The Reader By Bernhard Schlink

 


 

 

On my last-minute whim,

I grabbed,

a story of an erotic love affair between

a 15-year-old German boy, Michael Berg,

and 35-year-old, Hanna Schmitz!

Suffering from hepatitis and Hanna nurturing him,

In due course both develop passionate feelings for each other.

They keep their relationship under wraps.

<b>The key point</b> – he would read out to her, and not vice-versa (avoiding spoilers, on why?)

Eventually, as Michael matures, the relationship starts dwindling,

<b>Hanna disappears into thin air!</b>

Destiny bestows a second encounter between the two,

but in vexatious circumstances.

He is a law student, and Hanna is on a trial as an SS concentration camp guard,

with numerous deaths charged against her during the bombing!

What follows is all circled around discovering whether Hanna is guilty and be incarcerated,

or is innocent (avoiding spoilers)?

<b>The biggest remnant-</b>

He couldn’t love anyone other than Hanna!

<u><b>My Views-</b></u>

Originally published in German, I found the English translation to be weak, thin, sporadic, and sparse, and it couldn’t endow an awe-inspiring feeling to me! I just couldn’t stay riveted, irrespective of the compelling plot premise. ☹

 

Not to mention, the novel got numerous accolades and raving terrific reviews, but this may sound like an outlier.

 

I was attracted due to the premise <b>around WWII (the holocaust era) and an unwonted love story weaving in the backdrop, between two individuals from totally different backgrounds and a stark age difference.</b>

 

But honestly, I remained neutral. It didn’t arouse any feelings in me, I couldn’t marry the characters, and found them scattered and weak! <b>The biggest takeaway for me was the fact literacy is a massive accomplishment, and can never be compromised!</b>

 

The entire narration is from Michael’s point of view, and I am sure the original German text must have done justice to the brilliant plot premise, and so acquired raving positive reviews.

But the English translation <b>just faltered for me, and made my reading experience insipid and banal!</b> I just couldn’t wed the plot, due to the sporadicity.

 

Without any further belaboring, I close the review, by giving a <b>respectful 3 stars!</b>

 

 

 

 

Comments

  1. Amit3 December 2022 at 20:07

    Sad to know about Hanna but the love between the two from different backgrounds was something which attracts...wud love to read more...Good one.

    ReplyDelete

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