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maxblackmore 's review for:
The Reader
by Bernhard Schlink
I watched the film almost a decade ago. I don't really recall much after such a long time - so this novel came across as a fresh experience. Schlink approached the plot in a detached way - he kept pulling back from the scenes and mixing philosophical discourse and future events into current timelines. This style is much less engaging, but it reflected the protagonists’ character well, and arguably reflected Schlink’s personality.
Many deep themes were discussed in the book - responsibilities (duty to one’s job and duty to morality), nature of law, assessment of history (assigning the current generation’s circumstances to past generations and expecting the same results), dignity (Hanna’s almost ridiculous stubbornness and the dilemma between respecting the dignity of others and choosing the supposed “correct” path for them), and obviously - love and relationships. The theme of dignity is particularly well explored. Every tragedy needs something heroic - in this story Hanna’s dignity is the very heroic act that distinguishes it from other books.
I initially wanted to give it three stars but I think the later half of Part II and the entire Part III merits an extra star for its depth. The area where Schlink did not do well was the theme of Nazi guilt - a recurring theme in post war German identity. It is not a bad subject on its own, but it took away some of the wind out of other themes - especially when they appear in the same chapter. But all in all, the book outperformed my expectations.
Many deep themes were discussed in the book - responsibilities (duty to one’s job and duty to morality), nature of law, assessment of history (assigning the current generation’s circumstances to past generations and expecting the same results), dignity (Hanna’s almost ridiculous stubbornness and the dilemma between respecting the dignity of others and choosing the supposed “correct” path for them), and obviously - love and relationships. The theme of dignity is particularly well explored. Every tragedy needs something heroic - in this story Hanna’s dignity is the very heroic act that distinguishes it from other books.
I initially wanted to give it three stars but I think the later half of Part II and the entire Part III merits an extra star for its depth. The area where Schlink did not do well was the theme of Nazi guilt - a recurring theme in post war German identity. It is not a bad subject on its own, but it took away some of the wind out of other themes - especially when they appear in the same chapter. But all in all, the book outperformed my expectations.