The Spell
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4.2 • 13 Ratings
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- £4.99
Publisher Description
Discover this ‘sparkling celebration of sexual intrigue’ (Telegraph) from the Booker Prize-winning author of The Line of Beauty.
The Spell is a comedy of sexual manners that follows the interlocking affairs of four men: Robin, an architect in his late forties, who is trying to build an idyllic life in Dorset with his younger lover, Justin; Robin's 22 year old son Danny, a volatile beauty who lives for clubbing and casual sex; and the shy Alex, who is Justin's ex-boyfriend.
As each in turn falls under the spell of romance or drugs, country living or rough trade, a richly ironic picture emerges of the clashing imperatives of modern gay life. At once lyrical, sceptical and romantic, The Spell confirms Alan Hollinghurst as one of Britain's most important novelists.
Customer Reviews
Close to home
If you live in London know someone gay or gay yourself this is a good read. I work in a office where Alex works and live in the area Alex lives and recognise how he feels. Which is why I know the end of the story when it started. The description of the clubs and London brought back some vivid memories. I have yet to meet my Nick i will popping to a club this weekend after this good read.
NO SPELLS
The protagonists are all rather hard to like, and I tried! Some of them are deeply unlikable. In real life you'd avoid them for being so toxic. The novel itself seems directionless, in that it doesn't reach anywhere and it's difficult to understand the need for some of the characters to remain together at all. Alex's narrative is one that seems completely static from beginning to end. The novel feels, very much, like a partial draft, than a finished work. Disappointing, after having read something as brilliant as 'The Strangers Child'.