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vinsoo03's review against another edition
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Death of parent
Moderate: War and Homophobia
Minor: Terminal illness
jiayuanc's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
This was my first Hollinghurst book and I've since been informed this wasn't a great place to start. On GoodReads, I rated this 3 stars, rounded up from 2.5 stars. My thought process is such: loved Part 1 and wished we saw more from Freddie Green's perspective. I was very disappointed to come to the end of Part 1, only to be thrust into an entirely different POV for the remainder of the novel. I felt almost cheated when Part 1 ended and we were then forced into the perspective of 14 year old Johnny. We stay hovering around Johnny's life for the remainder of the book. I kept hoping Freddie Green's POV would return, but we only get glimpses from an outsider view.
The remaining parts follow Jonathan Sparsholt (Johnny) who I found rather dull. Hollinghurst's prose and fusion of speaking on art with his characters is lovely but the titular Sparsholt Affair is never directly confronted and we merely get talked around it. I understand this was the point but it was frustrating and made it an added difficulty with trying to empathize with the characters it impacted. David Sparsholt is only ever talked about by characters who know / knew him and we never get to see from his perspective anything that happens at all. A choice no doubt but one that just didn't work for me and one that definitely made the whole thing less impactful.
The remaining parts follow Jonathan Sparsholt (Johnny) who I found rather dull. Hollinghurst's prose and fusion of speaking on art with his characters is lovely but the titular Sparsholt Affair is never directly confronted and we merely get talked around it. I understand this was the point but it was frustrating and made it an added difficulty with trying to empathize with the characters it impacted. David Sparsholt is only ever talked about by characters who know / knew him and we never get to see from his perspective anything that happens at all. A choice no doubt but one that just didn't work for me and one that definitely made the whole thing less impactful.
Content Warnings
Minor: Drug use, Outing, and Sexual assault
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