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3.65 AVERAGE
3.65 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
If you're interested in philosophy/history, this is the right book for you: it's very short (I finished it in 2 days), yet it gives room for contemplation.
When I read Part 1, I just thought it was a messed up and unhinged book, but no I was wrong. You HAVE TO CONTINUE, because what makes the book enthralling are the parts about the Nazis/the concentration camp. Personally, the bit about the author's struggle of whether to disclose Hanna's secret was my favourite.
The ending was somewhat a shock to me, and I wish Bernhard wrote a bit more about his personal thoughts at the end.
A well-written and thought-provoking book -- a must-read!
When I read Part 1, I just thought it was a messed up and unhinged book, but no I was wrong. You HAVE TO CONTINUE, because what makes the book enthralling are the parts about the Nazis/the concentration camp. Personally, the bit about the author's struggle of whether to disclose Hanna's secret was my favourite.
The ending was somewhat a shock to me, and I wish Bernhard wrote a bit more about his personal thoughts at the end.
A well-written and thought-provoking book -- a must-read!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
I bought this book after watching the movie many years ago. I tried reading it back then, but I struggled because I found them so similar. Now, 12 years later, I’m far enough removed from the movie to enjoy the book as its own work of art.
This book was tough for me to get into. I don’t like books that romanticize child abuse. I only hung in there because I knew the book was about more than that. But I had a sour taste in my mouth for the first third of the book, that I don’t remember having about the movie. I was also 12 years younger, and I felt differently about child sexual abuse between teen boys and women. I’m not proud of that, but it was ignorance rather than malice. The Reader does deal with that. In his later years, the main character refers to their relationship as “what she did to me.” But you can see his obvious struggle with the abuse he suffered and what his teenage brain tried to process as a very real relationship. Add in the nazis, and you can see why dude spends a lot of this book numb.
I liked this book for what it was. My inclination to dislike it is because it’s not the story I would’ve told. But that doesn’t mean it’s a bad story. In fact, I think if I didn’t have a sour taste in my mouth after reading that, I should probably worry about myself. A lot of what I read was disturbing and emotionally complicated. That part I liked. Life is not easily wrapped up in a bow. I like stories that reflect that. I *think* I know what I would’ve done if I were in the narrator’s position (sending narrated books on tape to my murderer SS officer ex/abuser is a hell no from me) but life and feelings and trauma are so complicated. Who is to say where the lines are drawn except the person living the life?
This book was tough for me to get into. I don’t like books that romanticize child abuse. I only hung in there because I knew the book was about more than that. But I had a sour taste in my mouth for the first third of the book, that I don’t remember having about the movie. I was also 12 years younger, and I felt differently about child sexual abuse between teen boys and women. I’m not proud of that, but it was ignorance rather than malice. The Reader does deal with that. In his later years, the main character refers to their relationship as “what she did to me.” But you can see his obvious struggle with the abuse he suffered and what his teenage brain tried to process as a very real relationship. Add in the nazis, and you can see why dude spends a lot of this book numb.
I liked this book for what it was. My inclination to dislike it is because it’s not the story I would’ve told. But that doesn’t mean it’s a bad story. In fact, I think if I didn’t have a sour taste in my mouth after reading that, I should probably worry about myself. A lot of what I read was disturbing and emotionally complicated. That part I liked. Life is not easily wrapped up in a bow. I like stories that reflect that. I *think* I know what I would’ve done if I were in the narrator’s position (sending narrated books on tape to my murderer SS officer ex/abuser is a hell no from me) but life and feelings and trauma are so complicated. Who is to say where the lines are drawn except the person living the life?
challenging
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I'd seen the movie, but not read book, so when I noted it was free listen via libary, I grabbed it. Probably had less of an impact, as I knew the story, but of course the book does better justice to inner thoughts/emotions of the characters. I love that it is not a simple black/white good/bad intertwining of two peoples lives and that there are no easy answers or explanations.
Otra ves otro libro donde un aleman complice del holocausto indirectamente es tomado como victima, o se le quiere dar redencion... Con eso perdemos el enfoque que es lo que paso...
Claramente este libro romantiza una relacion de pedofilia (si bien el niño de 15 da su concentimiento, es menor y no puede dar su concentimiento) y ademas la justifica por 200 hojas, sumandole que el prota siempre justifica a su agresora, al nivel de justificar que como es analfabeta de casualidad quedo como custodia en un campo de consentracion... RAAAROOOO
El libro si es entretenido y rapido de leer pero me hubiera gustado un final donde se critique o exponga esas cosas que ya mencione...
Claramente este libro romantiza una relacion de pedofilia (si bien el niño de 15 da su concentimiento, es menor y no puede dar su concentimiento) y ademas la justifica por 200 hojas, sumandole que el prota siempre justifica a su agresora, al nivel de justificar que como es analfabeta de casualidad quedo como custodia en un campo de consentracion... RAAAROOOO
El libro si es entretenido y rapido de leer pero me hubiera gustado un final donde se critique o exponga esas cosas que ya mencione...
I didn't know what to expect when I picked up this novel. I just knew that it was about a boy who falls in love with an elder women. That's it.
And I read in like two or three sittings. It is very well written and I could feel with the first-person narrator and how he had to fight with his feelings and his thoughts.
It really is an interesting novel. And although it does not have a happy ending, it does have a closed ending. And it still is a really good ending.
So, go and read this book!
And I read in like two or three sittings. It is very well written and I could feel with the first-person narrator and how he had to fight with his feelings and his thoughts.
It really is an interesting novel. And although it does not have a happy ending, it does have a closed ending. And it still is a really good ending.
So, go and read this book!
emotional
informative
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes