Rating: 
Summary: A Reader
Review: This book was artfully and eloquently written. The author's use of simple language to express complex human emotions in Post WWII Germany is rather refreshing. There is a simple twist to the book that one might not expect, but the book does not go much in the way of suspense or even drama for that matter. It's a nice quick read for those blue rainy days at home when one reclines next to a window with fruit, tea, and chocolate...or not. However your preferred ambiance it's a nice read.
Rating: 
Summary: Overwhelming
Review: A searing novel of guilt and responsibility, The Reader has the relentless pace and stunning power of The Triumph and the Glory, unforgettable characters rivalling any in any of Oprah's recommended novels, and the vivid imagery of Cold Mountain. Thought-provoking, stark, yet fulfilling, this is a must-read novel for anyone with a conscience.
Rating:
Summary: A passionate and thought provoking novel
Review: For the first part of "The Reader" I was totally engrossed by the powerful tale of passion so eloquently expressed by Mr. Schlink. As the plot unfolded the writing appealed less to the emotions but more to the intellect as the author dealt with the complexities of the German postwar conscience. A tribute to the power of this work is the fact that I finished the book over 2 months ago and yet I still think about it regularly and still feel the passion between the characters as if I myself had been part of their story
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Summary: Not Your Usual Holocaust Novel--Thank Goodness
Review: For those who have grown weary of the typical post-war, anti-Nazi novels, movies, and histories of World War II Germany (I'm thinking of Ursula Hegi's tedious Stones from the River,among others), but wonder how the legacy of Nazism has affected successive generations, this book is a must-read. Written by a German man who grew up in post-war Germany, this book sheds light on how people of his generation have grappled with the Third Reich and its aftermath. At the same time, the book touchingly tells a young man's coming-of-age story in a most compelling manner. The love affair with Hanna, the friendships with his school and university classmates, and the strained relationship with his family are utterly credible--so much so that one cannot help wondering how much of it was based on the author's personal experiences. This also lent credibility to the other part of the story--Hanna herself and her experiences during the war and afterwards. While illiteracy is no excuse for atrocities, this book does convey the profound effect that illiteracy can have, not only on the illiterate but on those around her. If Schlink's story is an accurate portrayal of what Germany's baby boomers are experiencing, he has done us all a great service by describing it. I found it ironic that I was listening to this book on tape, which are so much easier to make today that in the 1950s. I am giving the tape to my sister, a high school English teacher, because I think she would enjoy it and might recommend it to some of her more sophisticated students. And I am planning to read it myself, the old-fashioned way. Listening to books on tape is a delightful convenience in our busy lives, but there is no substitute for curling up with a good book in one's hands--a pleasure that Hanna sadly came to enjoy much too late in life.
Rating:
Summary: PROFOUND!
Review: "The tectonic layers of our lives rest so tightly one on top of the other that we always come up against earlier events in later ones, not as a matter fully formed and pushed aside, but absolutely present and alive."So reads one of the most profound quotes from a book deceptively straightforward. It absolutely gave me chills as I read this passage, precisley describing as it does that the sum total of our lives includes everything that has happened in our pasts. I found the setting and plot of the book to be the perfect format for illustrating this undeniable truth. The Holocaust must be a cauldron of secrets, half-truths and baldfaced lies for many people. Some reviewers complain that we never really get to know Hanna or Michael. I disagree but even so, isn't it true in real life? How many people in our lives do we REALLY know? As I've gotten older, I've become convinced that it is the human condition to keep secrets about ourselves - especially FROM ourselves. A fine novel. I simply could not put it down and read it in a sitting, frequently going back and re-reading passages. A deeply affecting novel on so many levels, I highly recommend it to anyone interested in the complexity of the human heart and soul.
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Summary: Consequences
Review: I was not disturbed by the detached narrative in The Reader by Bernhard Schlink, but believe he used it successfully to tell some truths. The exposure of Hanna's illiteracy was not the point of the book, nor the excuse for her behavior. But I found it a warning of the far-field damage that can occur when people are blinded by near-field issues. At the same time Hanna was spending so much energy trying to hide a flaw, she was also an active participant in atrocities. It would be easier to police the world if pain was only caused by people with bad intentions, and asking ourselves what we would have done in that same situation would have a straightforward answer. But if even good or neutral people/intents can create so much harm, then we all have the potential for promoting harm. And that is disturbing.
Rating: 
Summary: A disappointment
Review: When I first picked this book up, I thought this would be a real thought-provoking novel about the Holocaust. I was very disappointed and could not wait until I finished it so I move on to something more enjoyable. I thought the book lacked character development. What was worse, was the ending which left me feeling very unsettled. Even if I enjoyed this novel and wanted to recommend it, I would be too embarrased because of the sleazy relationship between the woman and the boy half her age.
Rating: 
Summary: Repetitive and monotonous
Review: I am a senior in high school and an avid reader. The first half of this book was enjoyable, but then it just got plain boring. Maybe it is my age or lack of interest, but I just ended up skimming the end because I wasn't about to give the time to finish it.
Rating:
Summary: Very Disappointing!
Review: I am an English teacher and read constantly. In the past I have thoroughly enjoyed all of Oprah's selections. I was excited to see that this novel addressed the Holocaust. Wrong! The first 30 pages of text dwell only on a licentious relationship between a woman and a boy half her age. There is little character development of either character, so I found myself caring about neither. The ending, while slightly shocking, is very contrived and contains no closure. I could not put this book down; not because I couldn't wait to see what would happen next, but to get it over with so I could move on to something more enjoyable. A grave disappointment.
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Summary: Anorectic plot, weak characters, limp writing.
Review: Perhaps it lost something in the translation? This book could have been a decent short story but unfortunately it just dragged on and on. The characters were flat and unpolished. The message was merely whispered, and almost lost entirely in the cliche romance. This book failed to evoke any emotion, and the ideas behind it seemed unfinished and confused. The holocaustic backdrop seems to be more of a commercial hype machine than anything necessary for the progress of the story. This is one of those books you might pick up at the airport and finish only because your flight is long. Skip it.
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