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be4thedawn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Toxic relationship, Violence, Antisemitism, and Murder
Moderate: Suicide
radfordmanor's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Death, Genocide, Suicide, Toxic relationship, and Murder
willowbiblio's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
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This was such a complex novel, not because of the plot but because of the weight of the ethical questions it explored. There was first the exploitation and grooming of a minor, then the physical and emotional abuse at Hanna's hands, then the abandonment and emotional disregulation after she left, the guilt and shame Michael grappled with during her trial and in life after, and the odd relationship that continued while she was in prison.
I didn't, and couldn't, feel sympathy for Hanna despite the clear literary push to do so. She chose to be both a sexual predator and mass murdered, and this was all explained away because she was afraid of her illiteracy. This was a struggle for me because I had to accept that Michael the character deserved his own journey, but Schlink the author sort of exploited the reader and Michael.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship and Murder
Moderate: Antisemitism and War
shea_proulx's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Hate crime, Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Antisemitism, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and War
merrychristmas's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Torture, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Death and Sexual content
Minor: Genocide, Suicide, and Antisemitism
poirot's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Toxic relationship, Antisemitism, and Murder
Moderate: Physical abuse, Sexual content, and Suicide
ellahaugdahl's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Vomit
Moderate: Suicide, Grief, Murder, and War
Minor: Death of parent
thereaderfriend's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Genocide, Sexual content, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Antisemitism, Religious bigotry, and Murder