends.Certainly,thesecrecypracticedbyothercharactersinthestorywhohavenotcomeoutasNickhasdone,doesseemtopointupthefalsityoftheworldinwhichtheycannotadmittheirpreferences.NotthatNickneedsthedifferenceinsexualitytogivehimdetachment.Heispresentedasatalentedboyfromamiddle-classbackgroundwhohasmadesomeupper-crustfriendswhileatOxford,sobecomesakindofpermanentguestintheirlivesaftercollege.[Thishasmuchincommonwithmyownbackground,anditwasacuriousexperiencetofindoneofmyownOxbridgefriendsofthiskind,notnamedbutclearlyidentifiable,appearingasaminorcharacterinthebook!]WhileNickisclearlythrilledtohavebeenadoptedintothisworld,heremainssubtlyanoutsider,butwithanacutenessofperceptiontocompensateforhislackofbelonging.HissocialpositionisnotsoverydifferentfromthatofKazuoIshiguro'sherointhefirstpartof WhenWeWereOrphans —apeculiarlyEnglishawkwardnesswhichbothwriterscaptureverywell.Thetitle,TheLineofBeauty,comesfromHogarth,andreferstotheparticulareleganceofanogivaldouble-curve.ItisemblematicofthegenuineaestheticunderstandingthatisNick'smostappealingqualityforthisparticularreader;thepassagestalkingaboutart,literature,andmusicareperceptiveandbeautifullywritten.Butartisalsoseenastheprovinceoftherich,whocanafforditbutdon'tnecessarilyappreciateit.Asthebookgoeson,thereisincreasingemphasisonartobjectsinamanneristorrococophase,seensurelyassymbolsofdecadence,whereartis"justmake-believeforrichpeople,"asoneofthecharacterssays.Butthephrasealsostandsforthatfatallineofattractionthatleadsfromoneloveobjecttoanother,ortowardssomeidealofthebeautifullife,thatcomescrashingdownonthecharacters'headsattheendofthissocialcomedywhichturnsouttohavebeenatragedyafterall. ...more flag 17likes · Like  · seereview Viewall5comments Jul30,2013 Zanna ratedit likedit  ·  reviewofanotheredition Shelves: grsm-lgbtqia Hollinghurst'sgayprotagonist,NickGuest,moreorlessingenuouslyfollowshissexualandaestheticinclinations,whichleadhim,somewhatincongruously,intothehouseofToryMPGeraldFedden,thearmsofaLebanesemillionaire'sson,andfinallypersonaldisasterandtragedy.ThethinthreadthatbindsandshapesNick'smuddlingwaythroughhislifeisbeauty,andhistrajectoryisinawayatestofitsstrengthandworth.Hollinghurstholdsupforusthethinnessofbeautyandthefoolish Hollinghurst'sgayprotagonist,NickGuest,moreorlessingenuouslyfollowshissexualandaestheticinclinations,whichleadhim,somewhatincongruously,intothehouseofToryMPGeraldFedden,thearmsofaLebanesemillionaire'sson,andfinallypersonaldisasterandtragedy.ThethinthreadthatbindsandshapesNick'smuddlingwaythroughhislifeisbeauty,andhistrajectoryisinawayatestofitsstrengthandworth.Hollinghurstholdsupforusthethinnessofbeautyandthefoolishnessofitsworship,yetwhenNick'sostensiblyhollowcollaborationwithshallow,materialistic,philistineWanicomestounexpectedglorious(butlimited)fruitionweareinvitedtoreconsider.Beautyisaheartlessgod,thebookadmits,butimpossibletodeny.Andsometimesthosewhostruggleandsufferinitsservicearerichlyrewarded...I'vehadasomediscussionswithanartistwhobelievesthatbeautyisaconceptthatshouldnotbeappliedtopeopleatall.IsaidIcan'tdenythe'tinglinginthespine'inducedbybeautyandsheresponded'it'snotanyone'spurposetomakeyourspinetingle'.Itotallyagreewiththat-butIstillcan'tstopmyvisceralresponsetoandpleasureinbeauty,whetherI'mlookingatasunsetoraperson.Theconversationpromptedmetothinkhardaboutthis,andtoseehowpersonalbeautybeinginstrumentalisedhasaregressiveeffect,reinforcinghierarchiesandlayersofoppression.Ontheotherhand,ifbeautyisvisceralandinextricablyrelatedtopositiveidentificationandsympathy,weneedtoworkhardtopulltheenculturedhierarchiesfromit.I'mthinkingmorenowaboutdismantlingthewhitenessofbeauty,theyouthfulnessandthinnessofbeauty,allofwhicharearbritraryandexistbecausetheyservewhitesupremacistcapitalistpatriarchy.Decapitalisebeauty!ButI'mstillworkingouthowtoframethisissueandhowtoreconstructmyappreciation.Here,structuresofclassandheterosexismpervaderelationships,butHollinghurstonlyofferstheminthewayFitzgeraldoffersimagesofanunwholesomelifestylehecan'tescape.Thereislittleinterrogation.AndasinFitzgerald,there'snoredemption.Thecharactersherearedelicatelydrawn,neverrenderedwithoutcolourandshade,andNickhimselfshareshiscreator'sinsightandempathyforothers.Ihaddeepsympathyforthissoul,andfeltamixtureofadmirationanddisapproval! ...more flag 19likes · Like  · seereview Viewall10comments Aug31,2007 Shanley ratedit didnotlikeit Finallyfinished...theplotstartedtopickup-orrather,theauthorfoundtheplot-inthelastthirdofthebookorso,butthatwas300+pagesin.Painful.Thewritingwassupposedtobylyricalandgraceful,butitwasjustlong-windedandpoorlyexecuted.Forbeautifulprose,thisbooktriesbutdoesnothitthemark.Theauthorneededabettereditor,onewholovesthedeletekey.ItmaybebecauseIhavebeenreadingthisbooksporadicallyoverthepastyearormore,butattheendoft Finallyfinished...theplotstartedtopickup-orrather,theauthorfoundtheplot-inthelastthirdofthebookorso,butthatwas300+pagesin.Painful.Thewritingwassupposedtobylyricalandgraceful,butitwasjustlong-windedandpoorlyexecuted.Forbeautifulprose,thisbooktriesbutdoesnothitthemark.Theauthorneededabettereditor,onewholovesthedeletekey.ItmaybebecauseIhavebeenreadingthisbooksporadicallyoverthepastyearormore,butattheendofthestorytherewerejusttoomanycharactersandtoomuchpersonalhistorytokeeptrackof,andthestorylostsomeofitseffectbecauseIcouldn'trememberwhopeoplewereorwhysomethingwassignificant.IhavenoideawhythisbookwontheManBookerprize.Thejudgingcommitteemusthavebeenhorny(there'sagoodgaysexscene)orhigh(alotofcocaineconsumedthroughoutthebook)....Havingatoughtimegettingthroughthisone.Thewritingisn'tspeakingtome,thestoryisdisjointedandthecharactersdon'tseemrealenoughtome.Finishingthisbookislikeforcingdowntherestofthevegetablesyoudon'tlike.Goingslowlyandinshortspurts. ...more flag 16likes · Like  · seereview Oct31,2012 JohnAnthony ratedit reallylikedit Shelves: fiction Ienjoyedthisdespitefindingthemajorityofthecharactersodious,particularlyNick,thecentralcharacter.Themainexceptionisthenonconforming(mustthereforebemad!)Catherine,daughterofGerald...SetinthemiddleofThatcher'sBritain(theBlessedMmakesacameoappearance!)itcaptureswellformethefeeling/un-feelingofthetimes.MuchofitissetinupmarketLondon(NottingHill)whereripeninglygayNickislodginginrisingTorystarGerald'scloset.[Gisn'tgaybutNickso Ienjoyedthisdespitefindingthemajorityofthecharactersodious,particularlyNick,thecentralcharacter.Themainexceptionisthenonconforming(mustthereforebemad!)Catherine,daughterofGerald...SetinthemiddleofThatcher'sBritain(theBlessedMmakesacameoappearance!)itcaptureswellformethefeeling/un-feelingofthetimes.MuchofitissetinupmarketLondon(NottingHill)whereripeninglygayNickislodginginrisingTorystarGerald'scloset.[Gisn'tgaybutNicksortofsmouldersafterToby,G'ssonandNick'soldschoolfriend]Everyoneisscrewingeveryoneelse,sometimesinthemostunlikelyofplaces.Inthebackgroundtheminersarestriking,andothersaremarching/carnivallingbutthebubble'sabouttoburst..forsome,anyway.Inspiredandmovingandstrangelypoeticinplaces. ...more flag 15likes · Like  · seereview Viewall6comments Jan05,2016 Giulia addedit  ·  reviewofanotheredition Shelves: fiction, contemporary-fiction, read-in-2016, manbooker-prize-winners DNFataboutpg228.TheLineofBeautyisactuallythefirstbookIdon'tfinish.Itisabittersweetfeeling,butIamquitehappywithmydecisionandIfeelabsolutelyrelieved.IalwayspressuremyselftofinishthebookevenifIdon'tlikeitandsuch.However,Idon'tthinkthatisthebestapproachtoreading.Weshouldbeabletodowhatwewanttodo.Wedon'tlikeabookanddon'twanttoreachtheend?Fine.Dowewanttopushourselvestillthelastpage?Doit.Therearesomanybook DNFataboutpg228.TheLineofBeautyisactuallythefirstbookIdon'tfinish.Itisabittersweetfeeling,butIamquitehappywithmydecisionandIfeelabsolutelyrelieved.IalwayspressuremyselftofinishthebookevenifIdon'tlikeitandsuch.However,Idon'tthinkthatisthebestapproachtoreading.Weshouldbeabletodowhatwewanttodo.Wedon'tlikeabookanddon'twanttoreachtheend?Fine.Dowewanttopushourselvestillthelastpage?Doit.Therearesomanybooksandsolittletime,right?Let'snotwastetimeonbooksthatarenotworthourtime.Fordifferentandsubjectivereasons,obviously.Thisiscomingfromme,whonevermanagedtostopherselffromfinishabook.Thisbook,atthebeginning,reallytookmyinterest.Iwasinterestedinthecharacters'backgroundandthestorywasnotsomethingIhadreadbefore.IlikeditandIwaseagertocontinue.Then,Ipausedmyreadingbecauseofuniexams.AfewweekslaterIdreadre-openingthebook.Istartedandfinishedotherones,IevencalledmylibrarytopostponethedatewhereIshouldhavebroughtitback.Ifeltguilty.And,insomeway,Istillfeelguilty.IfeellikeIshouldapologizetotheauthor,tothecharacters,tothestoryandtothephysicalbookitself.But,then,IthinkaboutallthereadersandallthebooksoutthereandIrealizehowsmallofadifferenceImake.Yes,IpersonallywouldhavelikedtofinishitbutIcouldn'tbringmyselftodoit.Noonewillnotice,onlyme,myselfandI.IamtheonlyonewhoisjudgingmyDNF.Iamtheonlyonewhoreadsmybooks,nooneelsedoesitforme.Ishould(andhaveto)dowhatitfeelsrighttodoformyselfatthemoment.Anddonotfinishthisbookthistime,maybeit'llbeforanothertime.Ijustdidn'tfeelaconnectionrightnow.Ifyoureadmylongrant,thankyouandIamwonderingifyouhaveeverfeltthesamepressureoveryourselftoo.IsitdifficultforyoutoDNFornot? ...more flag 14likes · Like  · seereview Viewall3comments Aug18,2015 Doug ratedit itwasamazing IbelieveImighthavereadthiswhenitfirstcameout(ormaybeIamrememberingtheBBCadaptation),butifanything,thedecadesinceitspublicationhasonlyenrichedtheexperienceevenmore.A'BridesheadRevisited'fortheThatcherera,itcontainssomeofthemostexquisiteproseinamodernbook.HavingbeenmorethanalittledisappointedinthemostrecentBookerPrizerecipients,itisnicetoreadsomethingtrulyworthyofthathonor.IamgoingtohavetogobackandreadHollings IbelieveImighthavereadthiswhenitfirstcameout(ormaybeIamrememberingtheBBCadaptation),butifanything,thedecadesinceitspublicationhasonlyenrichedtheexperienceevenmore.A'BridesheadRevisited'fortheThatcherera,itcontainssomeofthemostexquisiteproseinamodernbook.HavingbeenmorethanalittledisappointedinthemostrecentBookerPrizerecipients,itisnicetoreadsomethingtrulyworthyofthathonor.IamgoingtohavetogobackandreadHollingshurst'sothernovelsnow.PS...afterfinishingthis,Ididgobackandre-watchtheBBCadaptation...eventhoughitisprettygoodinitsownright,itisnotnearlyasgoodasthebook(butthen,fewfilmversionsare)...particularlyinterestingincontainingthefirstmajorrolesforbothDanStevensandHayleyAtwell!) ...more flag 14likes · Like  · seereview View1comment Jul16,2008 Julie ratedit likedit Shelves: contemporary-fiction, british-isles-theme-setting I'mmixedonthisone.Thecharactersarebeautifullycrafted,theera(1980sLondon)isbrilliantlycapturedandthestorywelltold-withatwistthatchangesthelanguidtotheanguished.ItwasallveryHenryJamesandImeanthatwiththegreatestrespect.IthinkwhatIstruggledwithistheutterdepravityanddespicabilityofthesepeople-thepointlessnessoftheirprivileged,selfishlives.Thesexwasn'tshockingbutitdidgettiresome-I'dratherhavelearnedmoreaboutthefamilies. I'mmixedonthisone.Thecharactersarebeautifullycrafted,theera(1980sLondon)isbrilliantlycapturedandthestorywelltold-withatwistthatchangesthelanguidtotheanguished.ItwasallveryHenryJamesandImeanthatwiththegreatestrespect.IthinkwhatIstruggledwithistheutterdepravityanddespicabilityofthesepeople-thepointlessnessoftheirprivileged,selfishlives.Thesexwasn'tshockingbutitdidgettiresome-I'dratherhavelearnedmoreaboutthefamilies.Butallinallafascinatingreturntothegaysexualrevolutionoftheearly80s,theadventofAIDS,thecocaine-sniffinggreedoftheThatchereraandthebeginningoftheendofapoliticalcareer. ...more flag 14likes · Like  · seereview Sep06,2008 Brad ratedit likedit Shelves: booker-prize 2004.AnotherBookerPrizeWinnerIlikedbutcouldn'tlove.Anotheryearwhenthewinnerwaslessimpressivethanthoseitbeat.Andnowitis2011andAlanHollinghurst'snewbookTheStranger'sChildhasbeenlonglistedforthisyear'sprizeandalreadyhe'sthebookmakers'picktowin.Heprobablywill,andmaybethistimehe'lldeserveit.That'snotfairofme,though.It'snotlikeTheLineofBeautywasabadbook.Ienjoyeditwellenough.Thecharacterswereengaging(Iespeciallyliked 2004.AnotherBookerPrizeWinnerIlikedbutcouldn'tlove.Anotheryearwhenthewinnerwaslessimpressivethanthoseitbeat.Andnowitis2011andAlanHollinghurst'snewbookTheStranger'sChildhasbeenlonglistedforthisyear'sprizeandalreadyhe'sthebookmakers'picktowin.Heprobablywill,andmaybethistimehe'lldeserveit.That'snotfairofme,though.It'snotlikeTheLineofBeautywasabadbook.Ienjoyeditwellenough.Thecharacterswereengaging(IespeciallylikedCatherine).HollinghurstwasfairlyhonestabouthisdebttoEvelynWaughandothers.Itdealtwithoneofmyfavouritethemes--homosexuality--inanhonestandwelcomingmannerwithminimumnostalgia.AndIamalwaysasuckerfortheeighties,havingbeenateenmyselfatthetime.Butevenwithallofthosepositives,TheLineofBeautynevertranscendedthebetterthanaverageforme.IhadtroublecaringabouttheFeddens(exceptCatherine),andIdidn'tgiveadamnabouttheirtroubles.IspentmuchofthetimewishingIwasrereadingBridesheadRevisited--anotherbook,oddlyenough,thatIfindonlybetterthanaverage(thereismuchbetterWaughtoread)--andwonderingwhotheBBCwasgoingtocastwhentheygotaroundtomakingthebook(whichtheydid,asIknewtheywould).Butworstofall,IneverreallylikedNick.Ifoundhimpathetic,tobehonest,andeventhoughIfeltthatHollinghurstpurposelypresentedhimasunsympathetic,Icouldn'tmakemyselfgoalongfortheride.Ohwell,evenifIcouldn'tloveit,Ididlikeit.Irecommendittoanyonewholikesqualitywriting,genderstudies,booksabouttheEnglishuppercrust,oraliteraryqualitybeachread.Still,IhopeHollinghurst'snewoneisbetter.Hisreputationhas,sofar,eclipsedhisoutput--atleastforme. ...more flag 13likes · Like  · seereview Viewall7comments Sep16,2008 Eric ratedit itwasamazing  ·  reviewofanotheredition Shelves: ficciones Excellentineveryrespect.Readingthis,Ioftenfelttobeinmasterlyhands:Hollinghursthasthatcompletenessofplay,thatperfectunionofthedramaticandthepsychological.Hedoesthescenicworkofartfullydescribingcharacters'interplayofgesturesandtonesandtics,butisjustasadeptamidsttheimpalpablesofsensibility,wherethemotivesfortheirgesturesandtonesandticsarefoundtolie.Hollinghursthassuperbsensesfortexture,heft,sound,movement.TheoldJamesad Excellentineveryrespect.Readingthis,Ioftenfelttobeinmasterlyhands:Hollinghursthasthatcompletenessofplay,thatperfectunionofthedramaticandthepsychological.Hedoesthescenicworkofartfullydescribingcharacters'interplayofgesturesandtonesandtics,butisjustasadeptamidsttheimpalpablesofsensibility,wherethemotivesfortheirgesturesandtonesandticsarefoundtolie.Hollinghursthassuperbsensesfortexture,heft,sound,movement.TheoldJamesadvicetobeone"onwhomnothingislost"remainscentral.Myonequibbleiswiththeplotting,andwiththevariousburdensofplot-advancementeachcharactermustbear.Thescandalousdenouement,theshamefulsecret-spillingthatwrapsupthebook,isbroughtaboutbyCatherine,thesisterofNick'sundergradcrushToby.TobyisthepredictableHeteroGoldenBoyAthlete,dullandstyle-lessandunconsciousofhisallure,butCatherineisworse--Hollinghurstislazy,orseemstobeataloss,andjustoptstomakeheratypicalHystericalFemale,amanic-depressivePoorLittleRichGirlwhodoesdrugs,makesimpertinentcommentsatthedinnertable,anddatesroguishunsuitablestoshockherparents.Nick,andhisloversLeoandWaniaresomuchmorecomplexcreations,andsomuchmoreimportanttothebook,thatitdidn'tbothermethatCatherinewassobanalandbadlydone--justaslongasshewasirrelevant.ButthenHollinghurstuseshertobringaboutthebigstuffattheend--shedoessomethingsomuchmoremaliciousandderangedthananythingshe'sdonebefore.HerbehaviorissoimplausiblebecauseHollinghursthasgivenusnosenseofwhatdeepissueswithherfatherandfamilywouldhavemadeheractasshedoes.Onecan'tskimponthepsychologyofacharacterifthatpsychologyiswhatturnstheplotofthenovel.ThebookcouldhavegottenalongwithoutsomuchoftheFeddens,really.Theyprovidetheframe,thesetting,andtheirsmallbagoftraitsandattitudesaresufficientlywellshuffledanddeployedastomakeconvincingcharacters--butHollinghurstdidn'treallyneedtoshifthisfocusbacktothemattheend.Wani'sdownwardspiral,andLeo'sdeath,areabsorbingandheartbreakingenough.WhenIthinkofLeoonhisbikeIalmostcry. ...more flag 13likes · Like  · seereview View2comments Nov16,2013 RonCharles ratedit itwasamazing  ·  reviewofanotheredition IfHenryJamescouldbraveonemorecurtaincall,he'dfindamoreencouragingaudiencethantheonethatbooedhimoffstageafter"GuyDomville."Jameshasbecomesomethingofaliteraryrockstarthisyear.He'sthesubjectoffictionalbiographiesbytwooftheBritishIsles'mostprominentwriters,ColmTóibinandDavidLodge.Andhisspirithoversalloverlastweek'sManBookerPrizewinner,"TheLineofBeauty,"byAlanHollinghurst.CantherealityTVshow-"ServeTeatoHenry"-befa IfHenryJamescouldbraveonemorecurtaincall,he'dfindamoreencouragingaudiencethantheonethatbooedhimoffstageafter"GuyDomville."Jameshasbecomesomethingofaliteraryrockstarthisyear.He'sthesubjectoffictionalbiographiesbytwooftheBritishIsles'mostprominentwriters,ColmTóibinandDavidLodge.Andhisspirithoversalloverlastweek'sManBookerPrizewinner,"TheLineofBeauty,"byAlanHollinghurst.CantherealityTVshow-"ServeTeatoHenry"-befarbehind?Despiteitsglacialpacingandcerebralthemes,Tóibin'snovel,"TheMaster,"climbedontotheAmericanbestsellerlistforafewweeksthissummer,lookingalittleuncomfortablenexttoJanetEvanovich's"TenBigOnes"andPlumSykes's"BergdorfBlondes."TheBookerPrize($90,000)willpropel"TheLineofBeauty"upthelisttoo,asit'salreadydoneinEngland,andthatpopularexposurewillbeinterestingtoevaluate.Lineforline,Hollinghurst'snovelaboutLondonduringthe1980sisthemostexquisitelywrittenbookI'vereadinyears.Wittyobservationsaboutpolitics,society,andfamilyopenlikelittlerevelationsoneverypage.Butit'salsoanexplicitlygaynovel.Notjustanovelwithsomegaycharacters,comfortablyonthesideorreducedtofloppyantics,àla"WillandGrace."Hollinghurstrarelystraysfarfromhisprotagonist'ssexualfantasiesandexploits.BritishpapershavenotedthatthisisthefirstgaynoveltowintheBookerPrizeinits36-yearhistory.(Somuchfortheircosmopolitansophistication:America'sNationalBookAwardwenttoanequallyexplicitgaybookwaybackin1992,anautobiographycalled"BecomingaMan.")Somecriticshaveplayedupthenovel'spoliticalandsocialsatire,andthoseelementsarecertainlythereandbrilliant,butIwonderifit'ssqueamishnessorpoliticalcorrectnessthatkeepsthemfromstatingthatthisisprimarilyastoryaboutgaysexualityanditcontainsscenesthatmanyreaderswillfinddeeplyoffensive.Thenovelopensin1983whenNickGuest,agraduatestudentpursuingaPhDonHenryJames,movesinwiththeFeddens,anupper-classfamilyinLondon'sNottingHill.NickisanoldOxfordchumofthefamily'sobliviousson,andhe'sbecometheunofficialcaretakeroftheirdangerouslydepresseddaughter.TheparentsarewealthyconservativeswhowanttobeperfectlyclearthattheyhavenoobjectiontoNick'sorientation,particularlyifitremainsentirelytheoretical.Nick,however,isreadytomovebeyondthat,andthefirstsectionofthenoveldetailshisfirstdate,anassignationwithablackmanhemeetsforsexthroughapersonalad.Theirrelationshipdeepensintosomethingmoremeaningful,drawingNickintotheworking-classlifeofhisloverevenwhilehefloatsintothelavishlifestyleofhishostfamily:AsamemberofMargaretThatcher'scabinet,Mr.FeddengivesNickaccesstothehighestlevelofBritishpolitics,andMrs.FeddencomesfromafamilyofpeoplewhoexchangeGauguinsasgifts.It'sthekindofcrowdinwhicheveryoneisconstantlyawareoftheflourishesofwealthbutdeterminedtotreatthemwithcasualdisregard.Whenthepianotunercomplainsaboutthestateoftheirinstrument,Mrs.Feddenremarksquietly,"Oh,IknowLisztenjoyedplayingit."Throughmuchofthebook,hishostfamilyfretsaboutwhenMrs.Thatcherwillblessthemwithanappearance.(Theirgreendoormustbepaintedblue,lestTheGreatLadyassumethey'reenvironmentalists.)Hollinghurstcanproduceinanesocialbanteraswellasincisivesocialanalysis.Thesearepartieswhere"afterpudding,theladieswithdraw,"gatheringswithwhichmostreaderswillnothavemuchpersonalfamiliarity.Buthedescribesthemwithwittyprecisionthatcapturesandsatirizesthemsimultaneously.Whenthestorypicksupagainin1986,Nickisstilllivingwithhishostfamily,buthe'smovedonfromhisfirstlovertoaLebanesemillionairewho'sengagedtobemarried.Ostensibly,they'removieproducers,butmostlytheywatchpornography,pickupyoungmen,andsnortcocaine(adifferent"lineofbeauty").Nickhasavaguesensethatthisisn'tasatisfyingwaytolive,buthe'smesmerizedbytheglareofsomuchmoneyandsensualismandterrifiedbytheprospectofloneliness.Hecan'tshakethesensethathe'sonlyplayacting,thathisambiguousstatusintheFeddens'houseandinhislover'slifeissymptomaticofsomedeeperfailuretobeanadult.Againandagain,hefeelsoutsidehimself,nervousabouthowhemustlookandsound.Thatcrampedself-consciousnesscomplementshisobsessionwithaesthetics,butitalsomakeshimeffeteandintheendnotaveryeffectivefriendtohimselforthoseheloves.AsAIDSravagesthegaycommunityandscandalrockstheFeddenhousehold,Nickfindshimselfasabandonedasheeverfeared,andthecompensationofbeautyseemsheartbreakinglytragic.Ironically,despiteallitsgraphicsex,aPuritanicalpietyseemstoanimatethenovel.Ratherthanchallengeanymainstreamprejudicesabouthomosexuals,"TheLineofBeauty"confirmsthem.Themostsociallyconservativereaderwon'tbesurprisedtoseeherethatgaymenareemotionallyoversensitive,sexuallyvoracious,desperatelylonely,andfinallydoomed.Theseare,afterall,thestereotypesthathomosexualshavelaboredunderforyears.AllthisshouldproduceacomplexreceptionfortheBookerwinner.Insomequarters,thenovel'striumphwillbealatevindicationforgayliterature.Otherswillfretovertheshockingsexscenes.Butanyonewhoreads"TheLineofBeauty"willcomefacetofacewithoneofthemostbrilliantstylistsandperceptivenovelistswritingtoday.http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/1026/p1... ...more flag 12likes · Like  · seereview Aug22,2008 RobertDunbar ratedit itwasamazing Shelves: favorites, reviews Frustratedbyhisfirstbrushwithromance,NickGuestfeelshe’sbeen“swepttothebrinkofsomenewpromise.”Themomentisprofoundlypoignant.ThoughTheLineofBeautyrunsthroughaperiodscarcelymorethantwenty-fiveyearsinthepast,timealreadyseemstohaverenderedMargaretThatcher’sEnglandasmistyanddistantassomethingoutofBridesheadRevisited.Couldtheworldreallyhavechangedthismuchsoquickly?Thatmistyqualityisdeceptive.Inthispenetratingandmaturework, Frustratedbyhisfirstbrushwithromance,NickGuestfeelshe’sbeen“swepttothebrinkofsomenewpromise.”Themomentisprofoundlypoignant.ThoughTheLineofBeautyrunsthroughaperiodscarcelymorethantwenty-fiveyearsinthepast,timealreadyseemstohaverenderedMargaretThatcher’sEnglandasmistyanddistantassomethingoutofBridesheadRevisited.Couldtheworldreallyhavechangedthismuchsoquickly?Thatmistyqualityisdeceptive.Inthispenetratingandmaturework,AlanHollinghurstemploysahard,sharpwittodelineatethesortofmoralbankruptcythatattendedtheearlydaysoftheHIVpandemic,andasinHollinghurst’sTheSwimmingPoolLibrary,thecontrastbetweentherathersavagetaleandhiscomplexandcontemplativestyleprovesriveting.AtOxford,theyouthfulmaincharacterobsessesoverafriendfromaprosperousbackground.Visitingtheirhome,Nickfindshimselfseducedbythepleasuresofwealthandyearnsto“steephimselfinthedifficultromanceofthefamily.”Someoneshouldreallyhavewarnedhimtobecarefulwhathewishedfor.Hebecomesachronichouseguest,andhisinitiationintotheworldoferoticlove(forwhichhe’s“achinglyreadyandcompletelyunprepared”)isconcomitantwithhispassagethrougharealmofprivilegeandprejudice.Asinallhiswork,theauthoradroitlysteersthetonethroughtherockiestpersonaldramatosocialsatireofthemostharrowingvariety.Alongtheway,heveersintoaveritabletourofBritishliteraryiconsfromAustintoWaugh–withanespeciallysatisfyingjourneythroughtheheartofHenryJamesterritory–withouteverdiminishingtheimpactofhisownremarkablevoice. ...more flag 15likes · Like  · seereview Mar13,2009 Alex ratedit reallylikedit Ienjoyedthisenormously.HollinghurstisagreatstylistandhisdebttoHenryJames,suggestedthroughout(theprotagonistiswritingathesison'TheMaster'),isalwaysevident.Bestofallishissubtlebutuncompromisingsocialsatire:fewofthecharacteresareparticularlysympatheticbutallareenergeticallyrealisedandverybelievable.Therearesometerrificset-pieces:anaristocratictwenty-firstbirthday,awkwardintroductionsofgayloverstoparentswhodon'tknow(orwon'tad Ienjoyedthisenormously.HollinghurstisagreatstylistandhisdebttoHenryJames,suggestedthroughout(theprotagonistiswritingathesison'TheMaster'),isalwaysevident.Bestofallishissubtlebutuncompromisingsocialsatire:fewofthecharacteresareparticularlysympatheticbutallareenergeticallyrealisedandverybelievable.Therearesometerrificset-pieces:anaristocratictwenty-firstbirthday,awkwardintroductionsofgayloverstoparentswhodon'tknow(orwon'tadmit)theirson'ssexuality,aLondonMP'suneaseonvisitinghisruralconstituencyandonhavingtotakepartinwelly-throwing.'TheLineOfBeauty'paintsacompellingpictureofprivilegedlifein80sEngland--buttheprivilegeisprecarious.ConsideringAIDS,theboomincocaineuse,andparlimentaryscandal,thisisnonethelessmuchmorethanmeresocialdocumentation.AttimesIfeltthesymbolismsuggestedbythetitlebecameabitstrainedandoccasionallyIhadthesensethatHollinghurstwasoverindulginginhisornatestyle.Theseareminorquibbles,however,aboutabookIwasoftenreluctanttoputdown. ...more flag 12likes · Like  · seereview Aug03,2020 Luís ratedit itwasamazing  ·  reviewofanotheredition Shelves: g-queer-lgbt, g-historical-fiction, great-britain, e-5-favourites TheauthortellsthestoryoftheLondonlifeofthe1980sseenbytheeyesofNickGuest,ayoungmanseducedbythediscoveryofhomosexualityandluxuryofexperienceintheEnglishhighsocietyunderMargaretThatcher.Settledinapolitician,Nickleadsalifeofaparasite.HeistheloverofthesonofaLebanesemagnate,fulloface,druggedwithcocaine.Hehasacomfortableexperience.Allthe"shots"ofthequeermilieudescribedwithoutfalsemodesty.AIDScastsadarknotetowardst TheauthortellsthestoryoftheLondonlifeofthe1980sseenbytheeyesofNickGuest,ayoungmanseducedbythediscoveryofhomosexualityandluxuryofexperienceintheEnglishhighsocietyunderMargaretThatcher.Settledinapolitician,Nickleadsalifeofaparasite.HeistheloverofthesonofaLebanesemagnate,fulloface,druggedwithcocaine.Hehasacomfortableexperience.Allthe"shots"ofthequeermilieudescribedwithoutfalsemodesty.AIDScastsadarknotetowardstheendofthestory,withitsshareofsufferingandbetrayalgainingcentrestage,whilethetrapofintrigueputinplace. ...more flag 12likes · Like  · seereview Aug10,2021 Albert ratedit likedit  ·  reviewofanotheredition Shelves: award-winners-read, reviewed, award-man-booker-prize Areyoufamiliarwiththeterm“ogee”asusedinarchitectureanddesign?Ihadabasicunderstandingbutdidaquickrefreshuponstartingthisbook.Thetitleofthenovel,TheLineofBeauty,isreferredtoinmanywaysthroughoutthestory;ogeeisoneofthewaysinwhichitisrepresented.TheLineofBeautyfocusesonlifeinLondoninthemid-80's.MargaretThatcherandherConservativePartyareinpower.WemeetNickGuest,theprotagonistinthenovel,ashehastakenupresidencewit Areyoufamiliarwiththeterm“ogee”asusedinarchitectureanddesign?Ihadabasicunderstandingbutdidaquickrefreshuponstartingthisbook.Thetitleofthenovel,TheLineofBeauty,isreferredtoinmanywaysthroughoutthestory;ogeeisoneofthewaysinwhichitisrepresented.TheLineofBeautyfocusesonlifeinLondoninthemid-80's.MargaretThatcherandherConservativePartyareinpower.WemeetNickGuest,theprotagonistinthenovel,ashehastakenupresidencewiththefamilyofauniversityfriend,Toby,whosefatherhasrecentlybeenelectedtoParliament.WelearnearlyonthatNickisgaybuthasyettohavehisfirstrealsexualexperience.TheAIDSepidemicisjustbeginning.Cocaineisthedrugofchoice.Thenovelisverytruetothe80’sbutIcouldnotdevelopmuchfeeling,positiveornegative,foranyofthecharacters.NickisattractedbythewealthandstyleinwhichhefindshimselflivingwiththeFeddens.BecauseNick’sfatherisanantiquesdealer,heisuniquelyabletoappreciatewhathesees,whetheritbefurniture,apaintingorceramics,whereasGeraldandRachelFedden,Toby’sparents,andtheirfriends,relativesandacquaintances,whoownallthesethings,oftendonotknowwhattheyarelookingat.AsheenjoystheluxuryofhissurroundingsandthestatusoftheFeddensthatoverflowsontohim,Nickhasfoundthathehasgrownembarrassedofhisparentsandtheirlife.Andyet,NickseemstobejustadecorationfortheFeddensthatcanbeeasilyreplaced.Consideredasa“period”novel,TheLineofBeautyisquitesuccessful.AsadescriptionandcommentaryoftheAIDSepidemic,itislackingintheemotionsyouwouldexpectifyourfriendsandlovedonesweredyingallaroundyou.TheclassboundariesapparentinEnglishsocietywerenotacknowledgeduntiltheywereviolatedandconsequencesresulted,atwhichtimetheybecameobviousandsacrosanct.Thewritingisquitegood,veryhumorousinplaces,andthereparteeleftyoutryingtocatchupattimes.WhileIenjoyedpartsofthenovel,mylackoffeelingsforthecharactersandmyconfusionastowhattheauthorwastryingtoaccomplishmadeitonlyagoodread.` ...more flag 11likes · Like  · seereview Viewall4comments «previous123456789…next» newtopicDiscussThisBook topics  posts  views  lastactivity    Reading1001: TheLineofBeauty,byAlanHollinghurst 4 25 Sep13,201904:41AM   Reading1001: TheLineofBeauty-Hollinghurst 19 27 Jun17,201902:47PM   21stCenturyLite...: TheLineofBeauty-TheEndoftheStreet,1987(June2015) 6 34 Jun14,201512:16PM   Moretopics... Share RecommendIt  |  Stats  |  RecentStatusUpdates Readersalsoenjoyed Seesimilarbooks… Genres Fiction 690users LGBT 271users LGBT> Queer 120users LGBT> Gay 111users LiteraryFiction 95users EuropeanLiterature> BritishLiterature 88users Historical> HistoricalFiction 85users Contemporary 79users Novels 67users Literature 50users Seetopshelves… AboutAlanHollinghurst AlanHollinghurst 1,071 followers AlanHollinghurstisanEnglishnovelist,andwinnerofthe2004BookerPrizeforTheLineofBeauty.HereadEnglishatMagdalenCollege,Oxfordgraduatingin1975;andsubsequentlytookthefurtherdegreeofMasterofLiterature(1979).WhileatOxfordhesharedahousewithAndrewMotion,andwasawardedtheNewdigatePrizeforpoetryin1974,theyearbeforeMotion.Inthelate1970shebecamea AlanHollinghurstisanEnglishnovelist,andwinnerofthe2004BookerPrizeforTheLineofBeauty.HereadEnglishatMagdalenCollege,Oxfordgraduatingin1975;andsubsequentlytookthefurtherdegreeofMasterofLiterature(1979).WhileatOxfordhesharedahousewithAndrewMotion,andwasawardedtheNewdigatePrizeforpoetryin1974,theyearbeforeMotion.Inthelate1970shebecamealectureratMagdalen,andthenatSomervilleCollegeandCorpusChristiCollege,Oxford.In1981hemovedontolectureatUniversityCollegeLondon.In1997,hewentonanAsiabooktourinSingapore.In1981hejoinedTheTimesLiterarySupplementandwasthepaper'sdeputyeditorfrom1982to1995.HelivesinLondon. ...more BooksbyAlanHollinghurst More… News&Interviews6GreatBooksHittingShelvesThisWeek Needanotherexcusetotreatyourselftoanewbookthisweek?We'vegotyoucoveredwiththebuzziestnewreleasesoftheday. Tocreateour...Readmore...30likes·4comments TriviaAboutTheLineofBeauty 5triviaquestions 2quizzes Morequizzes&trivia... QuotesfromTheLineofBeauty “Hewantedpurecompliments,justashewantedunconditionallove.” — 31likes “Theworsetheyarethemoretheyseebeautyineachother.” — 27likes Morequotes… Welcomeback.JustamomentwhilewesignyouintoyourGoodreadsaccount.