A review by pulcotinette
Der Vorleser by Bernhard Schlink

dark reflective sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.5

My German is not as good as I thought, so I didn't understand the majority of part two (out of three). But other than that, I disliked the power disbalance between the two characters, and really loved the descriptions of feelings, longing, and landscapes. Mixed feelings, since I found that relationship deeply uncomfortable, but it is somehow beautifully written. 
Funny story: at first, I thought it was "the life of others" so I was not prepared for the plot. Der Vorleser also talks about WWII, but in a very different way.
I have a theory about them actually. Because der Jüngchen only goes on her grave once, it makes me think that he doesn't want to acknowledge her existence. He doesn't want her to exist. To him, she exists only in secret (their relationship in the first part) or at night, like a dream (part two, sending Kassette to her). Or maybe, he invented their relationship in his head, and therefore since it does not exist on the outside. When the prison guard asks how they came to know each other, he doesn't answer, maybe signifying that they don't know each other, that he only invented this relationship. Anybody has another theory on this ?

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