For 15 year old Michael, a chance meeting with an older woman leads to far more than he ever imagined. 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 obbserving a traila in Germany, N+Michale is shocked to find Hanna in the dock. The woman he loved is a war criminal. Much about her behaviour during the trial does not make sense. hanna must answer for a horrible crime, but she is desperately concealing an even deeper secret...



I'm not sure what to say about this book as it deals with such an emotive sobject but it truely is an amazing story and well worth the read.

I'm not going to say anything else so that I don't give anything away.

The order of the Bookring is as follows:-

bearyfriend - Singapore - Ship Aus/Eastern Countries

TheGoblin73 - Aus - Ship Internationally

lauraloo29 - Canada - Intl

franloe - Netherlands - Pref Eu Ship

bumbelbee - Netherlands - Pref EU Shipping

bookowl1000 - UK

Then home to me Smurphie in the UK

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Heading off to the first participant of this bookring.

Enjoy :o)

Thanks for the book and bookmarks. Will start on this after my 2 other ring books.

I nearly put this in an envelope and sent it off without reading the 2nd part, which I find some parts of the narration of the trial proceedings a bit tedious to read. But then I decided to give it another try, and now finished the whole book. I'm glad I continued and know what the trial was about, and the reasons behind Hanna and the happenings at Auschwitz. Very sad and thought-provoking read. Will send off to Australia next week.

Update 24-Sep:- Off to Australia via air.

Gosh...this one's been a long time coming! Not from this bookring, but from about 2005 when I first wanted to read this book after discovering it in Collins Booksellers on Broadway in Sydney. It's gone straight to the top of my TBR list...

Thanks so much Smurpie for the beautiful surprise! A tower house! I want one!! I was a brownie BTW, and my mum was a Brown Owl, so it brought back fond memories :-) Thank you also bearyfriend for passing it on!

Ok, I wasn't quite sure what to expect from this book, as I didn't know much about it, and whilst I enjoyed the story and finished it relatively quickly, I found the writing style dry and dull, lacking emotion. Typical writing from a male author...LOL! I also found Hanna's actions to be totally unvelievable and far-fetched, (as if anyone would that utterly stupid and egotistical!). Also, I found my affection for Michael waning as the book went on, and I ceased to like or respect him at all when he didn't speak up to the judge, the apathetic coward. It's hard to really like a book, when you don't really like the main character too much. In the end, my heart went out to Hanna though..it was an interesting study of the devastating effects of an apathetic mind!

Anyway, it's winging it's way from cold, rainy Melbourne to Canada next week. Enjoy Laura! and thanks again Smurpihe and bearyfriend :-)

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Posted off to lauraloo in Canada from the Australia Post shop in William street, near Flagstaff station...

Arrived safe and sound today. I'm in the middle of a couple of other books, but this is at the top of the pile.

I have tried to read this book before. I didn't enjoy it. But I wanted to try it again before I say Kate Winslet's movie. :)

I was sure I had read this book before. I was sure I hated this book when I read it. But I want to see the movie and prefer to read the book first. I must say, this is not the story I remember.

Did I like this story? Not really. But its not the one I remember. I remember the first part, but I must have gotten mad at Hannah and stopped. :)

It wasn't the best story I've read, but it was interesting. I agree with TheGoblin73's comments.

For me Hannah and Michael's relationship was never resolved for me. I'm not okay with it. It was strange. Not surprising he carried it with him. But I wish I knew more of what Hannah carried regarding it.

Interesting.

This book will be on its way to the Netherlands next week. Thank you for sharing!

Found the book (together with 5 others...) waiting for me after returning from holidays...before which I just saw the movie...I therefore think I'll let this one pass and send the book on to the next on the list. But many thanks for the bookmark!

sent to bumbelbee today. Thanks for sharing!

The book arrived yesterday, I will start reading it right away, I'm very curious about this book. Thanks again for sharing!

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I've sent to book to bookowl1000 today.

I'm still not sure what to think of this book, I did find it an interesting read, although a bit boring at times. It is a story that grips you, I still think about it sometimes. But when I read the book, I was often annoyed, the style was very stand-offish, somehow it never really moved me, which I found strange, because it is a very emotional subject and it discusses emotions at lengt. I am glad I read the book however, maybe mainly because now that I read it, it comes even more to live, more than while I was reading it.

Thanks again for sharing Smurphie!

This book arrived last week. I thought that I had journalled it at the same time as I did the other book that arrived on the same day. Sorry.

Having just finished the other book I will be starting this one this evening.

I agree that sometimes, especially during the trial, the book became a bit dry. I did not lose respect for Michael when he did not speak up. It was Hannas choice to keep her secret and I do not think that he had the right to ignore that and say something just so he would feel better; in the long run he did end suffering due to the guilt he felt. Maybe she felt that she deserved to be punished.

We never really knew what Hannah felt or why she did the things that she did, both during the war and during the trial as the story was not told from her perspective but from that of Micheal who was trying to justify her actions for his own peace of mind. This was after all a woman that he loved, and he would find it very difficult to look at her and see a monster. As a result I did find myself sympathising with Hanna at times. Michael was also dealing with his (and his generations) struggle to come to terms with the crimes of the Nazis; a very complicated issue.

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Posted back to smurphie today. Thanks for sharing.