Rating: 
Summary: Unispired storytelling.
Review: I was very disappointed in this book. It was an insipid story told with very little style or emotion. The author's attempts to enlighten are pathetically juvenile. This may be the last time I follow one of Oprah's recommendations. A true waste of my time.
Rating:
Summary: This "Reader" Is Very Disappointed
Review: Having read "White Oleander", "She's Come Undone" and "Vinegar Hill", I made the assumption that "The Reader" was an intellectual and cultured choice made by the new-age matron of popular fiction, Oprah Winfrey. I should've known by now that you never assume ANYTHING. "The Reader", in my opinion, was a beautiful, crisp, fragrant ten-dollar bill held high above the menacing abyss of a cold, porcelain toilet and sucked down into the typhoon of chlorine and waste matter with revolting fury and impenitent spite. I am sorely regretful that I ever spent one red cent on that book because the story was incredibly disinteresting and the diminutive plot infuriated me. I went through 207 pages to find out that the pedophilic Hannah was short on common sense, couldn't read worth a lick and was responsible for the death of 20 some odd Jews. I can understand the terrifying reference to the Holocaust (the church incident), but this is a character I simply cannot have any sympathy for or any understanding. She has sex with a fifteen-year-old boy, and even though both parties are willing, I do not consider it consensual sex because of the incredible age difference. This shows that she has no responsibility, morale or principles. She cannot read or write and conducts a railway train. This illustrates that she is at the murky depths of the education triangle and is also at the bottom rung of social standing plus income. Yes, WWII was an impoverished period for many countries around the world, but I'm willing to bet that Hannah only made enough to buy milk and bread each month after covering her other expenses being rent and utilities.Bernhard Schlink may be a brilliant writer to some, but I'm tired of the excuse that something was lost in the translation. I honestly think that none of his writing contains any sort of imagination or instinct. He seems to be writing what's on his mind more than direct storytelling, like a diary or journal of sorts. Maybe this was his intentional literary technique but I don't think it worked to its potential besides the failure of the diluted plot. The summary on the jacket is deceiving in its dark prose pertaining to Hannah's deadly and poisonous secret when no such intrigue and macabre exists. She couldn't read. She, along with other Gestapo officers during the Holocaust, were responsible for about twenty deaths to the 6 million lives lost during WWII's head-spinning war between Hitler and a sacred religion. Why is this not a surprise? There's no suspense, for one, and the outcome is highly predictable. What sickens me most is that Michael is sympathetic towards her plight and continues to humor her burgeoning illiteracy by reading and writing to her while she serves time for her war crimes in a woman's correctional facility. My beautiful 10-dollar bill, swirling in the muck and decay, gone forever over this miserable piece of literary filth. I pray I never make a mistake of this proportion ever again!
Rating: 
Summary: A journey through dark souls...
Review: This is a read that requires work, but the gems mined from its weaving of words makes it a worthwhile labour. Dealing with a post-WWII era, this is a unique expose on the lives of the German population in general, and the shame and dishonour they had blanket them in those times. It is also a rich, deep, journey into the shame of one woman, who would rather bear judgement for war crimes than have her lifelong shame revealed. Compelling and provoking.
Rating:
Summary: What A Journey
Review: I feel like The Reader gave a pretty good insight on what it is like to be in Hanna's position. But it also gave just as good an insight into being the victim at a concentration camp. What happened in Auschwitz and the other surrounding camps is quite disturbing. My thanks go out to Bernhard Schlink, because as long as people write and talk about what happened in the concentration camps, we won't forget. To be truthful, we can never let ourselves forget. If we can remember, maybe we can stop this from ever happening again. The Reader had some twists and turns that I hadn't anticipated until I read them. I felt for Michael Berg, but also felt for Hanna Schmitz too. I realized Hanna was illiterate when she first asked Michael to read to her. She was to embarrassed to admit her problem and felt trapped when Michael started asking questions about her life. I believe she struck out at Michael in order to keep him at a safe distance. Hanna's greatest fear was being found out. Being a guard, Hanna had to protect herself by doing her duty, or take a chance on loosing her life. In her eyes there was no option. When her trial finally starts and things are looking grim she still can't face her problem. Which ends up getting her convicted of murder. She does her time and on the eve of her release she commits suicide. I think inside the prison she felt somewhat protected and understood. But things would be much different on the outside, now that her secret is out. Maybe she felt she couldn't start over again I also in turn felt sorry for Michael. I believe he would of done anything for Hanna, but he was still having a tough time trying to figure her out. Her mood swings were so drastic and physical, Michael felt he was the cause. But he wasn't. Hanna hadn't yet learned to deal with her problems. Then one she just up and leaves. Michael dealt with her leaving the best way he knew how. He kept the feelings he felt for Hanna fresh in his mind, in turn he didn't have to deal with the loss. As time goes by he finds ways to deal with his loss and the guilt.
Rating:
Summary: Sexy and Mysterious
Review: I really thought this book was right on time. You can actually read this whole book in one setting. Even if you don't, you'll never have to reread to remember what the book was about. The setting and plot stays with you and actually wants to make you take the place of one of more characters that are presented in the book. This is one book you'll never have to (you may want to though) pick up again. It's just that interesting; you wouldn't want to leave anything out when explaining because the book's just that good. There couldn't be a briefer explanation. This book was recommended by Oprah's Book Club.
Rating: 
Summary: A quick read
Review: I did like the book, it was a very qucik read and held my attention. But for me to recommend a book to my friends it has to be outstanding... this was pretty good but only 3 stars. I was looking for it to get into the war crimes and characters more... maybe to book should have been longer?
Rating: 
Summary: Better enjoyed in the past...
Review: I did not enjoy reading this novel. I would not have even picked up this book except for the fact that I am involved in a book club and this is what we were reading that week. Only a couple of us from the book club, enjoyed The Reader. The rest of us despised the character Hanna and felt that Michael was a very confused and simplistic character. The novel didn't seem to have purpose. I will admit though, that I am only a teenager and I think I will enjoy The Reader much more if I read it again in about fifteen to twenty years. I didn't enjoy reading this book, but I definitely understood it a lot better after I had finished reading it and I was looking back on the novel. If you are reading this book, you should finish it and then think back on what happened in it and what this novel was truly about. The Reader is more appealing in the past than in the present.
Rating:
Summary: He tried, but he didn't quite succeed...
Review: I read this book as part of a short class on the second generation of people after the Holocaust. It was thought provoking, but, in many ways, flat. The narrator is, as my professor said, "a collection of ideas," and never evolves into a real person. Some of this is intentional on the author's part, however, it becomes inconsistant with what he is able to determine about Hanna (he doesn't have that much insight!). Hanna is the most well drawn character in the book, and, despite her past, has some integrity (she admits to her what she has done and denies what she has not). Her illiteracty explains how SHE became involved to the extent she did, but is by no means an explanation for all participants. It made me think about what I would have done in her postion, and the most real part of the book is when Hanna turns to the judge and says, "...what would you have done?"--and truly wants an answer.
Rating:
Summary: A great rainy day book...
Review: Granted, the book really did not make you think or dig deep for a meaning, however, it was a joy to read. It gives gives you a glipse of the life of a 15 year old boy who discovers a new chapter of life that is carried with him through his life. The first part was wonderfully written and full of emotion. The second part however, lacked the sensitivity and emotion of the first part. The ending, I believe, is fitting to the novel. Surely a one-day read.
Rating:
Summary: Misdirected Emotion
Review: "The Reader" is not an easy read. No tbecause of length or difficulty, but because of disturbing subject matter and because, quite frankly, it is not very well written. Certainly the sunbject of guilt relating to the Holocaust is not new. How should those who stood by and did nothing atone for their silence; even worse, what about those willingly particpated in the atrocities of this dark period. Readers are faced with these issues, but given little to think about. It seems as though we are supposed to feel sorry for Hanna, but I just cannot. She is a reprehensible person; nothing can excuse her actions. Even her affair with Michael is nothing but a confused, ugly woman using a young man. Michael, too, is conflicted many years later when he discovers the truth about Hannah. He is sickened by what he knows, but his character seems to lose strength--in the end, he seems shallow. While the novel hopes to pose serious questions and raise thought-provoking issues, it does not succeed.
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