Reviews tagging 'Murder'

Der Vorleser by Bernhard Schlink

7 reviews

radfordmanor's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Murder, Genocide, Suicide, and Toxic relationship

willowbiblio's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

 "I also remember that the smallest gesture of affection would bring a lump to my throat, whether it was directed at me or at someone else. Sometimes all it took was a scene in a movie. This juxtaposition of callousness and extreme sensitivity seemed suspicious even to me."
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This was such a complex novel, not because of the plot but because of the weight of the ethical questions it explored. There was first the exploitation and grooming of a minor, then the physical and emotional abuse at Hanna's hands, then the abandonment and emotional disregulation after she left, the guilt and shame Michael grappled with during her trial and in life after, and the odd relationship that continued while she was in prison.

I didn't, and couldn't, feel sympathy for Hanna despite the clear literary push to do so. She chose to be both a sexual predator and mass murdered, and this was all explained away because she was afraid of her illiteracy. This was a struggle for me because I had to accept that Michael the character deserved his own journey, but Schlink the author sort of exploited the reader and Michael. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship and Murder

Moderate: War and Antisemitism

shea_proulx's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Confinement, Suicide, Sexual content, Murder, Hate crime, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, War, Toxic relationship, Antisemitism, Adult/minor relationship, Genocide, Emotional abuse, and Forced institutionalization

merrychristmas's review against another edition

mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Murder, and Violence

Moderate: Sexual content and Death

Minor: Antisemitism, Suicide, and Genocide

poirot's review against another edition

emotional reflective slow-paced

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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Antisemitism, Death, Emotional abuse, Murder, Genocide, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Physical abuse, Suicide, and Sexual content

ellahaugdahl's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.0

jeg leste høytleseren som sommerleks, og jeg hadde så mange følelser. jeg følte med karakterene, selv etter mange feil. det var flere plot-twists jeg aldri kunne se komme. ble veldig veldig glad i den.

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Murder, Suicide, Grief, and War

Minor: Death of parent

thereaderfriend's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense 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? It's complicated

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Genocide, Murder, Religious bigotry, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Torture, Sexual content, Adult/minor relationship, and Antisemitism