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The Reader

By Prof Bernhard Schlink
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3.79 goodreads logo

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Check link for latest rating. ( 227,745 ratings, 14,277 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Reader by Prof Bernhard Schlink explores the post-World War II relationship between a young boy named Michael and an enigmatic older woman named Hanna. As Michael grows older, he uncovers Hanna's secret past, leading to complex questions about love, guilt, and moral ambiguity. The story interweaves their personal journey with historical events, challenging the characters' understanding of truth and responsibility.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you appreciate complex narratives that explore themes of guilt, redemption, and the moral dilemmas faced during and after World War II. It's a poignant tale that delves into a unique and emotionally-charged relationship, prompting deep reflection on the nature of love, memory, and responsibility.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

A German novel exploring the themes of betrayal, guilt and memory against the background of the Holocaust.

Part of the Phoenix 'Eyewitness to History' promotion

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

For 15-year-old Michael Berg, a chance meeting with an older woman leads to far more than he ever imagined. The woman in question is Hanna, and before long they embark on a passionate, clandestine love affair which leaves Michael both euphoric and confused.

For Hanna is not all she seems. Years later, as a law student observing a trial in Germany, Michael is shocked to realise that the person in the dock is Hanna. The woman he had loved is a criminal. Much about her behaviour during the trial does not make sense. But then suddenly, and terribly, it does - Hanna is not only obliged to answer for a horrible crime, she is also desperately concealing an even deeper secret.

A tender, horrifying novel that shows blazingly well how the Holocaust should be dealt with in fiction. A thriller, a love story and a deeply moving examination of a German conscience - INDEPENDENT SATURDAY MAGAZINE

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The Reader by Bernhard Schlink is highly lauded for its intense emotional impact and insightful exploration of Germany's historical legacy, notably the Holocaust. Reviews praise the novel for its balance of erotic and philosophical themes, its universal resonance, and its handling of themes like collective guilt and individual motivation. The narrative's emotional intelligence and the depth with which it examines themes of understanding and forgiveness are noted for their rare moral precision and lasting impact.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780753804704

Publisher: Orion Publishing Co

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 02 October 2003

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Weidenfeld & Nicolson

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 19.0mm

Width: 201.0mm

Height: 133.0mm

Weight: 212g

Pages: 240

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Fiction General Fiction Literary Fiction Prof Bernhard Schlink

About the Author

Bernhard Schlink was born in Germany in 1944. A professor of law at the University of Berlin and a practising judge, he is the author of the major international best-selling novel The Reader as well as several prize-winning crime novels. He lives in Bonn and Berlin.

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