Reviews

The Swimming-Pool Library by Alan Hollinghurst

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dnyxly's review against another edition

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funny reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

lukathereader's review

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emotional reflective medium-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

4.0

kchessrice's review

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medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

This is one of those first person narratives where you have a protagonist that is actually almost unbearable! Will Beckwith is snobbish, sneering, almost criminally randy (shagging anyone and everyone that crosses his path!) and full of contradictions. Whilst he claims to have fallen in love twice during the course of the novel, he continues his Tom cat ways quite merrily (the man has stamina, I'll give him that) but is outraged when he catches one of his boyfriends 'at it' with someone else! There is a fetishisation of black men in this, which was uncomfortable for me to read, to be honest.

The secondary storyline of Lord Nantwich's diaries and being imprisoned for soliciting/cottaging in the 1950s was more interesting for me. Unfortunately, the 'big twist' that disrupts Will's life almost passed me by because I just didn't care enough about Will!

This novel was (for me!) an eye-opening foray into the gay world of 1980s London but I was left cold by the vain and shallow protagonist.

finnleyfrog17's review against another edition

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slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

1.25

augustopelle's review against another edition

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5.0

Mi elemento claramente es la biblioteca de la piscina. Que la mente pueda recorrer espacios creados por un autor donde vive una metamorfosis constante de la mano a wilde y su neutralidad para mostrar un personaje seguramente odiado por todos (amado por mi) no hace más que rendirle culto la muerta de la moral y la ética. Los retrógrados y nefastos conceptos sobre los cuales las masas escudan patéticos miedos. Quien crea que wilde no tuvo hijos, esta tan equivocado...