The Reader

Rating:
Summary: thanks oprah, it was great...
Review: i thought the book was great... a quite book... that if you decided to read it fast.. you would miss everything... it required you to sit still... thankyou again.... may i suggest the bluest eye for yoru next selection..

Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: I read it in one evening and in the end, I just sat on my couch, my jaw dropped to the floor in awe. The best book I've read in years!

Rating:
Summary: An extraordinary metaphor of post-war Germany.
Review: At frist this "little" books reads like a surface story of sexual encounters between a teenage boy and an "older woman". Upon closer observation the horror of the woman as Nazi and the boy as post-war youth trying to come to terms with the attitudes and behavior of their parents, grandparents &etc. is riviting. A simply written metaphore for both characters turns into a serious work of examination.

Rating:
Summary: Poorly written and lacking depth and substance
Review: I was extremely disappointed in this book. The writing is of such poor caliber, it could have been authored by a grade school child. It is totally devoid of emotion and character development. The writer lacks the ability to portray the emotions of a child experiencing his first sexual encounter with a woman more than twice his age, from lust to excitement through satisfaction and guilt. There is no sense of outrage felt by the reader as to the actions of Hanna and how she must have psychologically affected him. He also manages to completely trivialize the horror of the Holocaust and glosses over the effect of this terror on an entire country and the shame that still burdens it. The reader almost feels empathy for Hanna, as if the lack of education could ever possibly be an excuse for her undescribable crime against humanity. The sole surviving Holocaust victim is almost portrayed as hardened, unforgiving and uncharitable, and that was described in about two paragraphs in total. The book was so shallow I had a difficult time reading it, but I forced myself as this was the first book I have ever read that was recommended by Oprah Winfrey. I agree with the customer who likened this book to "The Bridges of Madison County". If you liked that book, you'll like this one. If you loved Pat Conroy's "Prince of Tides" or Alice Water's "The Color Purple", you will be sorely disappointed in this novel.

Rating:
Summary: Not enthralling, but not bad either.
Review: As an amateur WWII historian, I couldn't wait to get home and begin this book. Like many other reviewers on this site, I read it in one session. I was disappointed in the book overall. Although the initial parts are interesting, the book loses steam toward the end and just piddles out to a close. The character of Hanna felt more like a paper doll than a flesh and blood character. After the trial begins the main character also loses some depth. Having said that, I did NOT dislike the book. It was entertaining to read if a little shallow at times. I'm a little disappointed in Oprah, because usually her book choices offer a little human insight. Maybe some meaning was simply lost in the translation; as often happens from such a rich language as German.

Rating:
Summary: Just potatoes ---- no meat. Disappointing.
Review: I expected more from an Oprah pick of the month book. There was a beginning and an end, but no middle. I found it boring, but then, I found Bridges of Madison County boring. So if you liked that book, then buy this one.

Rating:
Summary: simplistic and trite
Review: the book was more hype than anything else. a trite representation of a young man's affair and an illiterate woman who took advantage of everyone she could. another example of the minimalization of the importance of the holocaust.

Rating:
Summary: Reads like Phyllis Barrack's early work
Review: The cutting images and provocative use of the words "and" and "the" and even "on" were so original that the only literature they brought to mind was the excellent series of early novellas "For the Love of Lee" written by former "Paterno Prize" Winner Phyllis Barrack. To me, there is no higher praise. You must read this book.

Rating:
Summary: Simply told and very powerful
Review: I couldn't put this book down! It's very easy to read, and yet it's an extremely powerful and evocative story. I couldn't help but wonder if it's semi-autobiographical Mr Schlink?

Rating:
Summary: Unbelievable!
Review: Upon receiving this book as a Christmas gift, I was unsure of what to expect. It didn't sound like a book I'd normally read, but over the holidays boredom set in, so I picked up the book. Was it ever a pleasant surprise! The events that took place were surprising, yet interesting and attention-getting. The book presented a good picture of post-war Germany. I couldn't put it down I was so glued to the pages! A good read!