Reviews tagging 'Pedophilia'

Der Vorleser by Bernhard Schlink

20 reviews

taleofabibliophile's review against another edition

challenging reflective slow-paced

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, War, Genocide, Suicide, Pedophilia, Death, Vomit, and Sexual content

Moderate: Violence and Fire/Fire injury

sweetsuz's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

Loved it. Fast-paced, interesting message, engaging characters.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia and Suicide

hcchilders's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

NOT for the faint of heart. Those who gave a negative review might need to revisit the subject matter in a different headspace. At first, I almost couldn't get past the first section. I am so glad that I kept reading. 

The plot of the first section is nauseating. The character development and the writing made the entire thing worth it. I think this is a beautiful book about deep trauma and second-generation guilt after the Holocaust. Incredible writing, too! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Religious bigotry, Xenophobia, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, and Sexual content

remus_j_lupin's review against another edition

challenging informative reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Antisemitism, and Pedophilia

martuchi's review against another edition

fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

I hated this book. 

I hated how the author wanted to redeem a Nazi criminal and pedophile. I hated every single thing about this book: the characters, the constant justification of the Nazi party (who has, by the way, ZERO REDEEMABLE QUALITIES), and the overall romance aspect (that had no romance at all, in my opinion).

Maybe the author wanted to be in a middle ground regarding this situation, but the thing is, with the Holocaust there is no middle ground. It’s history and it can’t be altered (this is no 1984). There is no black and white in this: Hanna was an officer for one of the camps. I don’t fucking care if she was illiterate or not, she deserves the biggest punishment in prison. And I hate the ending with my life. 

I first thought the manipulative relationship the main characters had was the worst thing about the novel, but I am saddened to be wrong, because from the Second Part of the book, it became much worse. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia and Suicide

mayo_confessionary's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Pedophilia

Moderate: War and Genocide

Minor: Injury/Injury detail and Grief

carolin_xenia's review against another edition

dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Pedophilia, Antisemitism, and Adult/minor relationship

Moderate: Emotional abuse and Violence

lela_f's review against another edition

reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship and Pedophilia

Minor: Genocide

enoemo's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

Comes with a solid amount of trigger warnings - please be aware of the pedophilia and grooming that happens in this book. I found it interesting and well written, but not much more than that. The thought process of the narrator is understandable and makes sense in light of the gaslighting and grooming he faced, but it lacked something for me personally. It raises some interesting points about the processing of the holocaust post-war, but then again, I do feel like there's other works of literature that do this in a more profound way with a more lasting impact. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Genocide, Pedophilia, Antisemitism, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Chronic illness, Grief, Sexual content, Suicide, and Child death

Minor: Vomit

lesliewilleford's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Sexual content, and Pedophilia