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Literary Fiction · Melancholic

A teenager’s affair with an older woman and a secret from the war

The Reader

by Bernhard Schlink

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1995Moderate readSteady pace

What it is about

In postwar Germany, fifteen-year-old Michael Berg has an affair with the older Hanna, who later vanishes and returns in a courtroom years later. Schlink’s 1995 novel raises questions about guilt and memory.

Who will enjoy it

Readers who enjoy literary fiction that puts character and language first, with a melancholic mood and a steady pace. It is a read that rewards some attention.

Themes: Guilt · Germany · Love

Screen adaptation

The Reader (2008)

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About the author

Bernhard Schlink1 book on Tori Books

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