Journal Entry 1 by angela861 from Chicago, Illinois USA on Sunday, January 06, 2008

Journal Entry 2 by angela861 from Chicago, Illinois USA on Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Wow... there is a lot of sex in this book. I really like Hollinghurst's writing style but all the sex got to be a bit much. The public bathroom scene really grossed me out. Very interesting the way swimming pool library is referenced in different ways.

Not the worst book I've read on the 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die list. 

Journal Entry 3 by angela861 at Chicago, Illinois USA on Tuesday, January 11, 2011

I am offering this as an INTERNATIONAL bookray. Please be willing to ship internationally if necessary (cheapest rate is fine). I will do my best to meet everyone's shipping preferences.

Please read and pass it to the next person within a month.

Participants (Subject to change w/o notice):
1. mssaver - US(NA/Int'l)
2. ealasaidmae - US (NA/Int'l)
3. mafarrimond - UK (EU)
4. tsjara - Netherlands (EU)
 

Journal Entry 4 by angela861 at Chicago, Illinois USA on Tuesday, March 08, 2011

Released 1 yr ago (3/8/2011 UTC) at Chicago, Illinois USA

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Off to the first reader! Thanks for contacting me and Happy Reading! 

Journal Entry 5 by mssaver at Chicago, Illinois USA on Wednesday, March 09, 2011

Perfect timing! I'm just finishing another book, so I'll start reading this one right away. 

Journal Entry 6 by mssaver at -- Mail or by hand-rings, RABCK, meetings --, Illinois USA on Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Released 1 yr ago (3/17/2011 UTC) at -- Mail or by hand-rings, RABCK, meetings --, Illinois USA

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I'm with angela861: rather too much sex. But I can almost agree with the New York Times Book Review: "It tells of impurities of shimmering elegance, of complexities with a camp-fired wit..."

I'll be sending the book off to ealasaidmae tomorrow. 

Journal Entry 7 by ealasaidmae at St. Albans, West Virginia USA on Thursday, March 24, 2011

This arrived on Tuesday and immediately went with me on a little road trip. I've already read almost half of it and it's marvellous. 

Journal Entry 8 by ealasaidmae at St. Albans, West Virginia USA on Monday, March 28, 2011

I went into this book with some trepidation because I'd just read Hollinghurst's Line of Beauty and it was average. But this has completely redeemed him! I really enjoyed this book. The characters are vibrant and I became invested in them. I'd love to read a biography of Lord Nantwich now. There is a lot of sex, or talk about sex, but it didn't bother me because it fits into the story and the way the characters live; it never seemed gratuitous. I will be looking out other Hollinghurst books now, so thank you, angela861! 

Journal Entry 9 by ealasaidmae at St. Albans, West Virginia USA on Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Released 1 yr ago (3/29/2011 UTC) at St. Albans, West Virginia USA

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

in the mail 

Journal Entry 10 by mafarrimond at Hawarden, Wales United Kingdom on Saturday, April 09, 2011

The book has arrived safely. I am really looking forward to reading this one. Thanks for sharing it 

Journal Entry 11 by mafarrimond at Hawarden, Wales United Kingdom on Thursday, April 14, 2011

The sex scenes are very explicit - not a book for the feint hearted!

Beyond the sex though is a very absorbing novel. I felt there were a lot of loose ends left as the book drew to a close. I would have liked to know more about what became of the various characters. 

Journal Entry 12 by mafarrimond at Hawarden, Wales United Kingdom on Sunday, April 17, 2011

Released 1 yr ago (4/18/2011 UTC) at Hawarden, Wales United Kingdom

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Posting on to tsjara. Enjoy! 

Journal Entry 13 by Tsjara at Assendelft, Noord-Holland Netherlands on Monday, May 02, 2011

Found this among the post today :) Thanks for sending mafarrimond! I've heard of Hollinghurst before, but never read any.. so thanks for the opportunity angela861 ^_^
I'll get to it sometime soon (as I still have 1,5 bookrings in front :p). 

Journal Entry 14 by Tsjara at Assendelft, Noord-Holland Netherlands on Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Well, it did take quite a while for me to read this (about a month). Not sure why.. I did like it, especially his writing style, it was well written and funny/witty sometimes. Though I'm not sure what to think of Will (he is rather arrogant and lazy), or Charles Nantwich, did he plan all of this (quite a manipulator)? Perhaps he's just pretending to be senile.
The ending was a bit strange, it felt a bit like.. oh well, life goes on, and it all starts over again.. (like they are running around in circles.. bit sad really). I wonder what happened to all the characters.
There was quite a lot of sex (or mention of it), but it was part of the characters way of life, so it didn't bother me very much. Funny how there were (almost) no women at all in their lifes (or at least in Will's), almost like they didn't exist..


Going to look for some new readers for this book :) 

Journal Entry 15 by Tsjara at Assendelft, Noord-Holland Netherlands on Thursday, August 11, 2011

Continuing the bookray :)

Here is the forum post:
http://www.bookcrossing.com/forum/20/461666


Participants in the following order:

- raeliz64 (UK), international shipping
- madpocky (Philippines), international shipping
- oppem (USA), prefer USA shipping
- ...  

Journal Entry 16 by Tsjara at Assendelft, Noord-Holland Netherlands on Thursday, August 11, 2011

Released 9 mos ago (8/12/2011 UTC) at Assendelft, Noord-Holland Netherlands

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Will pop it in the mailbox tomorrow, first stop with raeliz64.

Happy reading everyone! 

Journal Entry 17 by raeliz64 at Leicester, Leicestershire United Kingdom on Saturday, August 20, 2011

Received today - thanks very much. 

Journal Entry 18 by raeliz64 at Leicester, Leicestershire United Kingdom on Sunday, September 18, 2011

Well I certainly enjoyed this more than The Line of Beauty, but I was left kind of dissatisfied at the end, wondering what it all was about, so I don't think I'll even try any thing else by this author. 

Journal Entry 19 by raeliz64 at Leicester, Leicestershire United Kingdom on Friday, September 30, 2011

Released 8 mos ago (9/30/2011 UTC) at Leicester, Leicestershire United Kingdom

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

On it's way to madpocky. 

Journal Entry 20 by madpocky at Manila, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Philippines on Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Journal Entry 21 by madpocky at Controlled Release, --by post or by hand (ie ring, ray, RABCK, trade) -- Controlled Releases on Monday, December 12, 2011

Released 5 mos ago (12/12/2011 UTC) at Controlled Release, --by post or by hand (ie ring, ray, RABCK, trade) -- Controlled Releases

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

this book is on its way to the next reader. thanks for sharing and i'm really sorry for the delay in sending this out. cheers! :) 

Journal Entry 22 by oppem at Hermiston, Oregon USA on Thursday, December 22, 2011

This book arrived today in Oregon. Thanks madpocky for sending.
It arrived with 2 other bookrays so am going to leave this one until the end as I appear to be last in this ray...
Looking forward to the read. 

Journal Entry 23 by oppem at Hermiston, Oregon USA on Saturday, March 24, 2012

Alan Hollinghurst CAN WRITE... after reading The Line of Beauty and now this book it is very apparent that he has great talent as a writer..
Both books left me with mixed feelings - at times I found them to be 'not my cup of tea' & then, just when had decided that didn't quite like the book something inside me would change & I would be hooked..
Like others before me I felt there was far to much sex in this novel... could Hollinghurst not have left some of this to our imagination I wonder ??!!..
Will Beckworth I found to be a totally shallow, selfish character but on the other hand I loved the character of Lord Charles Nantwich..
I also like the way that Hollinghurst wove together to two character's living in England during different periods & how their lifestyle was accepted / treated during both eras.
If we take James (the doctor) as an example it seems that in some ways very little had changed....
This shows a side of English life that most would prefer not to be reminded of but maybe it's good that we Hollinghurst does bring it to our attention.