The Holocaust was,without doubt, one of the most horrific atrocities committed in war history.During Adolf Hitler's twelve year reign of terror,he contributed to the deaths of over fifty million people during the Second World War. He created a racial state where people considered unfit to live there were either persecuted,enslaved, or murdered in the most callous and inhumane way.Hitler's goal was to kill all Jewish men,women and children. He succeeded in murdering six million of them. Those that survived that horrendous atrocity would endure the pain and trauma suffered for the rest of their lives.On 1st November 2005, the United Nations resolved to designate 27th January as an International Day of Commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust.An outreach programme with the theme " Remembrance and Beyond " was developed with the aim of firstly, remembering the victims of the Holocaust, and secondly, helping to prevent future acts of genocide.The theme for the 2012 International Day of Commemoration was "Children and the Holocaust". The United Nations remembers ,and honours, the memory of all the children who suffered and died at the hands of the Nazis.Hopefully,future generations will not have to suffer the same atrocities, pain and heartbreak.

Monday 23 April 2012

The Reader

The Reader

Bernhard Schlink

Translated by Carol Brown Janeway

Phoenix House;Great Britain,1997

ISBN: 0753804700



The setting for The Reader by Bernhard Schlink is post-war Germany between the late 1950’s and the mid 1990’s. It is an account, narrated by the main character in the book,Michael Berg, of the emotional and psychological effects of a relationship he has with a German woman almost twice his age.

On his way home from school one day,Michael,fifteen, throws up on the street.
A passing stranger helps him to her house, cleans him up and walks him back home.

Michael is diagnosed with hepatitis and after a long illness, he recovers and goes to thank the stranger. Her name is Hanna and they become lovers. Their sexual encounters are punctuated by his reading of beautiful literature to her .
Then one day she disappears and Michael is left confused and heartbroken.

Years later,Michael is a law student attending a war crimes trial and he is shocked to discover that Hanna is one of the accused.She is charged with allowing a group of female Jewish prisoners to burn to death in a locked church during an Allied bombing raid.He is torn between trying to help her or not,but finally decides not to get involved and Hanna is sentenced to life in prison.

Years later,Michael is still haunted by the conflicting guilt and desire he feels for Hanna. He doesn’t visit Hanna until her last day in prison. The next morning she kills herself and Michael is left to resolve his guilt by himself.

This is a powerful ,compelling and thought provoking novel.

Historical Fiction

           
            
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