The Stranger's Child

I get why this is considered good, but man did I struggle, even with the audiobook. I'd tried reading this a couple times before and just couldn't get into it; having made it through the audiobook, I get why I couldn't. It sounds like such a good story, but it's just executed so dryly and, at times, confusingly. There's a kernel of a good story/book here, but this just isn't it. The overall premise of the war-time poet, killed in action, possibly gay (it's clear in the first section, but it's left unknown for the people in following sections trying to figure things out), and the poem he left in an autograph book, starts well, if a little slow. Then each section jumps about 10-20 years, and you're left trying to figure out who's who and why we're following them. We follow the owner of the autograph book, a young man that wants to write about the poet, and then, I'm not exactly sure the point of the person we follow in the last section other than that he's interested in these people too. Like I said, there are bits of a good story here, I just wish it was told better.

Well written, multi layered book written across an expanse of time and taking in the narrative of central characters from the perspective of a variety of other characters. I think I preferred the earlier part of the book best but thoroughly absorbing

First off, and most importantly, extra pointswere given for the naming of the following characters.

Dick Mint
Stinker Strange-Paget

This is story is of Cecil Valance a would-be poet and a bit of cad, who dies very young during WW1. Following his death, he is immortalised and turned into some godlike poet extraordinaire by the men and women who loved and desired him. As the years go on perception changes and people begin to discover what the real Cecil Valance was like.

As with all AH's novels there are similar themes here, namely posh people, posh houses, public schools, art, music, literature and the promise of a rumpy fumble in the bushes. And, like all his previous books, it's beautifully written. Unfortunately, the first two parts are a real chore, I did nearly give up a couple of times. Thankfully parts 3, 4 & 5 are much better.

I guess if you haven't read any Alan Hollinghurst before, I would definitely NOT start with this one, go for The Swimming pool Library or better still, The Line Of Beauty.