The Line Of Beauty
Alan Hollinghurst
This is an extremely good book about the London political and
social élite in the 80s who had money and power and
increasingly cared little for the rest of the country. There is
lots of cocaine and a fair bit of homosexual sex (although not as
much as in a previous book).
Doreen 17/7/04
Bob found this book full of homosexual sex and cocaine and
nothing much happens until the end, which is a juicy climax. The
book is full of detail and very analytical - a great deal of
detail and lots of emotion. Finally, the protagonist gets his
comeuppance. The book reminded Bob of Evelyn Waugh and Anthony
Powell with its unsympathetic characters.
Bob 15/8/04
Jean gave up on this book half way through – just didn’t care about any of the characters in spite of glowing reviews in the press.
Jean 31/7/05
A book about the Eighties and some of the people who benefited from the era of Mrs Thatcher's hegemony, a group not usually represented in novels set in this time. It is an evocation of the period as seen through the eyes of a high ranking Tory politician and his family and friends. Two of the protagonists set out to launch a shallow but beautiful magazine which, in its priorities, may be seen as a metaphor for the period. There is much drug taking, lots of rough outdoor gay sex (perhaps a little more than Andrew could happily take) and some humour. Although the book sagged somewhat in the middle Andrew would cautiously recommend this book.
Andrew 5/2/06
The frames have
gone all funny - click to make it good.