The Reader by Bernhard Schlink

March 2009 pick for Brookline Booksmith book club

The Reader (Der Vorleser) is a novel by Bernhard Schlink.  It was published in Germany in 1995, translated into English by Carol Brown Janeway and published in the United States in 1997.  The 2008 film adaptation was directed by Stephen Daldry.

The Reader deals with our (society's, particularly subsequent generations') comprehension of the Holocaust.  And it is often included in curricula of college-level courses in Holocaust literature, German language, and/or German literature.

Issues raised:

CRIME AND PUNISHMENT  if a man does not consciously know that he is committing a crime, is he still guilty of/punishable for the crime?  should he feel guilty?  what if he has no way of understanding the repercussions of his actions?  should he be condemned to punishment for a crime he did not know he was committing?  what if he were a she?  would we be as sympathetic?

AN AFFAIR, REVERSED  15-year old boy seduced by 36-year old woman.  or is it the other way around?  15-year old boy seduces 36-year old woman.  instead of a cougar preying on an innocent young boy, is it now "more power to him"?  what if the genders were reversed?  15-year old girl seduced by 36-year old man.  better or worse?  although none are appropriate, why does it seem more socially acceptable?