A review by preciouslittleingenue
The Reader by Bernhard Schlink

dark reflective tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

I realized halfway through this book that I’d seen scathing reviews for the movie, and I remembered exactly why I didn’t watch the movie. The centralization of the plight of a literal Nazi SS officer over the Holocaust survivors is just awful. Poor woman became SS because she’s illiterate. Then sent Jews to be murdered for five years. I hate it. I do not feel bad for this woman. She also groomed a FIFTEEN YEAR OLD. Literally what is good about this book. I was sick to my stomach during the entire “love affair” section and just pissed beyond belief during the trial section, and then I didn’t give a damn when she killed herself. Because she’s a Nazi. And then AGAIN the narrator speaks to the actual holocaust survivor and she is cast as such a background character. It’s sickening. I hated this book sorry. 
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