The Line of Beauty - Section two, 1986 (June 2015)

[Casceil]

This thread is for discussion of the middle section of the book, which deals with the events of 1986. A lot has changed in three years, and it is interesting to compare the Nick of 1986 to the Nick of 1983.

[LindaJ^]

I finished section two last night. Nick has indeed changed in the three years. I would not, however, say he has matured! Nick is now fairly comfortable with his homosexuality and no longer inexperienced but rather promiscuous, at least to me. More troubling is that he has taken up coke. While he does not seem as addicted to it as Wani (not a likeable character at all!), he still uses a lot. Coke was the downfall of many talented young professionals during the 80's.

In this section we have the first acknowledged death from AIDS. I keep wondering when it is going to become part of Nick's life. It seems to me that Wani may be the one.

I am enjoying the view of British politics in the Thatcher era. I lived through the Reagan era and was among those who did not think highly of him. But I did appreciate his friendship with Thatcher, for whom I had a lot of respect.

Catherine and Toby are interesting. I'm curious about the real story of the breakup of Toby and his fiancee. Nick remains protective of Catherine, even shielding her from Jasper's liason with Wani.

Nick seems to have lost his admiration for Gerald, whose superficiality is exposed, but retains his respect and liking for Rachel.

[Casceil]

Good summary. No explanation is ever given for Toby's breakup with his fiancee. My impression was that she decided not to marry him. I wondered at times whether he was maybe a little too "proper" for him.

[LindaJ^]

Casceil, if I remember correctly, Toby tells Nick that she complained that he hurt her during sex, causing Nick to wonder whether she was "frigid."

Did you mean he was too proper for her or she was too proper for him? Given the discussion of how repelled her parents were during their shortened visit while the Fedder family was on holiday at the manor, I could make a case that she was too "proper" for him. On the other hand, she was a struggling actress, so I could make a case that he was too proper for her!

[Casceil]

I'm not sure what I meant, and what I wrote was unintelligible. They just did not seem like a good match. And you're right, I had forgotten about Toby's comment to Nick that she did not seem to enjoy sex.

[Caroline]

Linda, I think that's a great summary of this section.

I've been fearing that something AIDS related will happen to Nick since the beginning, and have been sensing that one of the characters will be subject to a major event. However, I've kept waiting and waiting and nothing happens. Nick reveals his affair with Wani to Catherine but nothing's come of that so far. He's being reckless at the party held for the "Lady," including asking her to dance, doing cocaine in the bathroom while a police officer stands outside, and engaging with Tristao again (just imagine the potential for blackmail!), yet nothing of any consequence ever happens.

Normally, I don't mind books where not much happens within the plot. However, the writing in this book seems designed to tip us off towards a major event, such as an illness, being caught, or perhaps even a fight with one of the Feddens or Wani, but they all seem to go back to their childhood rooms and pine for something they can't have.

[Casceil]

Be patient, Caroline. A lot will happen in the last part, and all of this is set-up for that. There is more happening than you realize when you are reading it. At the end, things that seemed insignificant at the time come together in a larger picture.

[LindaJ^]

I can only second what Casceil says. Everything comes to a head in the last part and it ain't pretty for anyone.

[Caroline]

The second I started into section three I thought, "Oh, perhaps I've ranted too soon!" I've still got quite a lot left to go but I can already see that more is about to come. I sense that this will be one of those books where I appreciate the sum more than the individual parts.