The Absolutes
A Novel

2 stars Vapid and confusing, The Absolutes suffers from a case of identity crisis: is this meant to be a literary character study? A mafia romance? Or an erotic thriller? I'm all for mixing highbrow and lowbrow material, but the author seems to have no clue what kind of audience she is writing for. Th......more

The Absolutes is incredibly written and observed in its portrayal of the intricacies of obsession and power. It could be compared to Normal People or What Belongs to You, but it is also unique. I loved this brave book and wish I could write with Dektar's clarity and feeling.......more

This veered too much into the romance genre for my taste - which is not a criticism of the book. It is the story of a young American woman who becomes infatuated with an Italian aristocrat, whom she meets in Turin as a troubled teenager and then runs into again many years later in New York. She find......more

“the absolutes” is the story of obsession and abuse, both emotional and physical. the novel begins with nora, a troubled teen, sent by her parents to italy. the first time she sees nicola, the obsession begins. years later, in new york city, they meet again, this time as business partners. however,......more

Nora, an aspiring artist with wavering mental health, becomes obsessed with Nicola, an Italian businessman with a corrupt and complicated family history, to the point where she absolves her self and let’s him consume her identity whole. the content warnings are heavy with this one! 3.25 stars!......more