The Reader in Around the World in 80 Books

Jun 16, 2009 Coqueline rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favourites

I love this book tremendously. I have always loved books with flawed characters, but The Reader paints a very human story about these flawed characters and I feel a degree of relatedness to them that I don't think I have ever felt with any other literary characters.

I don't think it's got anything with sympathising with the Nazi. The two characters are products of their time and choices. And it asks the questions that resonates with many people that lives in Europe nowadays. How will you take the ...more

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Jan 05, 2013 Kent Winward rated it really liked it

I wish I'd known the legal background of the book. At times the writing feels a little wooden, but that may be in part because even well written legalistic prose can be difficult to translate.

The law exists in our words. In many regards, our morality also exists in our words, which makes the plight and crimes of Hanna, the concentration camp guard, all the more disturbing. The book hints around at this thought, but it seems the capacity to read and incorporate words into understanding is what m ...more

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Dec 29, 2012 Tanya rated it really liked it

Shelves: list-1001-btrbyd, 2013, format-audiobook

"The truth of what one says lies in what one does." Some of Hanna's decisions were so appalling to me and ultimately an unfulfilled life. I can't understand why she didn't take charge earlier to overcome her secret as she was so determined to be in control of other aspects of how she carried herself. But even though I did not care for the improper relationship, it still showed so much love in addition to desire. And the writing was good and I liked the Campbell Scott's reading of this book. ...more

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