Reviews

The Sparsholt Affair by Alan Hollinghurst

tackling_the_tbrs's review against another edition

reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

drewsy's review

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? No

3.5

kate_czech's review

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

1.0

karentipsy's review

3.0

This book started out well for me. The section set in Oxford during the war years felt rich and detailed. Unfortunately the rest of the book didn't really maintain the same depth that I felt from the Oxford section. There could have been more serendipitous moments in Johnny meeting Evert and their differing perspectives of events, but it didn't happen. It felt like the book just burnt out. Still, a good read, even if I did have to force myself to finish it today because the library phoned to say it is 60 days overdue....

barbarabarbara's review

lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

alisonjfields's review against another edition

3.0

Beautifully written, because Alan Hollinghurst is incapable of otherwise, and somewhat kinder perhaps than his other books.

Also, at least 100 pages too long.

beefmaster's review against another edition

3.0

His worst novel I’m wholly heartbroken to report

perjacxis's review against another edition

DNF

pepeleb's review

challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-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? It's complicated

4.5

afoof's review

4.0

3.5 beautiful writing, a bit hard to follow, skipped over small bits I found too obtuse and full of characters I didn't want to know but fascinating story and a look at scandal over time, especially gay ones and how much more acceptable it is to be LGBTQ now.