The Line of Beauty

This book affected me very deeply because it’s set in the 80s and 90s when I was in my twenties and thirties. It describes with astonishing accuracy the political cruelty that abounded at that time. For me, the real hero of the book is Leo. He’s not only gay but also Black which makes him a double target for the prejudice of the time. The way he tackles it head on in the book is breathtaking.

Hollinghurst is flat out the best writer of literary LGBTQ themed novels living today. He is one of the authors that helped me realize that I could write fiction that is both highly literary and very sexually charged. His prose is gorgeous, lyrical, and stunning and his plots are wildly engaging. The Line of Beauty (winner of the 2004 Booker Prize) is set in Britain in three parts, taking place in 1983, 1986, and 1987 following the journey of Nick and his relationship with the Fedden family. After you read this one check out his entire catalogue! And the wonderful… show more.

The first time I read this masterpiece, I was blown away by Hollinghurst’s marvellous prose, by the vicious political satire, and by the vividness of his recreation of gay life in 1980s London as the AIDS crisis hit. All that was so distractingly brilliant that it took me a second reading to see the book’s emotional power. Most of the characters have barely any redeeming features and yet Hollinghurst still makes their lives tragic and affecting. It’s a stunning achievement.