The Line of BeautyThe Line of Beauty
Score Modern
What it's about
In 1983, Nick Guest, a young gay man just out of Oxford, moves into the London home of his rich friend's family; the father is a rising Conservative politician. Nick is dazzled by their world of money, parties and Thatcher-era power, while he explores his own desire in secret affairs. As the decade goes on, AIDS arrives, and a scandal threatens the family.
Why it's worth reading
It won the Booker Prize, and both the New York Times and the Guardian named it one of the best books of the 21st century. It's a beautifully written portrait of an era.
You'll love it if you liked
Brideshead Revisited
The Great Gatsby
The Great BelieversGood to know
There's explicit gay sex and drug use. The pace is leisurely.
By the numbers
- Readers8 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics93 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller16 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #881 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #1629 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Moving, Thought-provoking
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Quick answers
Is The Line of Beauty worth reading?
Yes. It won the Booker Prize, and both the New York Times and the Guardian named it one of the best books of the 21st century. It ranks #1,629 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 67.2 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Line of Beauty about?
In 1983, Nick Guest, a young gay man just out of Oxford, moves into the London home of his rich friend's family; the father is a rising Conservative politician. Nick is dazzled by their world of money, parties and Thatcher-era power, while he explores his own desire in secret affairs. As the decade goes on, AIDS arrives, and a scandal threatens the family.
How long does it take to read The Line of Beauty?
About 11 hours (438 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What awards has The Line of Beauty won?
Booker Prize winner (2004).
What should I read after The Line of Beauty?
If you liked it, try Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald or The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai.