The Reader by Bernhard Schlink
is a story told by Michael Berg about an affair he had at fifteen with a woman twice his age in postwar Germany. His affair with Hanna is strong, passionate, and interesting. Michael also reads aloud to Hanna as he continues his studies in school. One day, Hanna mysteriously disappears. Michael does not see her again until years later when he is studying law and has a chance to follow a trial for Nazi war criminals. Hanna is on trial for something horrendous, and Michael must reconcile his image of his once lover and the woman in front of him now who refuses to defend herself. The book is utterly dripping with interesting insight into guilt, love, and the Holocaust. Read this book if you're interested in Holocaust history, if you enjoy impossible love stories, or if you've heard of the
movie
, but want to read the book. I give it an 8.5 out of 10.
is a story about traditions being questioned. The main tradition in this case is the practice of foot binding in China. At a very young age, women in China were required to bind their feet by bending their toes down and wrapping them in bandages. As their feet tried to grow, the bones would be pressed together in order to create tiny, dainty looking feet that would fit into tiny, dainty shoes. This process cripples the young girls for life as they must learn how to hobble around on mutilated toes and feet. Ailin is a young girl who refuses to have her feet bound. As her father obeys her wishes, Ailin faces consequences that she could not have predicted. Her choice changes her life forever. Read this book if you're interested in historical fiction, if you like stories about traditions being questioned, or if you just want a quick, easy read to keep you occupied for a few hours. I give it an 8 out of 10.
is a strange tale set in the pre-Revolutionary colonies. Octavian is a young boy whose mother was a princess in Africa. They both now live in Boston among men constantly conducting experiments. Octavian has the finest of educations, and is a beautiful violin player. As the Revolutionary War approaches, Octavian becomes aware of his real purpose in this strange house with these strange men. Several turning of events take place throughout the book which change Octavian's circumstances and thoughts. The book is written in the form of letters and journal articles and all in the voice of pre-Revolutionary English which can make it difficult to follow. Read this book if you're interested in historical fiction, if you like books that are written in interesting prose, or if you like difficult books that have big vocabulary words. I give it a 7 out of 10.
is set in South Africa during a politically difficult time for the "natives" as they are called by the white men in charge of the government and businesses. It's the story of Stephen Kumalo, a native priest, who goes on a journey to a "big city" to find his sister and his son both of whom have not written or returned from the alluring city. What he finds there is a broken system set on keeping the natives ignorant and poor while the white men make profits off their labor. The book follows Kumalo's discovery of his broken family and his broken country. When he finally returns, he sees the need to amend the tribal problems that have been growing for quite some time. This book is a slow read, but the characters grow in your heart and the words resonate with your thoughts. Read this book if you're interested in race relations, if you enjoy historical fiction, or if you have time to sit with a book for awhile. I give it an 8.5 out of 10.
is the story of Bruno, a nine-year-old boy who lives in Berlin in the 1940s. Bruno's family has to move because of his father's job as a soldier, and Bruno is not too happy about it. At his new home, Bruno comes face-to-face with a mysterious fence that contains many people wearing the same striped pajamas. One day, Bruno meets a boy his age that lives on the other side of the fence. This story is heartbreaking in its portrayal of ultimate evil and ultimate innocence. You simply must pick it up if you want to know what happens next. Read this book if you are interested in the Holocaust, if you like stories told from a unique perspective, or if you have heard that they are making the 
and want to read the book first. I give it a 9 out of 10.
is a beautiful story of a Japanese family deeply impacted by the Pearl Harbor bombing during World War II. Written from the perspective of the different members of the family, the book describes their life being placed into an Internment Camp. It remembers a time in our country's history that is often dismissed or brushed over. What makes the book so beautiful is it's poetic language. The sentences are short and sweet, but all together they create a story that will touch any reader. Read this book if you want to learn more about this time in our country's history, if you're interested in family stories, or if you like books that can say so much with so few words. I give it a 9 out of 10.
is a self-proclaimed "anti-war" novel about a man named Billy Pilgrim who was a Prisoner of War in Dresden during WWII. The book mixes real history with science fiction. Vonnegut himself was a POW in WWII during the bombing of Dresden. What makes this book a science fiction novel is the fact that Billy Pilgrim is "unstuck in time" which means that he often finds himself traveling through time to other parts of his life. Also, Billy Pilgrim is abducted by aliens and kept in a zoo on their planet. During his time on the alien planet, he learns about their views on time and war. The novel, written during the Vietnam War, really captures the absurdity of war while also making statements about how humans choose to live their lives. Read this book if you like science fiction, if you like anti-war novels, or if you are interested in some WWII history, particularly the bombing of Dresden. I give it a 7.5 out of 10.