Play Book Tag discussion

The Reader by Bernhard Schlink - 4* - My Review

When Michael Berg is fifteen years old, a chance meeting in unusual circumstances leads to falling in love with a thirty-six-year-old woman, Hanna Schmitz. The story opens in the mid 1950s in Germany and is told in three parts from Michael’s perspective as an older adult. The first covers the love affair, the second follows a court case in the 1960s involving Hanna, and the third covers the aftermath and the way Michael deals with the fallout. How does he reconcile his love for Hanna with the actions she has taken in the past? I do not want to say too much about what happens as I think it is better to go into this with as little knowledge as possible (of course, there is a film, and many will have seen it – I had not).

This book surprised me. I had considered reading it many times, but the description put me off. I finally decided to give it a chance and am glad I did. There are many ethical questions raised in this book. One theme has to do with the generation who were involved directly or indirectly with the events of WWII, and the judgment of history, particularly by the next generation. Another is the psychological damage done by an early inappropriate relationship. I believe that the book works on multiple levels – one as an interesting (though often uncomfortable) story and the other as an extended metaphor. I am impressed by the writing and would certainly read another book by this author.

PBT Steeplechase - tagged "books to movies" x24:
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PBT June BWF Extra R and tagged "europe" x117:
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I’m glad you liked it. I really appreciated the moral dilemmas in the book. I loved the movie with Kate Winslet. She was extraordinary, especially when she was testifying. I’m glad I read it too because it added to what was in the movie.

I will see if I can find the movie somewhere. I'm not much for films but I think I might like this one.

My mother recommended this book to me some years ago when I asked her for suggestions; she thought it was excellent, but I loathed it even though the writing is very good.

It seems to be one of those polarizing books.

Joy D wrote: "I will see if I can find the movie somewhere. I'm not much for films but I think I might like this one."

It’s hard to remember, but I think the film might have more emphasis on romance than the book.

I really enjoyed this one too. I liked the film, which I saw first, but I thought the book was better.

I'll see if I can find the film somewhere. I usually like to read the book first anyway. Most of the time I don't even know there was a film until I read the book and do some research afterward.