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3.95 AVERAGE
3.95 AVERAGE
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.
idk why i really didn’t connect with this at all - just felt sooooooo bloated which is weird for me to feel cuz i normally love insanely long sentences and zero plot vibes. it just didn’t work for me, i didn’t feel very connected or interested in any of the characters and i didn’t care much for the level of detail that was entirely focused on the incredibly mundane side of theater etc. just felt like a slog to get through 70 percent of the time, but the other 30 percent were very striking; the chapters set at oxford and with nick were absolutely my favourites and honestly the only memorable part of this whole book for me. were very very engaging and i loved the way those relationships + david’s feelings towards his schooling vs acting were written. esme was also a delight. I think it just felt too bloated in all the wrong places and didn’t rlly strike a chord for me. totally get how this is some people’s little life or goldfinch tho!
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
reflective
slow-paced
This didn’t quite land for me unfortunately. There’s no doubt of Hollinghurst’s ability to write a good novel; the prose is beautiful and puts many other authors to shame. But I found myself wishing for a little more bite, and found it a bit of a passive reading experience overall. Some of the scenes with more bite, alongside the Hadlows or his mother and Esme, were in short supply. There were a lot of inconsequential rehearsal/theatre scenes which gave the novel a bloated feel. No doubt a good book, not an essential one.
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
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:
Complicated
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes