Kimber Silver's Reviews > The Absolutist

"I think I'm just breathing, that's all. And there's a difference between breathing and being alive."

With my seat in an upright position and tray table stowed, I braced myself for another adventure, courtesy of Mr. Boyne. However, as I cracked open the cover and read the first few lines, I quickly realized that no seatbelt on earth could secure me — I was in for one doozy of a ride.

"Seated opposite me in the railway carriage, the elderly lady in the fox-fur shawl was recalling some of the murders that she had committed over the years."

Tristan Sadler, our narrator, is traveling by train from London to Norwich, England, on a mission of utmost importance. The year is 1919, and he has returned from the Great War — though only in body; his soul remains elsewhere.

This book was not how I imagined it to be; it was so much more. Over the course of two days, I walked beside Tristan and witnessed love, loss, war, and unimaginable betrayal. By the end, I was wrung out but had cherished every moment.

If you haven't read Boyne yet, I highly recommend this spectacular novel. His writing is immersive, and his flawed, broken, and utterly human characters will leave you eager for more.