Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

Der Vorleser by Bernhard Schlink

6 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

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

unchargedbook's review against another edition

challenging reflective medium-paced

• 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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia

Minor: Physical abuse

librarymouse's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad 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

4.0

The Reader is a book that pulls you in. Schlink's narrative style, clipped sentences, and the reflective nature of the content creates a tangible window into Michael's world and the dilemmas faced by the generation of Germans born right after the Holocaust. I did not particularly like Michael or Hanna. Both are intrinsically flawed individuals, but their characters and the way they interact are written in a relatable way. You can understand them even as you hate what they are justifying. I've read this book repeatedly and with every re-read I am older and

more disturbed by the content  and the characters' continued justification of pedophilia and Michael's active sympathize for Hanna despite knowing she was a Nazi who sent Jews to their deaths, all to avoid her illiteracy being made common knowledge. I like that she was offered no absolution by the last living member of the group of women she guarded, and I think the unsatisfactory ending fits well with the realities of life after reconciling with the unforgivably actions of a loved one. Part of me wishes there was more direct acknowledgement of the way Hanna's sexual and emotional abuse impacted Michael. The other part of me knows that Michael's continued devotion to her in sending the cassettes, keeping her letters, and his inability to form and maintain close interpersonal relationships is indirectly addressing that impact, and that directly addressing it would have taken away from the reflective, almost voyeuristic nature of the novel.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Antisemitism, Pedophilia, Genocide, Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Physical abuse and War

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