Alan Hollinghurst

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...I have to confess to being shallow – I first wanted to read this book when I saw the gorgeous cover. The contents didn’t disappoint. This novel is a comedy about the lives and loves of four gay men living in England. Robin is an architect, living in Dorset with his younger lover Justin, an out-of-work actor. When Justin invites his former lover Alex, a shy civil servant, to visit the couple, Alex falls for Robin’s son Danny. The stage is set for a comedy of sexual manners, and gay life in London has rarely been better portrayed in a novel. Highly recommended to anyone who enjoys a good story beautifully told. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to find another book by Alan Hollinghurst.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Interestingly diverse
Disadvantages: Heavy going in places

...After reading The Swimming Pool Library I thought I would try another by the same author........Although I did not enjoy this one quite as much, non the less it is definitely a good read. It is based around Edward Manners who escapes England to go and live in Belgium. Once he arrives there, he starts teaching English to make his living, and falls in love with the seventeen year old Luc Once again like the Swimming Pool Library, Hollinghurst shows us the seedier side of life that he manages to entwine within the expertly written novel. Overall, this was a very enjoyable novel......definitely well worth reading.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Thought-provoking, delightful writing style
Disadvantages: Hard-going, slow-moving

...Focusing on an episode in the life of Edward Manners in which he emigrates to a Belgian city (unnamed in the text) to tutor students of English, The Folding Star examines the natures of love, lust and obsession. Marketed as a 'gay novel', the novel's numerous graphic and arguably vulgar descriptions of homosexual intercourse contrast starkly with Hollinghurst's otherwise refined, eloquent style and the novel's setting within linguistic academia and the cultured world of portraiture, fine arts and romantic composition. Despite Hollinghurst's obvious talents as a writer, demonstrated in his other works, The Folding Star has been criticised as being too 'slow-moving'. Whilst this may be the expense of the vivid and detailed images this book provides, its pace made it difficult to read , both in protracted stints and over an extended... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful