Reviews

El lector by Bernhard Schlink

al3x1113's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

it was disturbing in a way that keeps you hooked. it was hauntingly beautiful. i wish there was more character development, but i enjoyed it nonetheless

ellephuonglinhnguyen's review against another edition

4.0

Why? Why does what was beautiful suddenly shatter in hindsight because it concealed dark truths? Why does the memory of years of happy marriage turn to gall when our partner is revealed to have had a lover all those years? Because such a situation makes it impossible to be happy? But we were happy! Sometimes the memory of happiness cannot stay true because it ended unhappily. Because happiness is only real if it lasts forever? Because things always end painfully if they contained pain, conscious or unconscious, all along? But what is unconscious, unrecognized pain? 

kneuk's review against another edition

dark sad fast-paced

5.0

Heart-wrenchingly sad, which is the kind of book I’m a sucker for.

inkspren's review against another edition

dark emotional sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Wow. I really enjoyed this book. But what a sad sad story.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship

sophinchen's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad tense

4.5

pagesofpaddy's review against another edition

informative reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

philia's review against another edition

ewww

ali_20's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

marleneedda's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

clairedmlg's review against another edition

emotional informative reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5