THE READER Is One Worthwhile Book

"If looking at someone with desire was as bad as satisfying that desire, if having an active fantasy was as bad as the act you were fantasizing then why not the satisfaction and the act itself? As the days went on, I discovered that I couldn't stop thinking sinful thoughts. In which case I also wanted the sin itself."
--excerpt from THE READER
by Bernhard Schlink

I had bought this book around 2001 knowing that it was a National Best-Seller. It remained on a bookcase until recently. I learned that a film was being released this month based on THE READER and it encouraged me to read it immediately. I was engrossed in the story during my flight from New York City to Santa Fe, NM.

THE READER is about finding love and happiness. It is a love story. It has mystery, intrigue and courtroom drama. It's a story about one searching for answers throughout life. It's about revisiting a scene of a past tragedy. It blends philosophy, psychology and dilemma. It's about defending the not-so-innocent. It's a realization of loneliness and secrets. The story includes a dramatic trial that comes to grips with a Nazi past. It's about dealing with guilt silently. It's about a youth who has an affair. It's about a woman in the middle of a treacherous work environment who seeks innocence and love. It's about reading.

I loved the book so much that I so look forward to seeing the movie version now.
The Golden Globes has already blessed it with a BEST PICTURE nomination.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lZideRK0Vo
My blog is devoted to you 'reading' this book. It is simply brilliant. It was one of those page-turner stories that almost had me in tears at one point.

"When we open ourselves
you yourself to me and
I myself to you
When we submerge
you into me and I into you
When we vanish
into me you and into you I
Then
am I me
and you are you."
--a poem excerpt from THE READER
by Bernhard Schlink

(The photo above is simply a picture of my niece, Holly Armijo, reading.)