From Publishers Weekly
Among its other wonders, this almost perfectly written novel, recently longlisted for the Man Booker, delineates what's arguably the most coruscating portrait of a plutocracy since Goya painted the Spanish Bourbons. To shade in the nuances of class, Hollingsworth uses plot the way it was meant to be used—not as a line of utility, but as a thematically connected sequence of events that creates its own mini-value system and symbols.The book is divided into three sections, dated 1983, 1986 and 1987. The protagonist, Nick Guest, is a James scholar in the making and a tripper in the fast gay culture of the time. The first section shows Nick moving into the Notting Hill mansion of Gerald Fedden, one of Thatcher's Tory MPs, at the request of the minister's son, Toby, Nick's all-too-straight Oxford crush. Nick becomes Toby's sister Catherine's confidante, securing his place in the house, and loses his virginity spectacularly to Leo, a black council worker. The next section jumps the reader ahead to a more sophisticated Nick. Leo has dropped out of the picture; cocaine, three-ways and another Oxford alum, the sinisterly alluring, wealthy Lebanese Wani Ouradi, have taken his place. Nick is dimly aware of running too many risks with Wani, and becomes accidentally aware that Gerald is running a few, too. Disaster comes in 1987, with a media scandal that engulfs Gerald and then entangles Nick. While Hollinghurst's story has the true feel of Jamesian drama, it is the authorial intelligence illuminating otherwise trivial pieces of story business so as to make them seem alive and mysteriously significant that gives the most pleasure. This is Nick coming home for the first and only time with the closeted Leo: "there were two front doors set side by side in the shallow recess of the porch. Leo applied himself to the right hand one, and it was one of those locks that require tender probings and tuggings, infinitesimal withdrawals, to get the key to turn." This novel has the air of a classic.

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

This book was up for grabs at the European Pay it forward Bookrelay for about ten minutes - then da-wildchildz claimed it.
Travelling to UK now.
Happy reading!

Yesterday, I received a nicely decorated (with pretty stamps and starry tape) package and upon openeing it I found the book I had claimed from ApoloniaX in the Europe Only Pay It Forward Relay. It only took me 10 minute to stake my claim as I realised that the title was on my wishlist. I cannot wait to read it as I read Hollinghurst's 'The Swimming Pool Library' just before Christmas and enjoyed it. Also inside the package was some stickers so I can jazz up my books in the hopes of a wild release catch! Many thanks ApoloniaX for sending the book and stickers and envying the Americans for their relay!

This really was a beautiful read! Hollinghurst’s engaging literary style captured me with ‘The Swimming Pool Library’ and it did so again with The Line of Beauty. His prose has a lightness to it, which does not change, no matter the subject matter. I shall save this book to release at a place, which I think is the most beautiful in the world!

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

Left at the most beautiful place in the world!

Out for an early morning run before work in Bradgate Park where there is a folly called Old John on the central hill. A beautiful morning - hard frost on the ground, bright sunshine and blue sky. It's cold. I run to the top of Old John, touch the tower for luck, as I always do, and stop to look at the view. Then I see a book lying on top of the panorama table. Maybe someone left their walking guide? When I pick it up I find it's Alan Hollinghurst's 'Line of Beauty'. I've read 'The Swimming Pool Library' and a couple of his other novels, but not this one. Then I notice it's a Bookcrossing book on its journey and it's found me! I'm very happy with this! I tuck it into the top of my running tights, finish my run and head off to work. When I've read it I will leave it for its next reader in some equally beautiful place in the great outdoors. This is the first Bookcrossing book I've found - I think this is a great idea!