882. The Folding Star

The Folding Star
Alan Hollinghurst
1994

Around 435 pages

This novel reminded me of Call Me By Your Name, which I haven't actually read, but I've seen the movie. On the one hand, it's exciting to get a homosexual relationship prominently featured in story. On the other hand, it features a problematic age gap that doesn't really get addressed. Of course, this blog contains nothing but problematic relationships, so it's not shocking, just disappointing.

This is the story of Edward Manners, a gay Englishman who moves to a town in Flanders and teaches English to two students, Luc and Marcus. Edward is in love with Luc, but he is more in love with beauty than anything else, so we get this very Mann-ish idealization of the male form. 

I like Hollinghurst as a writer, so this was an enjoyable enough read. Something about his style makes me feel like he comes from an earlier age than the 90s, maybe because the story had Lolita-y vibes. Edward is an incredibly shallow character who I wanted to see get smacked down Humbert Humbert style, but I was let down on that front. 

Solid, lyrical writing but I wish he had handled themes better.

RATING: ***--

Interesting Facts:

Shortlisted for the Booker Prize.

UP NEXT: Mr. Vertigo by Paul Auster

799. The Swimming Pool Library

The Swimming Pool Library
Alan Hollinghurst
1988
Around 360 pages

Only one more to go before 800! Can you believe it? If I walked away now, I would be able to squeak out a C+ on the List. But of course, I can't walk away now because I'm a psycho.

William is a hot young gay man, although I was initially confused about his gender because he kept referring to his tits. He saves the life of an elderly aristocrat who has a heart-attack in a public lavatory during an orgy, and the man asks him to write his autobiography. 

Is the opportunity for homosexual encounters really so rampant and I'm just oblivious? It seems like you can't walk into a gym locker room or public bathroom without turning down at least three sexual partners. Anyway, this was a decently paced novel, with a very smug narrator. I was interested in watching the relationships develop, and the ending was satisfying. 

Plus there was a ton of gay sex, so what else do you want?

RATING: ****-

Interesting Facts:

In 1988, Edmund White called it, "surely the best book about gay life yet written by an English author."

UP NEXT: The Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie