Wesley Groves Reaction #2

The power of shame can control people, even if it causes them to put themselves in a worse situation to avoid it.  Hanna could have eased the sentencing on her if she had owned up to being illiterate.  But the power of the humiliation that comes with that was too great for her.  Insecurities control the way we act every single day, even if nobody can notice it, what we think that other people think of us is what ultimately drives our choices.

An interesting concept that I saw in this part is the cliche saying about bullies.  "Bullies try to ignore their insecurities by belittling others."  I saw this especially true in Hanna.  The way she gets around her illiteracy, is by choosing a weak target to read for her.  She has power over the sick because they have no strength.  This causes them to see her as a dominant figure and they can not, and would never, cause any harm to her.  Picking on these targets allows her to be read to by a person who would never even think to question why she does it.  It is a great plan, and I truly do believe she is a good person, but her insecurities are driving her to be mean.

Luis Santos #2

The second part of novel was so boring to me. There were just a couple of interesting parts. The part where we find out that she was a Nazi and the part where we find out that she is illiterate. Other than that the story became very slow. The trial went on and on and all that we saw was Hanna not speaking. Why didn’t she tell the judge that she was illiterate? That would have gotten her out of some jail time. I understand that she is ashamed but is she really that ashamed that she would rather stay longer in jail and have numerous of people hate her for something she did not do?

            The second part also mentions how Hanna would have sick girls from the camp read to her. This explained a lot. When I first started reading the book, I thought the fact that the boy was sick was a major part of the story. In fact I thought the story was going to revolve around that. As the novel went on, however, the boy quickly recovered, and his sickness was never really mentioned again. I did not understand why the author started the book with his sickness but then never mention it again. After reading part two it all came to place. The fact that the boy was sick was mentioned because it tied into the fact that Hanna would only call on sick girls to read for her. Hanna goes for the weak. Maybe its because the weak are the only people that she feels as if she has more power over. After all, when you are illiterate, a 5 year old can seem to be more powerful simply because he can read and write. I wonder where the third part of the novel will go and if us as readers will ever find out if Hanna had good intentions for the girls (as the “kid” thinks) or if she is just a cold hearted bitch.

Zane Van de Put Post 2

I did not enjoy part 2 that much.  I know it did have two major plot twists but overall it was extremely boring to read. The boring part of the section was probably the trial. I think it went on for too long. The author should have shortened it because it was hard to focus. Michael also started to ramble on which made it harder to focus as well.

The two major plot twists involved Hanna. Through the trial, the readers find out that Hanna was a Nazi prison camp guard and that she is illiterate.  The illiterate part is probably the most revealing thing of this section. It explains many of Hanna’s past actions. For example, why Hanna made Michael read to her and why she freaked out that morning on their bike trip. What I found interesting was that Hanna would rather have a longer jail time than reveal to the public that she is illiterate. Hanna also lied that she wrote the cover up story about what happened that night when the church burned. I do not understand why Hanna would not reveal her weakness to shorten her prison time. It does not make any sense to me. Did she rather save the embarrassment than shorten her prison time? Or is she does not smart enough to know what is better.

It is revealed that Hanna actually made other young, “weak” kids read to her at the prison camps. I think that meant that Hanna took advantage of Michael and considered him weak. That also explains why the author included the beginning part of Michael having hepatitis. The sickness made him weak and vulnerable to Hanna. This also shows that Hanna did not love Michael back in the past. I am interested to see what happens after the trial. 

Libby Evans #2

*Spoiler Alert*

Thank goodness I have already read this book becuase I do not want to do it again. Ok, so by now the relationship between Hanna and the "kid" has developed and become more weird. Thankfully, Hanna left, but of course He can't let her go. It seems like he might go back to normal, but nope. He has to develop some weird fetish for pantyhose. Of course this was Hanna influenced by his second time meeting her. Also, he is unable to emotionally connected to anyone. Even though Hanna is gone she still had a hold on him. She was his "first love", I put these in parentheses because this is what he thinks. By being this he is unable to forget about her. So, the damage Hanna did to his psyche (in his youth) affects his future.

Philip Kaifer Post 1

The first part of The Reader is an exploration into relationships and with family, friends, and lovers. While it is not completely independent from the other parts of the story, it is very unique in its style and its explicit subject matter. Hanna is a very confusing character in the first part of the novel, she seems irrational and even abusive to Michael. It is not until later in the novel that it becomes clear exactly why she acts the way she does and what her behavior represents. The title of the novel refers to Michael as “The reader.” Hanna seems to be using him and abusing her relationship with him and his emotional attachment to her.

Libby Evans blog post 1

What is this? Well, I read this book so I will try not to include any spoilers. I think by now the whole "shower thing" has happened. So...I think it should be pointed out he has hepatitis, but is having a relationship with a controlling cougar. Sooner or later she is bound to get this, I mean...health class 101. Also, another concerning point he is like 16-17 and she is maybe 40. Age should not make such a difference, but come on. 23 years difference? That is kind of weird. However, the book is original in its choice of topic which is notable. Other than that...it is 100+ pages which somewhat traumatize the reader.

Chris Winters Reaction #1

            The Reader thus far hasn't been one of the most interesting books that we have read thus far, maybe because I have only read up to part 1, but it is a rather quick read. As I read part 1 I began to notice that it seemed as though this book is an exercise in memory– that of the narrator, the German nation, the reader, and me. As I conned with part ! I came across some themes that I thought might be pertinent to the overall story such as guilt, shame, and the impotence of law.
             Considering that the book is divided into three parts, I am hoping that each part gets progressively more interesting since the first part didn't seem to lift me off my feet. In Part 1, Michael has an affair with Hanna and that seemed to catch my attention considering that most 15 year olds only dream about having that opportunity. i guess you could say that was probably the main act throughout part 1 that enticed me to continue reading.
              I was surprised as I continued to progress though the novel that at first Michael abandons himself to Hanna. Throughout part 1 it seemed as though Hanna gets easily offended, and Michael always appeases until Michael starts resenting and silently notices a teenage girl.hopefully as the story progresses we will learn how their relationship maintains itself.