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3.65 AVERAGE
3.65 AVERAGE
The Reader really makes you think about the Post World War II era in Germany. Most books I've read focus on the War, or the events that take place during the war - sometimes from the perspective of a German Nazi. The person is usually a young male, who is clearly conflicted about what he is doing or brainwashed and usually dies before the war ends. Thus, the reader never has to think about the aftermath that would ensue.
The Reader is different, it focuses entirely on the aftermath. The story reflects the actions of Hanna, a 43 year old female. We never see things through the viewpoint of Hanna as they were happening. We only get to see her life after the war and events during the war have already happened. This story makes you really search your soul, asking as Hannah asks the judge -"What would you have done?". It will leave your psyche feeling conflicted about how members of the Nazi party were treated after the war. Many went on living normal lives, and living with their own guilt for years before they were prosecuted. You'll begin to wonder what you really would have done, if you had been in the same situation as Hanna. For me, I hope I would have acted differently, but facing the obstacles that Hanna did, I can't confidently say I would have.
I have noticed a recurring theme, in books that follow the WWII era past the ending of the war. There is generally no closure. Characters usually do not fully confront the issues they have been wrestling with for decades. They don't ask the questions or tell the bits of the stories that may have been excluded. In some situations these stories that are left untold could change everything. I think they are written this way as there is truly no other way to represent the hole, the gaping hole, that the Nazi party left in Germany. People felt that they couldn't say good things about people who done such bad things - but doing so would have given families peace, maybe even hope.
The Reader is not an easy book to read, you will think about it for days after you finish reading it. But, it should be read. It is important that we see and think about issues that matter from a perspective that is different from our own. It challenges our beliefs and helps us to look at the world differently.
The Reader is different, it focuses entirely on the aftermath. The story reflects the actions of Hanna, a 43 year old female. We never see things through the viewpoint of Hanna as they were happening. We only get to see her life after the war and events during the war have already happened. This story makes you really search your soul, asking as Hannah asks the judge -"What would you have done?". It will leave your psyche feeling conflicted about how members of the Nazi party were treated after the war. Many went on living normal lives, and living with their own guilt for years before they were prosecuted. You'll begin to wonder what you really would have done, if you had been in the same situation as Hanna. For me, I hope I would have acted differently, but facing the obstacles that Hanna did, I can't confidently say I would have.
I have noticed a recurring theme, in books that follow the WWII era past the ending of the war. There is generally no closure. Characters usually do not fully confront the issues they have been wrestling with for decades. They don't ask the questions or tell the bits of the stories that may have been excluded. In some situations these stories that are left untold could change everything. I think they are written this way as there is truly no other way to represent the hole, the gaping hole, that the Nazi party left in Germany. People felt that they couldn't say good things about people who done such bad things - but doing so would have given families peace, maybe even hope.
The Reader is not an easy book to read, you will think about it for days after you finish reading it. But, it should be read. It is important that we see and think about issues that matter from a perspective that is different from our own. It challenges our beliefs and helps us to look at the world differently.
7/10
I read this so I could watch the movie. But now that I've read it, I don't care to watch the movie. The storyline was good but the book moved too fast. I thought that I would like the fastness of the book, but it actually made me dislike it. Hanna made me severely uncomfortable and I do not like her.
I read this so I could watch the movie. But now that I've read it, I don't care to watch the movie. The storyline was good but the book moved too fast. I thought that I would like the fastness of the book, but it actually made me dislike it. Hanna made me severely uncomfortable and I do not like her.
A story of love, fear, loss and of memory both personal and collective.
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Erster und Zweiter Teil haben überhaupt nicht zusammengepasst. Die storyline mit dem Zweiten Weltkrieg kommt aus dem nichts. Auch manche Passagen waren sehr schwer zu verstehen. Manche sachen fand ich gut und wurden gut erzählt, aber im Endeffekt wars nicht gut und nicht schlecht. (würde ich freiwillig sowieso nicht lesen)
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I enjoyed this book and I'm looking forward to seeing the movie now.
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
truly devastating but incredibly eye-opening
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
informative
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes