The Reader

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Summary: oprah's sheep discover nazi horror
Review: very fast reading..i guess in germany this book struck a nerve..to me it was old news..i bet this book had oprah's army of soccer mom's scratching their heads..on the one hand they must be wondering what they would do if they were hanna's position when she met the boy..on the other hand, they must be saying,"gee, war is bad. i wonder what oprah would do?" the reader also has a "surprise" secret that might or might not explain hanna's motivation..

Rating:
Summary: A Fresh Breath in a rainy day
Review: Between the lines we can feel the fresh sensibility of this beautiful story. Sure the crimes were horrible but one can't stay unmoved before the ones who have read to her. I hope one day I become a Reader and shall make a difference in the lives of others as Michael did so naively.

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Summary: This book made me look forward to my morning train commute.
Review: Janeway did a superb job in the translation of this book. While reading it, I often wondered if her phrasing might be even more eloquent than the German version, though I will never know first hand. I disagree with the review that it is difficult to connect with Schlink's characters. I felt sympathetic toward Michael and curious about the distant Hanna which is, I would guess, what the author intends. The blend of the timeless and secretive affair and the historical events of the Holocaust was one I had never read about, but presented an interesting vantage point of a subject with which most of us are familiar.

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Summary: A stunning challenge about crimes of personal betrayal
Review: I read this remarkable book twice and made new discoveries the second time around. As a decade-long national leader in adult literacy in the U.S. I understand well the stigma and shame attached to the condition of adult illiteracy, but I don't find it believable as the primary motivating factor for the actions of Hannah. But there is much else to say about the work. The lucidity of the language creates a horrifying picture that is both stark and beautiful. Hannah's awful past acts against humanity are horrifying and inexplicable. Still, one wants to cry not just for her victims, but for Hannah herself. The author masterfully interweaves the horror of her criminal action (really, a lack of action) with other periods in her life, but most importantly with the underlying broader theme of betrayal that results from silence/inaction. The book delivers a powerful message that asks for a great deal from the reader, including an honest examination of one's own behavior. I admire the book immensely. Oddly, despite all that is terrible about Hannah, and about the lawyer who loves her as a young man, the truth is much more complicated than that. At the end, on a purely human level, I cared about Hannah and even felt in some measure responsible for her.

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Summary: A metaphor for the larger question.
Review: Books takes me weeks, regardless of their length. This one captured a single weekend. I kept coming back to it as family life swirled about me. I suppose there was a sexual undertone, but nothing of their intimacies did much to invite or excite. The real message was larger than love found and lost. I think it was about the ultimate act of love - forgiveness. This story is a trumpet sounding to anyone who continues to suffer the abominations of the Third Reich. The abuse will continue as long as the abused carry their baggage and proclaim "We will never forget!" This author told a story about love sneaked, love lost, then love found ugly due to circumstances of war. That's a love story worth reading.

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Summary: Moving and uplifting at the same time
Review: I read this book on holiday in Germany, and was lucky enough to read it in its original language. I thought it conveyed the idyll of a (slightly taboo) love affair with the reality of truth and self-deception very well indeed. I finished it in 2 nights...

Rating:
Summary: Excellent story, very touching
Review: Nice quick read. The book leaves you with so many other questions. It is such a different book from the norm, it had me so drawn.

Rating:
Summary: emotional
Review: I felt pity for the main characters because if they had never met then their lives may have been different.

Cindy

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Summary: An intriguing story of love and loss
Review: I really enjoyed how well the author captured Michael's innocent obsession with Hanna. Later on when you find out why she was so secretive everything fits together very well. The ending left me wanting more of an explanation of why things happened the way they did. Maybe I was just wishing that they would get back together because he confessed that he needed someone like her. Overall I thought the book was worth reading but not one of my favorites.

Rating:
Summary: Best read
Review: This is a book to be treasured - the definitive work on the Holocaust.The story line is indelible and leaves an imprint of the way that mankind overcomes adversity.