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3.95 AVERAGE
3.95 AVERAGE
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
beautiful. expansive. over-capacious?
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Well written but a too slow pace for me. But the themes of racism and sexuality are powerful throughout the book.
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism, Murder
Minor: Homophobia
challenging
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Hollinghurst is truly a wizard with words. There's always something about his novels that immerses you in the world he creates. There's usually not much plot, but it is drenched in character studies and just the right amount of description - my favourite kind of book!
In a turn from his standard, the protagonist is a person of colour - with a Burmese father who he's never met. He's still very culturally British, but his race does play a vital role in the story and how he's perceived. Usually, the POC is a boyfriend or something and although the books touch on racial tensions, it does not take center stage like it does in this book.
Based on the blurb, I thought the book was an exploration of two people - Dave Win and Giles Hadlow. But Giles is more of a shadow presence, and we just see how he influences Dave's life and affects it. Giles could possibly be a stand-in for some actual figure in British politics. Unfortunately, I don't know enough to properly read into this.
As with any Hollinghurst, I felt like the parts that covered Dave's youth were the best. There's something about how Hollinghurst writes about the rush of first love that feels ageless and so relatable. I also loved that Dave matures and finally gets into a proper relationship as an older man. It felt sweet but did not have the passion that his previous affairs were written with.
The ending felt a bit unnecessary. Perhaps it was inevitable. I just wish it had been more nuanced. Maybe Hollinghurst wanted it to be a gut-punch like it was.
Overall, a great book. It was very nice to dip my toes into the Hollinghurst universe again.
In a turn from his standard, the protagonist is a person of colour - with a Burmese father who he's never met. He's still very culturally British, but his race does play a vital role in the story and how he's perceived. Usually, the POC is a boyfriend or something and although the books touch on racial tensions, it does not take center stage like it does in this book.
Based on the blurb, I thought the book was an exploration of two people - Dave Win and Giles Hadlow. But Giles is more of a shadow presence, and we just see how he influences Dave's life and affects it. Giles could possibly be a stand-in for some actual figure in British politics. Unfortunately, I don't know enough to properly read into this.
As with any Hollinghurst, I felt like the parts that covered Dave's youth were the best. There's something about how Hollinghurst writes about the rush of first love that feels ageless and so relatable. I also loved that Dave matures and finally gets into a proper relationship as an older man. It felt sweet but did not have the passion that his previous affairs were written with.
The ending felt a bit unnecessary. Perhaps it was inevitable. I just wish it had been more nuanced. Maybe Hollinghurst wanted it to be a gut-punch like it was.
Overall, a great book. It was very nice to dip my toes into the Hollinghurst universe again.