The novel is titled The Reader. Is Michael the reader? Is he the only reader? Is he only the reader?

Is the tone of the novel fundamentally positive or negative?

The novel is full of guilt. Is Michael guilty of something? If so, what?

A 36-year-old Hanna seduces a 15-year-old Michael and subsequently conducts a prolonged sexual relationship with him. Do you view this as a form of child sexual abuse? Is Michael mature enough and old enough to willfully engage in sex with an older woman?

In your opinion, did Hanna's participation in the Holocaust constitute crimes that were unpardonable by society? Should Hanna's illiteracy be considered a viable mitigating circumstance?

Imagine that Hanna had learned how to read as a child. Imagine that Michael had exposed Hanna to scores of books of literature before she enlisted in the SS as a prison...