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This story is set in the 1980s, London, England during the Thatcher years and is a book about politics, society and family. In the reviews I read it is compared to Proust. The protagonist is a young, gay man, who simple takes up residence with this family and never leaves for about 4 years. It is through is observations that we view these years. We also view the struggles of this coming of age tale of a young homosexual male. Of all the books I have read about gay males, this and Giovanni's Room
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This is the story of Nick Guest, a young gay man, who moves into the home of the Feddens – Gerald is a Tory MP, Rachael his wealthy wife, Toby the son is Nick’s friend from school and daughter Catherine. The story starts in 1983, jumps to 1986 and then to 1987. In 1983 Nick is naïve and just beginning to explore his sexuality. He befriends Leo, a black council worker and has an affair with him. In 1986 he commences an affair with old school friend Wani – a rich drug addict. AIDS and affairs, lov
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While this was still not a 'great' book for me, and would not make my own version of a 1001 books list, this book was a LOT better than Swimming Pool Library. This novel had a plot, and a theme that was not just gay porn. The main character in this novel has actual boyfriends, not just a never-ending string of improbable hookups, and he and his friends and lovers have to deal with real world consequences for their lifestyle choices, in the form of AIDS and political and social fall-out. (There w
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A remarkable evocation of a certain kind of heartless and doomed life in Thatcher's London of the mid-1980s. I thought at the time, those of us who had less money were better off, and this confirms it.
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Some parts seemed to drag. However for the most part this was an enjoyable book to read.
Mar 23, 2012
Mekki
marked it as to-read
May 11, 2019
Diane
rated it
liked it
Shelves:
2019-reads,
guardian-1000,
historical-fiction,
1001,
booker-prize,
21st-century,
brit-lit,
1001-done,
lgbtq
Feb 05, 2014
Diane
marked it as to-read
Sep 09, 2014
Ann
marked it as to-read
Jun 17, 2017
Yvonne
marked it as to-read
Oct 06, 2017
Haaze
marked it as to-read
Jan 13, 2018
Sorobai
marked it as to-read
