Book #18: The Reader

Title: The Reader
Author: Bernhard Schlink

Another book in the reading list inspired by 2008 movies, as well as another one I'm a little surprised that I hadn't read before. The Reader is a deceptively small, light book. It took me only a few hours to read, but several weeks later, it holds its own among the longer, heavier books that I read before and after. It's the story of Michael Berg, fifteen years old and suffering from hepatitis at the book's outset, who goes to thank Hanna Schmitz for helping him home as he was falling ill. Soon Michael and Hanna commence a love affair, which continues for several months until Hanna disappears. Several years later, their paths cross again when Michael is a law student observing a case against former Nazi prison guards, one of whom turns out to be Hanna. Michael eventually discovers the reason for her inexplicable and unhelpful behavior on the stand and reluctantly stays involved in her life.

The Reader isn't an easy book, even though it's short and written in a very straightforward style. I haven't watched the film yet or seen much commentary about it, but I'd guess that most of my peers wouldn't like it much. I've often heard about affairs between teenage boys and older women, and placed the blame on the older woman, but in The Reader, Schlink seems to put an equal level of responsibility on Berg, and doesn't shy away from the way that the relationship affected all of his future relationships. It's worth a read, but don't judge this book by its cover and think it's just a fluff piece.