It is unfortunate that this superior work will be categorized by many as a “gay novel” because it will reduce the number of readers who will enjoy the remarkable literary talent of the author, Alan Hollinghurst. Mr. Hollinghurst is a skilled writer with an excellent vocabulary, a joiner’s sense of syntax, and a writing style that is clear and readable. I am also very much impressed by his ability to conceive a novel, to imagine the characters and their activities so accurately that the story falls in to place with total believability. His analysis and development of characters is always accurate and he creates dialog that is completely appropriate for the characters. The Line of Beauty is about the people who inhabit its pages during a specific period of time. The only action is what they think and do. Yet this simple premise develops into a dynamic story thanks to the many skills of the author.

No wonder this novel won the Booker in 2004! Fabulous, elegant, can't say enough about the style and content.

Beautifully written and great insight into British high society and gay life

A good story overall. However, I personally felt this book was roughly 100-200 pages too long. Without the filler I would have been VERY happy with this book.

Very well written, which helps because the subject of homosexuality in England in the 80's and the of the aids epidemic does not make for happy reading. A taste of British upper class, nouveaux riches, and polliticians.

Book club.