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pam_simpson06's review against another edition
- 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
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
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
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.
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
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Pedophilia, Grief, Suicide, Gaslighting, Child abuse, and Antisemitism
aduda06's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Death and Antisemitism
Moderate: Sexual content
samanthaleereads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Suicide, Genocide, and Antisemitism
Moderate: War
willowbiblio's review against another edition
- 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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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.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship and Murder
Moderate: War and Antisemitism
philippmk's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Genocide, Antisemitism, Suicide, Death, Grief, and Fire/Fire injury
max_power's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Deportation, Antisemitism, Genocide, Adult/minor relationship, and Sexual content
Minor: Suicide and War
iisa's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
Graphic: Antisemitism, Adult/minor relationship, Suicide, and Racism
Moderate: Gaslighting
tigerkind's review against another edition
- 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
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