The Line of Beauty: A Novel
by Alan Hollinghurst
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Book Summary Information
Author: Alan HollinghurstEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2005-10-17
ISBN: 1582346100
Number of pages: 400
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA
Book Reviews of The Line of Beauty: A Novel
Book Review: 80's decadence in high society
Summary: 3 Stars
"The Line of Beauty" is a sharp social critique of British high society set in the 80's during Margaret Thatcher's reign as prime minister. Alan Hollinghurst has a keen eye for the shallow frailties of human nature and how wealth -- particularly the pursuit of it -- can make a fool of someone. The hypocrisy and frigid codes of society's elite are grand topics for a novel, and Hollinghurst clearly knows the ins and outs. His observations are clever and biting, leaving the reader little doubt that he has nailed his subject. This is particularly effective because Hollinghurst has chosen as his narrator an unabashed outsider in the high-class hijinks: Nick Guest, an openly homosexual man in his early twenties living as a guest in the wealthy home of a college friend (whom he harbors a long-standing but seemingly hopeless crush on). As someone who cannot fit in with the world he aspires to because of his family history and sexual orientation Nick can see it for what it truly is.
The problem with "The Line of Beauty" is that for all of its keen observations it is lacking in the wit and humanity that would have made it relatable. There is a cold distance between the reader and Nick Guest; for all of his inherently human mistakes it is difficult to empathize with him or to feel for where he comes from. Indeed, there is only one character that I felt genuinely interested in, and he has a very minor place in the novel (featuring prominently in the first part, but dropping away in the middle). For a true social satire on the snobbery of society's elites I would recommend "Snobs" by Julian Fellowes, whose affection for the misgivings of his cast of characters is so palpable that it compels the reader to agree (or at least to enjoy the ride). It takes a little too much work to feel for the drab socialites that populate "The Line of Beauty".
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