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pshipper's review against another edition
4.0
Great read. I like an author who can successfully interest me in the lives and fates of characters that are not sympathetic; who creates ambiguity that still manages to engage. There are fascinating people and places in this book. I didn't like all of them and I didn't understand all of their motivations, but I wanted to follow them through the arc of the book.
Hollinghurst also deftly portrays important plot points in a way that people in that time or at their age in life might have understood them. The historical parts of this work felt genuine, regardless of how much of the central characters' roles in history were fictional.
Hollinghurst also deftly portrays important plot points in a way that people in that time or at their age in life might have understood them. The historical parts of this work felt genuine, regardless of how much of the central characters' roles in history were fictional.
hislibraianshiprecommends's review against another edition
Alan Hollinghurst’s “The Sparsholt Affair” was pretty good—epic multi-generational story of loosening sexual mores in pre-War through modern England. Writing is beautiful, some of the best descriptive fiction I’ve ever read.
ajcollignon's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this book, but I kind of felt like there was a deeper meaning I was supposed to get and was doing a very poor job of getting.
It was also frustrating to me that we get fuller pictures of Johnny's struggles with unrequited attraction than we do of his longest relationship. I wanted to see him when he was fulfilled and happy; I wanted good things for him. Also, if Lucy's supposed to be the third generation, the future, then I would have liked some of her perspective in the last section.
This is my first Alan Hollinghurst novel, and I'm eager to read another of his even if it may make me feel a bit dense.
It was also frustrating to me that we get fuller pictures of Johnny's struggles with unrequited attraction than we do of his longest relationship. I wanted to see him when he was fulfilled and happy; I wanted good things for him. Also, if Lucy's supposed to be the third generation, the future, then I would have liked some of her perspective in the last section.
This is my first Alan Hollinghurst novel, and I'm eager to read another of his even if it may make me feel a bit dense.
ashleysmilne's review
3.0
think hollinghurst writes really uniquely beautiful prose but was waiting for this book to arrive a bit more, like the emotional point of it felt a bit blunt
elemmakil's review against another edition
4.0
Tämä oli yksi niistä kirjoista, joissa on todella hyviä kohtia, ja toisaalta sellaisia, ettei kiinnostaisi lukea yhtään eteenpäin. Viimeisen sivun jälkeen koitti kuitenkin katarsis, siiteä kun pääsi tutustumaan näihin hahmoihin. Vaikka lähtökohta oli aika tyypillinen, hiljainen, sodan käynyt isä ja huonosta isä-suhteesta kärsinyt poika, niin silti tarina veti mukaansa rauhallisuudellaan ja täyteläisillä hahmoilla. Ja ehkä myös se, että kirjat, joissa suurin osa hahmoista on homoseksuaaleja, on vielä sen verran uusi juttu, että se vetoaa erityisellä tavalla. Vajaat neljä tähteä.
strawberrymivvy's review against another edition
Stopped reading this weeks ago, thinking I'd pick it up again, but could never face it
Just didn't engage or interest me
Just didn't engage or interest me
howeslee's review
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
rioyoung's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
jknoxwhite's review against another edition
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? Yes
4.0
coops456's review
2.0
Having never read anything by Hollinghurst, and with my local library having unlimited copies of the ebook for LGBTQ History Month, I decided to give this a go.
But meh. Very disappointed.
It's written in 5 sections, each moving forward in time. The reader is left working out when this section is set. New characters are introduced and you have to deduce who they are and how they're connected to previous characters.
I'm left wondering what the point of this was, and why I persevered for 644 pages. Dullest thing I've read in ages.
Edited to add a star because the prose is good so 1-star was a bit harsh.
But meh. Very disappointed.
It's written in 5 sections, each moving forward in time. The reader is left working out when this section is set. New characters are introduced and you have to deduce who they are and how they're connected to previous characters.
I'm left wondering what the point of this was, and why I persevered for 644 pages. Dullest thing I've read in ages.
Edited to add a star because the prose is good so 1-star was a bit harsh.