The Absolutist

The Absolutist – 5 stars

Wow. Second book I’ve read by John Boyne, and second masterpiece. LGBTQ+ themes aren’t something I often seek out, but if a book looks compelling, I’ll give it a shot—and this time, I was rewarded with a truly exceptional read. What I love about Boyne’s style is the gravitas he brings to the story. It’s not light material, but he somehow balances the emotional weight with a brisk narrative pace. You move through this deeply affecting story quickly, almost like watching a film—the scenes are so vivid and dynamic. A truly talented writer.

Have to say, John Boyne does tell a really good story, it really does flow quite beautifully and, despite being quite gruesome in parts, I loved the story, that is, up until the ending. You cannot love the ending to this book, I feel incredibly sad and a little bit angry. It's just so awful that someone felt they had to torture themselves for 60 years, living in a kind of emotionless purgatory, friendless and unloved. What horrible times they were for a lot of people, and yet some bleat on “it was never like that in my day” like it was a good thing... pffft.

John Boyne est un romancier de grand talent. Il a un talent incroyable pour écrire des personnages totalement humains, donc imparfaits, et des histoires mémorables. Je découvre progressivement sa bibliographie et je suis chaque fois épaté et emporté par ses récits.

« The Absolutist » ne fait pas exception. L'auteur nous offre une fiction historique de très haut niveau, sur la Première Guerre Mondiale, l'homosexualité telle qu'elle était vue et vécue à l'époque, et le sentiment de honte.

C'est un grand roman, terriblement efficace. Un régal à lire.

Of all the gay war novels I've read, this is the best gay war novel (there's obviously far more depth than that).