Reviews tagging 'Sexual content'

The Reader by Bernhard Schlink

36 reviews

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

aduda06'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? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Antisemitism

Moderate: Sexual content

amgepine's review

challenging dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Genocide

Minor: Sexual content

max_power's review against another edition

dark reflective sad fast-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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Deportation, Antisemitism, Genocide, Adult/minor relationship, and Sexual content

Minor: Suicide and War

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

icarusandthesun's review against another edition

reflective tense fast-paced

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

2.0

na ja.

meiner meinung nach an sich definitiv einer der eher interessanteren deutschen klassiker - besser als homo faber und kabale und liebe und was man da so alles lesen musste.

die thematik war okay, die überlegungen bezüglich des holocausts und des zweiten weltkriegs recht gut zu lesen; die beziehung zwischen michael und hanna amüsant (wenn auch höchst fragwürdig angesichts dessen dass er fünfzehn war und sie über dreißig), allerdings auch faszinierend.
erinnerte mich sehr an frankenstein und sein monster; ... educating rita?

der plot-twist am ende war hervorragend. ein gutes ende für eine leider in allen aspekten mittelmäßige geschichte.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship and Sexual content

Moderate: Grief

Minor: Genocide, War, Suicide, Fire/Fire injury, Antisemitism, and Death of parent