The Reader

by Bernhard Schlink

In Brief

In post-WW2 Germany, a young man's relationship with an older woman forces him to confront his country's recent past.

Why you should read it

A heartbreaking story told in deceptively simple prose, this book bravely explores the challenges of inheritance, collective guilt and justice, whilst asking a difficult question: does loving a guilty person make one complicit in their wrongdoing?