Just finished reading The Reader and my thoughts throughout the book ranged from disgust, appallment, and to, surprisingly, enlightenment. While attempting to put myself in the footsteps of Michael, the main character, I found myself questioning what I actually believed.
         To sum it all up without spoiling the goods, the book is about a boy growing up in Germany right after the end of WW2. While recovering from a disabling sickness at the age of 15, he happens to encounter a woman (Hanna) twice his age. A sensual affair erupted between them and Michael found himself hopelessly in love. But just as he finished high school Hanna disappeared without a trace. In a crazy twist of events later in life he runs into her and is faced with a difficult decision which involves the fate of Hanna's life.


           The book ends with a sense of melancholy. I hated Hanna throughout the book, and wanted her to get her just desserts yet I'm left pondering if only Michael had done things differently then it might have ended up a different way. In the beginning of the book I couldn't possibly relate to sexual relations between a 15 and 30 yr old, and was rather repulsed. The author draws in the audience quite well, manifesting the lust, emotions, and pain of their odd relationship. By the end of the book I can feel for Michael and his thoughts that are plagued by Hanna. If I had to sum up this book in one phrase I would say it depicts why some relationships are just not meant to be.

        If you read the book what are your thoughts? And would you have made the same decisions as Michael?