Scan barcode
pddkny's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
klaartje's review against another edition
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.0
sandygx260's review against another edition
2.0
This was another book I had abandoned out of sheer boredom. This time I finished the book, but the book was like eating oatmeal. Nothing wrong with oatmeal, it's hot and nourishing, but not exciting. The characters were unappealing and unlikeable. In truth, they were worse than oatmeal. On the whole the writing seemed accomplished but too many passages tried too hard. The effort in the writing translated into effort in reading. There seemed to be no joy in the act of writing.
I confess the extremely "British" prose also got in the way. Saying that a quilt is the color of Germolene, a pain cream I actually know of from my UK travels, is a bit much.
I understand that this is one of Hollinghurst's earlier works. I still might sample a more recent novel.
But at least I rescued another book marker from being trapped between unread pages.
I confess the extremely "British" prose also got in the way. Saying that a quilt is the color of Germolene, a pain cream I actually know of from my UK travels, is a bit much.
I understand that this is one of Hollinghurst's earlier works. I still might sample a more recent novel.
But at least I rescued another book marker from being trapped between unread pages.
nuscheda's review against another edition
3.0
Hedonistic, sure, but the language is to die for. Some mind-blowingly beautiful sentences.
theimportanceofbooks's review against another edition
5.0
Alan Hollinghurt's shortest and trashiest book about a sort of love square between a middle-aged man, his boyfriend, his boyfriend's ex and the middle-aged man's son. It felt like he gave up half way through and only finished it because he had some bill to pay or something and it's by far my favourite thing he's ever written!
rooney214's review against another edition
1.0
Hollinghurst is a good writer. He writes well. I recommend Swimming Pool Library. But this book is very very boring, and I simply couldn’t care about these characters. A rare 1 star from me.
danieltodd's review against another edition
2.0
Prose style lush as always but this book is severely held back by an absence of likeable characters. Self-pitying, egotistical, vapid caricatures who are all physically beautiful.... and that's it. And the only woman in the book is a mute alcoholic: fantastic.
As with much Hollinghurst the narratives are tainted by a bizarre mixture of implausibility and laughable predictability. The beauty of his word-craft (this particular novel contains some of the best similes I have ever read) makes it feel as though real tenderness is always on the brink of occurring.... until it actually occurs that there are no stakes involved because the characters suck - especially Justin, who is completely vexing.
The younger characters - Danny, Terry, Lars - could have been explored in much greater depth. Perhaps the message of the novel is that everyone becomes insufferable after about 23?
As with much Hollinghurst the narratives are tainted by a bizarre mixture of implausibility and laughable predictability. The beauty of his word-craft (this particular novel contains some of the best similes I have ever read) makes it feel as though real tenderness is always on the brink of occurring.... until it actually occurs that there are no stakes involved because the characters suck - especially Justin, who is completely vexing.
The younger characters - Danny, Terry, Lars - could have been explored in much greater depth. Perhaps the message of the novel is that everyone becomes insufferable after about 23?
mateusjobim's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-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? Yes
2.0
artwinsintheend's review against another edition
2.0
I was recommended Hollinghurst's The Swimming Pool Library, but it was out at the library, so I grabbed this one instead.
It's described as a comedy, but the problem is that it just isn't funny. There are a few funny moments, yes, but over-all... no. Another problem is that the characters aren't particularly likeable. I was rather fond of Alex, shy, uncomfortable and hopelessly in love, but in the end he got a bit too pathetic. You never get under the skin of the characters, you don't get any explanations for their actions. There is no plot worth mentioning, everyone has sex with everyone, and that's pretty much it. And the sex isn't even very interesting.
This could have been a good story. It starts of promising, with the four main characters in a cottage out in the country. If it had stayed that way, I think it definitely could have been an interesting chamber play, but alas it didn't.
I'll still give The Swimming Pool Library a chance, because while I didn't enjoy this particular book, I still enjoyed Hollinghurst's writing.
It's described as a comedy, but the problem is that it just isn't funny. There are a few funny moments, yes, but over-all... no. Another problem is that the characters aren't particularly likeable. I was rather fond of Alex, shy, uncomfortable and hopelessly in love, but in the end he got a bit too pathetic. You never get under the skin of the characters, you don't get any explanations for their actions. There is no plot worth mentioning, everyone has sex with everyone, and that's pretty much it. And the sex isn't even very interesting.
This could have been a good story. It starts of promising, with the four main characters in a cottage out in the country. If it had stayed that way, I think it definitely could have been an interesting chamber play, but alas it didn't.
I'll still give The Swimming Pool Library a chance, because while I didn't enjoy this particular book, I still enjoyed Hollinghurst's writing.