"Hailed for its coiled eroticism and the moral claims it makes upon the reader, this mesmerizing novel is a story of love and secrets, horror and compassion, unfolding against the haunted landscape of postwar Germany.

When he falls ill on his way home from school, fifteen-year-old Michael Berg is rescued by Hanna, a woman twice his age. In time she becomes his lover -- then she inexplicably disappears. When Michael next sees her, he is a young law student, and she is on trial for a hideous crime. As he watches her refuse to defend her innocence, Michael gradually realizes that Hanna may be guarding a secret she considers more shameful than murder."

Listed on paperbackswap.com

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Sending to Brianset as a Rabck!

Picked up the mail today and this was in it! Thankyou smhamn.

sending it to spoiledrotten as a rabck to celebrate the birth of my 1st grandchild. Hopefully can make it into a small bookring involving JDT and myself so I can get it back and read it and JDT can read it as well. Then the last one of us to get it can decide where it goes next!

This is a small book, easily read, so I took it to work with me today and read the entire thing. (Don't tell the boss----it was a slow day..?) So now I'm going to send it to spoilrotten then hopefully it will find its way to JDT, as she was interested in it as well. When I came to this page to journal it, I saw at the top of the BC page a contest involving this story, until then I had no idea it was made a movie! Ha!

The story was a bit predictable for me...did contain a little surprise that I didn't see coming. The back of the book tells the plot thru to about the middle of the book. Better than most, not as good as some. Give it a "7". Time to leave work now, what a good day. (I also did a little work while I was here today.)

Received in the mail at the same time that someone else I know gave me the book to read. In order not to hold this book up I will mail out to JDT later this week. Thanks so much Brianset for sending this to me and congrats on your first grandchild. Will journal as soon as it has been sent. (We are expecting a snow storm tomorrow so it won't be until the end of the week).

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Sent to JDT as a Ring from brianset.

3rd try! (hope 3 journal entries don't show up!)

A speedy 2-day trip from NJ to CA!
Looking forward to reading this book, before seeing the new movie.

Thanks, spoiledrotten and brianset! (and congrats again on that sweet new grandchild!)

a quick, compelling read - that is both disturbing and thought-provoking.

OK - once you get past the steamy parts (also the focus of previews I've seen of the movie), you realize the storyline is more nuanced/complex, and the characters more conflicted/remote than expected.

Elements I liked:
- the coming-of-age story, including this 15 yr. old's universal adolescent concerns: self-image, school, parents, peers, belonging - plus a rather unique relationship with a 30 yr. old woman!
- the spare writing style with occasional beautifully-written descriptions
- the courtroom trial about Nazi camps/war-crimes; the [maybe protective]numbness & alienation - both to horror and to love, keeping feelings and loved ones at a distance
- the complex questions of personal and national guilt

(personal notes: I did guess Hanna's secret shame somewhat early on, but that didn't detract from the book's impact. Or maybe it wasn't just a good guess: I gradually realized the book seemed familiar; checked my bookshelf, and sure enough - read it in 2003!)

Picked up at this evening's local BC meeting. Thanks! :)

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Unofficial Book Crossing Zone at my vacation rental home in The Sea Ranch, Sonoma County, California.

In BetterWorldBooks donation box in front of CVS Pharmacy at 4225 Rosewood Drive.