The Absolutist by John Boyne

"The Absolutist", by John Boyne. This book is published by Other days in 2012 and has 320 pages.

This is the story of Tristan Sadler, a young boy who enlists in the army to fight against Germans by providing false age. Tristan is loathed by all and is as good as dead for the family. The reason, he is homosexual.

He becomes friends with Will, another recruit at the training academy, a son of Vicar. Both train together and talk about their lives. Upon completion of training, they are sent to Germany to fight. Will captures a young German soldier. One of their colleague kills him. Will can not digest the murder of an unarmed soldier. He fights for justice but is unsuccessful. This is when he declares himself an absolutist.

What is an absolutist? Can Tristan help him? Are they lovers? Does Tristan or Will survive the war? Who is Marian?

Author has handled the subject of homosexuality in this book. Mind you that although the book was published in 2012, the story takes place between 1911 and 1919. Even saying the word was a taboo in those days. Tristan is always at the receiving end because of his sexual orientation. He still finds some human beings who understand him in those days.

The story is very slow. Not much happens for pages. The tone is gloomy. But you want to keep reading. The book is written more at a psychological level than material. Tristan goes on to become a writer and confesses that he is the most feather man.

An OK book. Only serious readers should try it.

Dark angle by Geoffrey Archer

"Dark angle" by Geoffrey Archer.

Tom and Markus are good friends. One day Tom's 14 year old sister goes missing. While searching for her in the woods with police they find her violated body. The friends grow apart after this incident. The murderer is caught and sentenced.

Tom and Markus meet again in Korea while serving in army two years later. They come to know that Binny, the girl who had a crush on Markus, has married his elder brother. Markus has amorous encounter with a Korean girl but loses her in the heat of war. Years after returning from Korea, Markus goes to jail on charge of man slaughter. At the time of his release, his daughter from the Korean girl, now an American,  comes looking for him.

Tom is still not convinced that the convicted guy was murderer of his sister. But how can he find the truth? Is there a different truth? Was there a secret of his younger sister? Who was the murderer? Who is the dark angle?

Author has made the canvas of this book very big. The time span is about 50 years. A lot of space is occupied by the story in Korea much of which is not directly related to the story. That section could have been cut down to less than half. Although you know the killer towards end, the book does not end at that. The end of book is a bit unimaginable.

This book would have been more interesting had it been shorter. Not in the same league of other Archer books.

A so-so book. Not recommended.