Reviews

The Reader by Bernhard Schlink

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betkahorecka's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

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

4.5

What begins as a problematic love story between a 15 years old boy and a 36 years woman suddenly turns into a deep exploration of guilt, sence of self, morality and a question: What should be done about the knowledge we have from holocaust?

sarinamarina's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional 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

2.75

nikolas_kolinski's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective sad 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

2.75

sammymus's review against another edition

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emotional informative 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

4.0

marcopimenta73's review against another edition

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emotional informative reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

beaaaaaa's review against another edition

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4.0

I read this book for school and I am so grateful that our teacher decided to give us this reading as compulsory!

The story was interesting and touching, but most of all surprising, because it is not the usual IIWW-story, and I really enjoyed how the characters develop through the novel and let the reader slowly in. After reading it you will understand why it is an amazing book for school, I definitely learned much reading it.
The writing, precise yet simple, matches this delicate development. My philosophy teacher used to say that the best way to express a complicate thought is trying to explain it to a child, making the concept easily understandable but not less deep, and I feel like this what the author does: his words are simple but so perfectly chosen, that the emotions, thoughts and feelings he writes about are still complex.

I would recommend this book to anyone: does not matter how much you like reading, what you usually like, how old you are, where you live, just read it! (not too hard to read in German even if you are a beginner)