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.

The Reader by Bernhard Schlink is a captivating novel that tells the story of a young man named Michael Berg and his complex relationship with an older woman named Hanna Schmitz. Set in post-World War II Germany, this thought-provoking book explores themes of guilt, shame, and the power of secrets. With its compelling narrative and well-developed characters, The Reader is a must-read for fans of literary fiction.