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A review by dandelmouse
The Reader by Bernhard Schlink

challenging dark reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Hauntingly beautiful. I went into this not knowing anything other than that Kate Winslet was in the movie adaptation. I kept waiting for Leonardo DiCaprio’s character to show up but realized partway through that I was confusing it with Revolutionary Road (another movie I haven’t seen). Anyway, this book grabbed me from the very first line: “When I was fifteen, I got hepatitis.” From there, it builds slowly, drawing you into its layers and revelations. The overall vibe reminded me of The Remains of the Day in that a big part of my enjoyment was reading between the lines and feeling intuitively what the first-person narrator leaves unsaid. 
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