Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

The Reader by Bernhard Schlink

28 reviews

pam_simpson06's review against another edition

dark reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, War, Antisemitism, Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, Toxic relationship, and Genocide

Moderate: Sexual content, Gaslighting, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Vomit, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, and Toxic friendship

sp00kyx's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense 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

*Read in German.

I watched the movie a few months ago and really liked it, but felt dissatisfied by the message. I felt as though the director didn’t really know himself what he wanted to convey, and what they wanted the message to be. It left me confused and frustrated. But the book answered all of those questions and I loved the way Bernard Schlink showed the thoughts and personalities of the two main characters. Hanna was actually a person, with a story and a real personality (positive and negative) and not just this evil person that needs to be condemned like in the movie. The message was also so much clearer in the book and it really made me think about the way we (as a country) handled and handle this topic. The writing was great, straight to the point but still immersive and the ending deeply upset me.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Violence, War, Toxic relationship, Antisemitism, and Suicide

Moderate: Sexual content

Minor: Vomit and Physical abuse

sal_the_cat's review against another edition

1.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Pedophilia, Grief, Suicide, Gaslighting, Child abuse, and Antisemitism

norcana's review against another edition

dark hopeful reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual content, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, and Genocide

Moderate: Vomit, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

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

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

lovely_lisa's review against another edition

challenging reflective medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Racism, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Genocide

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

tigerkind's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Medical content, Sexual content, Death, Adult/minor relationship, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic relationship, and Genocide

Moderate: Suicide, Vomit, Xenophobia, and Antisemitism

Minor: Toxic friendship and War

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