Kevin’s review of The Absolutist > Likes and Comments

How is this one, Kevin? I need to read some more of his books!

Cheri wrote: "How is this one, Kevin? I need to read some more of his books!"

It's really good, Cheri (as expected), and is set in Norwich - the city in which I live. Trouble is, final preparations for my latest book (just the cover design to do) are taking up most of my days.
I will get back to Mr Boyne very soon, though. The genius hasn't let me down yet!

Great review Kevin!

marilyn wrote: "Great review Kevin!"

Why, thank you, Marilyn! Most kind! : )

Outstanding review, and another I'll add to my list! Thank you, Kevin. 🙏
"smooth as a baby's bottom" gave me quite a giggle! But this line-
"... my own city of Norwich (I don’t actually own it, I just live here)."-😂
Your reviews are always something to look forward to, sir.

Kevin awesome review my friend..
Adding it..
Dean;)

Brilliant review Kevin!! I need to read this one! Thank you for the reminder!

Wow, Kevin! This review is awesome!

Kimber wrote: "Outstanding review, and another I'll add to my list! Thank you, Kevin. 🙏
"smooth as a baby's bottom" gave me quite a giggle! But this line-
"... my own city of Norwich (I don’t actually own it, I just live here)."..."

Thank you so much, Kimber!
I sometimes walk around Norwich as if I own the place! ; )

Dean wrote: "Kevin awesome review my friend..
Adding it..
Dean;)"

That's brilliant, Dean. Hope you like it! : )

Susanne wrote: "Brilliant review Kevin!! I need to read this one! Thank you for the reminder!"

Aww, you are too kind, Susanne. You can't go too far wrong with John Boyne. : )

Carol wrote: "Wow, Kevin! This review is awesome!"

Thank you, Carol. I loved your review!

Great review Kevin. I hope to read all of his work.

Collin wrote: "Great review Kevin. I hope to read all of his work."

Thank you, my friend.
I hope you do give him a try. Boyne has the X-factor.

Outstanding review Kevin for an outstanding book from an outstanding author. I read this several years ago. I’m a huge fan of Boyne and have loved everything he has written.

Wonderful review, Kevin and I love John Boyne's books but haven't read this one. I appreciate your comment "John Boyne doesn't do tedium. He writes gutsy, emotive books that you miss when you're away from them."

A grandly compelling review, Kevin.

Ah, Kevin, such an inspiring review. He's such a talented author, but I usually come away feeling gutted by these stories - not a complaint on my part. Just a sign of the power of his words to affect us all so much!

Nicola wrote: "Terrific review Kevin! I have this and am looking forward to it. I love Paolos Italian Restuarant in Norwich. Their pizza is so good! 😂😂😂"

I'm pleased you've visited our beautiful city, Nicola. : )
Please try something better than pizza next time though. We have some fabulous restaurants.

Peter wrote: "Wonderful review, Kevin and I love John Boyne's books but haven't read this one. I appreciate your comment "John Boyne doesn't do tedium. He writes gutsy, emotive books that you miss when you're aw..."

Thank you, Peter. : )
There are very few modern writers who impress me. Boyne is one of them.

Laysee wrote: "A grandly compelling review, Kevin."

You are so kind, Laysee. Thank you very much! : )

Cheri wrote: "Ah, Kevin, such an inspiring review. He's such a talented author, but I usually come away feeling gutted by these stories - not a complaint on my part. Just a sign of the power of his words to affe..."

I do know what you mean, Cheri, there is no 'feelgood factor', but Boyne is such an engaging storyteller that you get swept away by it all.
Othello, for example, is a downer, but a masterpiece all the same. ; )

Hip Hip Hurray. I hope to read this, too. Thanks for the prompt with your enthusiastic review.

Excellent review, Kevin. I love how you describe your appreciation for Boyne and his book.

Well that first paragraph says it all, Kevin, and yes he is an extraordinary author, a go to author when you seem to be surrounded by mediocre reads. Love your review and John Boyne!

Terrific review, Kevin!!

A magnificent review, Kevin! A WWI story is affecting enough, but combined with Boyne's storytelling abilities, I have no doubt that this one will be a first-rate read.

Bianca wrote: "Hip Hip Hurray. I hope to read this, too. Thanks for the prompt with your enthusiastic review."

Thank you, Bianca. I look forward to your review if you do take it on. : )

Esil wrote: "Excellent review, Kevin. I love how you describe your appreciation for Boyne and his book."

Most kind, Esil. You made a very good point in your honest review.

Marialyce wrote: "Well that first paragraph says it all, Kevin, and yes he is an extraordinary author, a go to author when you seem to be surrounded by mediocre reads. Love your review and John Boyne!"

Thank you, Marialyce! : )
Your review was spot on!

Deanna wrote: "Terrific review, Kevin!!"

Thank you, Deanna. You are most kind! : )

Candi wrote: "A magnificent review, Kevin! A WWI story is affecting enough, but combined with Boyne's storytelling abilities, I have no doubt that this one will be a first-rate read."

I appreciate that, Candi.
Be careful with that Kindle pen of yours though!! ; )

Kevin wrote: "...the complexities of human relationships in an era when anything more than a handshake between men would have elicited feelings of revulsion."

My step-father was a Naval officer, as was my birth father who was killed in WWII when I was 7 months old. My step-father was horrified even at the thought of two men touching, other than the clasping required for a handshake. I was four when my mother re-married (to my god-father as it happened) and my god-step-father would insist that he and I shake hands before I went to bed because it was the "manly" thing to do. He was about 65 or 70 when one day I pulled him into a hug, gave him a kiss on his cheek and told him I loved him. He started to weep and said how much it meant to have his son do this. He said he had been emulating his own father, another Naval officer, (WW's I and II) who imbued in him the horror of two men 'touching'. This was, of course, despite the fact that naval ships incarcerated men at sea for months at a time, with the obvious consequences of close male-only contact.

A great review, Kevin! I might be a little too emotionally squeamish to read this particular book, but John Boyne has an interesting catalogue and I am yet to tackle "A Ladder to the Sky", but it is in my library!

I really appreciate your moving insight, Terence.
I've always been a hugger and have never had a problem hugging my male friends (and vice-versa). That's how we roll. I also have a lot of gay friends whose company I revel in.
That said, one cannot properly condemn people's attitudes and prejudices in bygone eras. Times were different and sensibilities were different. It was difficult to 'be yourself'.
And I'm so pleased you gave your step-father a hug and a kiss when he needed it.

As for tackling a Boyne book, man up, Terence! ; )
*Giggle*

Kevin wrote: "As for tackling a Boyne book, man up, Terence! ; )
*Giggle* ..."

😄😄😘
BTW - "The Heart's Invisible Furies" was my fave out of 120 audiobooks in 2018

Terence M wrote: "Kevin wrote: "As for tackling a Boyne book, man up, Terence! ; )
*Giggle* ..."

😄😄😘
BTW - "The Heart's Invisible Furies" was my fave out of 120 audiobooks in 2018"

I loved it too, Terence.
And there's nothing that you can't handle in 'A Ladder to the Sky' and 'The Absolutist' I'm sure.
Of the two, 'A Ladder' is the least devastating.
: )

God, I appreciate you, Kevin and your always fantastic reviews. I guess I have to get this one closer to the top of my list.

Angela M wrote: "God, I appreciate you, Kevin and your always fantastic reviews. I guess I have to get this one closer to the top of my list."

And, God, I appreciate you, Angela, with your everpresent generosity! Thank you so much!

Kevin, AMAZING review! This will be my next Boyne... ok, so... he had a post on Instagram yesterday about his new book coming in 2020... The Shadow of My Shadow 😊

Awesome review, Kevin!

Karen wrote: "Kevin, AMAZING review! This will be my next Boyne... ok, so... he had a post on Instagram yesterday about his new book coming in 2020... The Shadow of My Shadow 😊"

Thanks, Karen! Kind as always!
I will certainly be joining the hordes of people reading his next one.
: )

Jeannie wrote: "Awesome review, Kevin!"

Thank you, Jeannie! I hope that this is to your liking if you do take it on. : )

This remarkable novel, which I read some time ago, stayed with me mainly because Tristan is no ideal, as you beautifully write, Kevin, as we all have flaws and we all have our grand moments ... Boyne's descriptions of the war are most moving ..... Thank you for this truly stellar review ...

Gosh, the opening quote is shocking. And from that to Boyne's head a baby's bottom?! LOL

You do make this sound interesting, and yet the shadow of The Boy lurks for me. Maybe one day.

Beata wrote: "This remarkable novel, which I read some time ago, stayed with me mainly because Tristan is no ideal, as you beautifully write, Kevin, as we all have flaws and we all have our grand moments ... Boy..."

Thank you, Beata! You're great!
I'm also not a fan of books whose main characters are too good to be true. Not every princess is a blonde-haired beauty; not every assassin is infallible; not every soldier is cut out for war.

Cecily wrote: "Gosh, the opening quote is shocking. And from that to Boyne's head a baby's bottom?! LOL

You do make this sound interesting, and yet the shadow of The Boy lurks for me. Maybe one day."

Ha! Thank you, Cecily. : )
Boyne does have an impish quality and he seems wonderfully smooth-skinned on top. I'd like to rub his dome to see if it brings me good luck!

Inspiring review, Kevin. It is inspiring me to hurry up and read another Boyne. I, too, seem to be going through “lamentable” reading. My son advised me to stop reading books that I have to read because of bookclubs or events and focus on books I really want to read. I think there is some truths in that for me.

Antoinette wrote: "I, too, seem to be going through “lamentable” reading. My son advised me to stop reading books that I have to read because of bookclubs or events and focus on books I really want to read. I think there is some truths in that for me..."

Most kind, Antoinette!
I agree with your son. Life is too short to drink bad wine and read dreary books! : )

Have yet to read this, Kevin...marvellous review! :)