The Reader

Rating:
Summary: Wasted money
Review: I bought this book, hoping for a good read, but I definitely did not get that. It did not keep my attention; I didn't feel connected with the characters; I feel like I wasted my money on this one. The author assumes that the reader knows all about the Holocaust, making it difficult to understand to the person, like me, who was never taught the Holocaust in school. I very rarely come across a book that I feel so negatively about, but this is certainly one of them.

Rating:
Summary: Sort of misses the holocaust, doesn't it?
Review: This book is about a woman who is willing to go to prison rather than own up to the fact she cannot read. I thought that was a little silly, especially when there were holocaust issues to consider. The whole book reminded me of that wonderful scene in "Life is Beautiful," in which the German is interested in puns, and the Italian is interested in life and death.

Rating:
Summary: Disappointing and the "big secret" is so silly!
Review: I can't decide if I am disappointed that it went by so fast because he could have put in a lot more interesting historical information. Or, I'm glad it was fast because it is so stupid! I expected Hanna's big secret to be something worse than being an SS officer, but it's not. The book is hastily written and there isn't much there.

Rating:
Summary: I didn't "like" the story or characters - I didn't need to.
Review: I find it interesting that many don't value a work unless they can "like" the story or characters. This book poses questions that shake belief. Its value is in the simple presentation of the complexity of human experience once judgement is set aside.

Rating:
Summary: Couldn't put it down, couldn't love it either
Review: This book was good, a good read, but it lacked something that would make it great. It's thought provoking, but I don't see people getting much out of it unless they actually paid attention in High School English (as I did) and can take the symbolism and style to the next level. I almost was talked out of reading this BECAUSE of the Oprah recommendation.

Rating:
Summary: Had so much potential
Review: I was so disappointed in this book. For a short novel, it ran too long with unnecessary details. I felt nothing with any of the characters. Don't waste your time or money on this one.

Rating:
Summary: Very Interesting
Review: I am from England and grew up with a different view of the Germans and the war(Schooling and peers). I found it very interesting to get a "German" view, be it fiction or not. I enjoyed the book and I would be interested to read more of Mr. Schlinks work.

Rating:
Summary: What a predictable read
Review: As one reviewer stated, this is really 4 books. I would give the first 3 1* and the last 3*. Who couldn't figure out early that Hanna couldn't read? Isn't it widely known that when an adolescent has sex with a mature adult, that adolescent will eventually have severe psychological problems? And, I found Hanna's desire to hide her problem at all costs to be unbelievable. And, for someone like Michael who let his life revolve around his affair with Hanna, and then to not "rescue" her or contact her in prison, well, it just didn't jell. I just didn't care about the book and I certainly didn't have any feeling for Michael.

Rating:
Summary: This book was disgusting.........
Review: I was very disappointed with this book. I felt very disgusted that I used my hard earned money for this. Who picked this book? Who wants to read about a woman having a fling with a young boy. I feel that a better book could have been chosen.

Rating:
Summary: great moral questions
Review: I would put this on a ten-best list. Well written with an interesting if unremarkable story on the surface, but beneath the lines, provocative moral questions just itching for discussion... formost in my mind: Can one generation really judge another?????