Rating: 
Summary: What is Oprah thinking lately?
Review: I do not regularly get Oprah book club books - not to sound snotty, but what appeals to the masses in the literary sense does not usually speak to me. However, encouraged by my enuthusiasm for Wally Lamb and Jane Hamilton, I read on. Ugh. First the Pilot's Wife (atrocious) and then this? Oprah, come on. Character driven books with no plot I can deal with. Plot driven books with no character are harder to deal with but still carry SOME redeeming value. Books which meander and look deep within them for some sort of introspection which does not exist and then ultimately do not lead you anywhere (and don't even throw you the bone of having brilliant, delicate or delicious passages to revel in) is out of the question. Certainly not as contrived as the Pilot's Wife - and since it only takes about 2 hours to read, not as big a waste of time - but certainly not worthy of effusive praise, either.
Rating: 
Summary: Empty and unsatisfying
Review: This book has large type and is very short, and yet I almost did not take the time to finish it. It is as satisfying as Bridges of Madison County, another Oprah book, which is to say, not very satisfying. The main character falls in and out of relationships with extremely scanty character or plot development. This becomes quite evident from the beginning when the 15 year old boy and "woman twice his age" fall into bed together, without exchanging hardly a word. You would feel just as connected to a stranger who tells you his or her life story in 3 minutes or less. I never learned enough to care about any of the characters, and only finished the book because it is short.
Rating: 
Summary: Not a page turner
Review: I liked the book. I would not say it is a page turner, where you can't wait to see what happens on the next page. Throughout the book I felt that the weather was grey and dismal--which can be pretty depressing after a while. I also found the story to be somewhat predictable after a while. This is not a book that you can't put down and then go back to. The book doesn't seem to have its own momentum. Interesting but not riviting.
Rating: 
Summary: A Legacy of Lonliness
Review: It is often difficult for the modern American Reader to immerse themselves into the European world of symbol, myth and power. Yet, if one is to fully understand the power of this work that is exactly what must be accomplished. This is not a Romance, it is not a history, it is a metaphor that presents the ongoing struggle of passion to transcend the dark side of humanity and in so doing, bring some sense of redemption to those haunting events of history that often overpower the humanity of us all. When I first began reading this work I was taken aback by its abruptness and terse presentation. However, as the story began to unfold it became apparent that the author was attempting to place his characters in a life setting that incorporated the youthful passions of a generation in the process of renewal and the shadow of youthful passions whose blind allegiance to forces beyond anyone's control ultimately led to its corruption and downfall. Hannah is the epitome of the youthful passion suffering under the weight of age and guilt. Images such as Hannah working on the Streetcar, a train that in reality goes nowhere, and her retreat to the warmth of a bath secluded from the business of the world are worth reflection. The desire of Hannah to be read to is indicative of a childlike curiosity stretched between the harsh reality of what was and what yet may be. How interesting the twist of fate that brings the end of the relationship, Hannah's arrest, trial and imprisonment. The irony is that she keeps her silence, in fact all keep silence except those who accuse her of brutality. Intriguing is the picture. The accusor, the accused, the facts in contrast with the findings of the court and then, the reality that the accused has taken upon herself a portion of the collective guilt. Read this book with a discerning eye and pay attention to the weavings of a tale that reflects a modern tragedy in the making. Fallen powers, twisted personalities, character flaws and the desire for redemption all make their presence known.
Rating:
Summary: The Reader is one to read
Review: This book took my breath away. The author does an excellent job of describing scenes, feelings, and events. The devotion, love and commitment that the main character has is unbelievable. This story of true love is told from the male perspective, which makes this book even more unique. At a young age he finds the love of his life and she remains in his heart even when she is not in his life. The events don't unfold as you may expect in a love story.....which is what makes this book so unforgettable. It really touched my soul.
Rating: 
Summary: love and guilt
Review: It could be the type of book one would expect out of a middle-aged, German judge, full of the law and still haunted by the guilt of his parents' generation in Nazi times. But author Bernhard Schlink adds a sensual layer infused with another breed of guillt. While there is a subtle eroticism in the early chapters, this gives way to the sights, smells, memories and fixations of trying to deal with relationships and responsibilities. As the narrator moves from his adolescence to middles age, Hannah glides through his life, first as lover, then as mystery, later as obsession, and finally as heart breaker. Hannah is at times everything good and everything evil as her secret is revealed. Her deeds and insensitivies as a prison guard, her quirky tenderness, her efforts to cover and uncover her past -- these are the tidal waves beneath the surface of this engaging small volume. In the end, her secret both revealed and overcome, there is no relief from the mystery that surrounds her driving motivation. The title of the book, The Reader, takes on various meanings, but everyone in the book who is a reader is doomed in his or her own way. And by the end of the journey, one can only ask, "Why?" That question, especially to a German of the present generation, is the troubling reaction to atrocities large and small of the mid-20th century.
Rating:
Summary: Short read, fair book
Review: This book was a quick read. Started off slightly unrealistic by a woman in her thirties having a love affair with a boy the age of fifteen. Grew to be more interesting as the book went on. I would recommend with fair marks.
Rating:
Summary: The Reader
Review: This book is clearly not for the average reader, as it evokes a time that unfortunately few understand. A beautifully written account, although troubling.
Rating:
Summary: It draws you in but leaves you hanging
Review: The book draws you in with Michael and Hanna's relationship at the beginning, and character development would naturally seem to follow - but it doesn't. Michael has more passion and evokes more interest from the reader at 15 than at any other point in the book. I wish more could have been written about the reasons for Michael's failed relationships and his generations' attitudes towards the horrors of the holocaust. The book just was not very good. I expected much more from an Oprah book club book. Don't waste your time.
Rating:
Summary: An Intense Story
Review: I loved this short little book which brings up so many deep questions about life. A 15-year old is not emotionally mature enough to cope with such an intense relationship and will more than likely be affected for the rest of his life. How well do you know the people you become involved with? Is it wrong to love someone who has done bad things in the past? Do we ever really "get over" anything? And how true, the last chapter is. Whenever I cry for any little thing, I cry for the unhealed emotional wounds of the past. I will be thinking about this book for a long time to come.
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