In the Absence of Men

The character building and intricacies of a teenager discovering himself with the aid of a celebrated author had this reader rivited. The setting was WWI, Paris, and the details are woven into a solid story this reader could relate to.There are a number of twists and turns that come together in the tragedy of missed opportunities.

At first mesmerizing, the voices of the three characters are distinct and the author captures their views with remarkable accuracy as to their ages and maturity. Toward the end of the book, the prose remains lyrical, but the voices seem to run too much together; the characters' distinctions become blurred. The story is of predictable melancholy although as I read I so wanted a happy outcome that I knew was hopeless.

very well written

This short book whipped me through the whole range of emotions. Phillipe Besson's writing (albeit translated from French) has a style all his own. His ability to plumb the depths of gay sensibilities is amazing. You will enjoy this book all the way up to end, which may surprise you. It makes me really wish more of his books were translated into English. After you read this, then read Lie With Me, also by Besson.

I totally felt for the characters. It’s a weekend you’ll never forget.

Next time will buy this writer in French

La historia es parte de la vida real. El amor nos cae encima y luego desaparece. El libro habla de nuestro interior y lo físico se presenta sutil y elegante . El final no es creíble, la vida sigue y el deseo de un joven no se extingue aunque haya duelo temporalmente.

Wonderful tale of forbidden love - gives a decent sense of the times and what being LBGTQ would have been like.

Depois de Lie With Me, fiquei com vontade de ler mais do Besson e o escolhido foi esse seu primeiro romance. Sem saber do que se tratava, fiquei positivamente surpreso quando percebi que o Marcel que aparecia como personagem era ninguém menos que Proust - e quando a ficha caiu, o livro ganhou mais e mais camadas de significado. Quem gosta de Proust vai se deliciar com essa homenagem ao autor (e alguns temas de sua obra), que se passa na época da I Guerra Mundial e que vai desde os horrores da guerra até as sensações delicadas e evocativas de encontrar um primeiro amor, para apenas perdê-lo para a brevidade do tempo em que ele pôde realizar-se. Recomendo

An enjoyable, well written, interesting and affecting story

Beautiful and well written book. It's both tender and cruel. Really loved it, as I love all the books I've read of this author. I recommend it.

I love the style of this novel, with its absence of certain punctuation that keeps its pages tidier, and the author's stunning prose.

This is the second book I’ve read by the author. It’s poetically and beautifully written, maybe a little long and elegiac for some but I loved the story and the prose and the evocation of the war era and the love between men in those times. I would highly recommend it. It’s a moving and beautiful read.