The Reader - Bernhard Schlink

If there was one film I was desperate to see at the cinema in January it was The Reader. I'd heard quite a bit about it in the run up to Christmas and also saw it continually advertised during January. However somehow I managed to miss it and before I knew it no cinemas in my area were still showing it. I have a general interest in anything about the World Wars, any books or films on them fascinate me and that was what drew me to purchasing this novel in Tesco where I found it on their "2 for £7" promotion. The Author Bernhard Schlink is a German born law professor and judge who has had a number of novels and pieces published in German ...  Read the complete review

(Note: not that it's terribly important, but I read the book before I saw the film, despite the fact my film review has already been posted on Dooyoo. Welcome to the crazy, mixed-up world of Dooyoo writing!) The Reader is one of those books which was never really going to attract attention on the shelf. The version I read had a dull, brown cover showing a tram, whilst the back cover didn't give you much of a clue as to what it was about. If you saw it on the shelf of your local bookshop, the chances are you'd pass it by in favour of other, more attractive looking titles. Maybe now it's been made into a n Oscar winning film, a few more people will read ...  Read the complete review

When fifteen-year-old Michael Berg falls ill on the way home from school, he is helped and then escorted to his door by an older woman by the name of Hanna. Returning after he recovers from his illness to thank the woman, Michael becomes so drawn to her that they begin a love affair - one that he will never forget for the rest of his life - only for her to disappear one day. The next time Michael encounters Hanna, he is a law student and is studying the trial of several women who are charged with murders during the war - one of the women is Hanna. It becomes clear to Michael that although Hanna is quite clearly guilty of the charges, she is actually ...  Read the complete review

As I think I've said in a few of my reviews, I generally like reading the book before seeing the movie of anything. (Except in the case of The Notebook when I didn't know it was a book.. And now don't want to read the book in case it ruins the film for me!) So when I heard about The Reader, the idea intrigued me, but when discovering it was in fact a book first, I decided I would read the book before watching the film. I only finished the book today, and must say I have very mixed opinions of the storyline, characters, and outcome. The story sees Michael Berg, a young 15-year old boy who is taken ill one day and escorted home by a woman called ...  Read the complete review

---Intro--- Whilst perusing the charity book list at work (books for 25p) I came across "The Reader", and being vaguely aware that it had recently been made into a film and that it had issues surrounding the Holocaust in it I was quick to part with my 25p before someone else got it! The rrp is £7.99 but it can currently be found on Amazon for under £5. I haven't been reading much this year, choosing instead to stare out of the train window at sheep. However, from the moment I picked up this book I was hooked and it was over before I knew it (well, a day and a bit later technically). This is a difficult book to review since I don't ...  Read the complete review