The Reader

by Prof Bernhard Schlink | Literature & Fiction |
ISBN: 0753804700 Global Overview for this book
Registered by Horinkie of Cape Town, Western Cape South Africa on 6/7/2013
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3 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by Horinkie from Cape Town, Western Cape South Africa on Friday, June 7, 2013
amazon.co.uk:

For 15-year-old Michael Berg, a chance meeting with an older woman leads to far more than he ever imagined. The woman in question is Hanna, and before long they embark on a passionate, clandestine love affair which leaves Michael both euphoric and confused. For Hanna is not all she seems.

Years later, as a law student observing a trial in Germany, Michael is shocked to realize that the person in the dock is Hanna. The woman he had loved is a criminal. Much about her behaviour during the trial does not make sense. But then suddenly, and terribly, it does - Hanna is not only obliged to answer for a horrible crime, she is also desperately concealing an even deeper secret.

On the 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die List.

(Bought second-hand at CAFDA, Claremont)

Journal Entry 2 by Horinkie at Cape Town, Western Cape South Africa on Thursday, June 13, 2013
I read the German edition Der Vorleser first. Out of curiosity, to see if the language makes any difference, I also read this copy, and enjoyed it thoroughly.

The book perfectly depicts German guilt and atonement, neatly wrapped into a romantic relationship. Quite a few interesting topics come up, like retroactive justice or "Are we responsible for our love?".
The story is told from a first-generation-after-the-war point of view, the historical background are the Frankfurt Auschwitz Trials.

Journal Entry 3 by Horinkie at Cape Town - Hout Bay, Western Cape South Africa on Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Released 10 yrs ago (6/23/2013 UTC) at Cape Town - Hout Bay, Western Cape South Africa

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Released at the BCct group Meetup in Hout Bay, Dunes Restaurant.

Journal Entry 4 by Stoepbrak at Cape Town - Hout Bay, Western Cape South Africa on Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Received from Horinkie during the BCct meetup. Thanks!

-- There is more than one copy of the book on my bookshelf --

Journal Entry 5 by Stoepbrak at Cape Town, Western Cape South Africa on Sunday, November 17, 2013
I am always a bit sceptical about a book that has attained universal acclaim of the "bestseller" variety. Even more so if it was used as the story for a feature film.

Worse: in the case of The Reader I must have read some reviews or a summary of the book years ago — something I nowadays try to avoid until I have read the book itself. As a result, the first two sections of the book came as no surprise to me and I found them somewhat disappointing. However, during the reading of the third section I started to appreciate the book for the perceptive work it was.

How do we deal with our history?
To what extent are we shaped by it?
Where does our responsibility in this regard begin and end?

The contemplation around and answers to these questions are as valid today in post-apartheid South Africa as in post-holocaust Germany.

A quick read — deceptively so — that is likely to make an appearance in my subconscious mind for years to come.

The geological layers of our lives rest so tightly one on top of the other that we always come up against earlier events in later ones, not as matter that has been fully formed and pushed aside, but absolutely present and alive.

The sequence of books on my reading list is usually not theme dependent at all. It was therefore with some amazement that I realised that the last three books I have read (W or The Memory of Childhood – Georges Perec, Der Verdacht – Friedrich Dürrenmatt & The Reader – Bernhard Schlink) all had the second world war and especially the Holocaust as canvas — and that around the date of 11 November, Remembrance Day!

Journal Entry 6 by Stoepbrak at The Blend, Roeland St in Cape Town, Western Cape South Africa on Friday, January 17, 2014

Released 10 yrs ago (1/17/2014 UTC) at The Blend, Roeland St in Cape Town, Western Cape South Africa

WILD RELEASE NOTES:


To be left on one of the tables or somewhere suitable. My first attempt on 31 December didn't work out: they were closed.

Edited later to add: I left the book on one of the chairs outside on the pavement. Later, when I paid for my sandwich and coffee, the proprietor said that he saw me releasing "the travelling book" and that I was welcome to release more there in future. My instincts that a place that 1) sells good coffee and 2) has shelves with books must be a good spot were correct. :)

If you are new to BookCrossing and found this book, welcome! Enjoy the site, the book, and the BookCrossing community.

BookCrossing has not taken off in a big way in South Africa yet, but there are a number of dedicated BookCrossers across the country who are actively involved to grow the concept. A discussion group for BookCrossers in the wider Cape Town area, BCct, was set up to make it easier to arrange meetups or to spread local news. If you are a BookCrosser from this part of the world or planning a visit, pease feel free to join. Visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bcct for more information.

Whether you decide to join or not, please make a journal entry — now, and again when you decide to release the book to continue its journey.


Read and Release!

Journal Entry 7 by captainm at Cape Town, Western Cape South Africa on Monday, January 20, 2014
I picked this book up on a sidewalk table outside "The Blend" coffee shop in Cape Town, South Africa. I killed time reading the first few pages while waiting to do a casting for a TV add. Did not get the job but started an interesting new book with a history!

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