Description: Good. Ships from the UK. Former Library book. Shows some signs of wear, and may have some markings on the inside. Your purchase also supports literacy charities. read more
Description: Like New. SHIPS FROM GERMANY. NO EXPEDITED SHIPPING! Allow 10-14 business days for delivery. Please always check the language in the product description section. Few left in stock-order soon. Selling online since 1995. Code: L20091201085023I. read more
Description: Very good. Used, remainders or ex-library, english-speaking-service, Gebraucht oder Verlagsrestbestand, evtl. aus Bibliotheksbestand, bei mehrbändigen Werken bitten wir um vorherige Anfrage, korrekte Rechnung mit ausgewiesener MwSt., deutschsprachiger Service, 14-Tage-Rückgaberecht. read more
"This lady who sells books gave me a copy of this yesterday and it's a super fast and mostly good read . . . the lady said she hated it and it was one of the stupidest books she's ever read, which, I don't know, I didn't feel that way. But now I want to read reviews to see what the hell, coz I thought it was fine--not the best thing I've ever read, but not the worst."
"Most of the women in my book club could tell you that I never rule out a story because of its lack of a happy ending. I still felt betrayed by The Reader even though I understand Schlink's attempt at poetic justice.
I found myself understanding Hanna's attraction of the weaker child, Michael. I saw her as a heroine, injecting Michael with a sense of confidence that he would not have attained for many years had he lived his life like a normal teenager.
Then I found her as a poison, tearing apart at his life and ruining all that was good to him. And at the same time, I understood that as well. I think that we all have those people or those moments that we will never, ever regret even though it haunts us for the rest of our lives. Our minds always go back towards that one event or person and when times are good, it will attempt to cloud our judgment. When times are bad, it will act as a reminder of what might have been or what was. And at times, it becomes hard to distinguish between what that moment in time really represented.
In the end, I felt cheated and betrayed at Hanna's death. I wanted Hanna to come back with Michael and live out the rest of her days in peace. And I was so angry with Michael for never writing her after seeing that all she wanted was a little recognition. It hurt deep down for me in a place I had not been to in a while.
I suppose that this book has its merits but while I write, in the wake of the ending, I can only find faults..."
"When the movie came out there was a lot of press and at some point I heard or read a review that basically gave this story away and I think if this wouldn't have happened, I may have liked the book just a little more. Chandra requested that I read this book so she had someone to discuss it with as she read it while on a recent flight. I am not sure she will ever ask me to read a book again after my criticism. Bernhard definitely didn't win me over with his writing style. Perhaps something is lost in translation but I never found myself caring or loving any of the characters. The book always kept me at arms distance from everyone and everything. Perhaps that was his intention as he uses a similar critique of the the biography one of the victims wrote that is used during the trial. I also found myself constantly having to go back and try to piece together the chronologically of this book. And finally, perhaps my biggest complaint is that the largest section of this book is focused on the events that occur when the narrator is 15. While I appreciate that this event shapes and forms who he becomes but it seemed excessive. He quickly moves through other time periods and characters that I think he could have used to help tell the story in a much better manner. I would recommend this book to some but this may be one where the movie is better than the book (which means I have to go see the movie)."
"What a haunting book. At first I didn't think I'd like this novel, fresh on the heels of my reading Zusak's lyrical, tightly constructed flow (The Book Thief). This novel has a lot more exposition, which suits its more philosophical purpose. I now have a reading hangover, because I started one night (couldn't sleep once I started it) and had to finish it the next (couldn't sleep until I finished it).
Schlink poses difficult questions that tie into the plot, like what ultimately motivates a character, how does she tick? This is a good one for a book club, because it raises so many questions, and reading about a characters in the aftermath of Nazi Germany is something I hadn't yet encountered. Compelling, especially the "what makes them tick" part.
Questions that go closer to personal experience, like why is it easier for people in relationships to act without verbally communicating why or what they're doing or intending, and what does their action ultimately mean? Can we ever know? Yet anyone who's ever been in a relationship has experienced these conundrums. My deep-seated urge to resolve these insolubles propelled me through the book and even calls for a second read. The author has a sense of keeping his reader at arm's length, engaging the reader to imagine and ask questions.
Schlink effectively creates emotionally distant characters that nonetheless emotionally hooked me in, an art to pull off."
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