A collection of stories that weave themselves around the idea of love-love to seek and love to flee; love as desire, as guilt, as confusion or self-betrayal; love as habit, as affair, and as life-changing rebellion. From the internationally best-selling author of The Reader, here is a collection of stories that weave themselves around the idea of love-love to seek and l A collection of stories that weave themselves around the idea of love-love to seek and love to flee; love as desire, as guilt, as confusion or self-betrayal; love as habit, as affair, and as life-changing rebellion.
From the internationally best-selling author of The Reader, here is a collection of stories that weave themselves around the idea of love-love to seek and love to flee; love as desire, as guilt, as confusion or self-betrayal; love as habit, as affair, and as life-changing rebellion. As his myriad fans know from The Reader, Bernhard Schlink's power as a storyteller resides in his cool compassion and in the intelligence that he wields like a laser to penetrate human motives and human behavior. Here his subject is not history but the heart itself, and with the forensic delicacy of a master he lays bare the essence of our feelings. Already an enormous success in the author's native Germany, Flights of Love is certain to be celebrated, discussed, read and re-read. I have never really been one for short stories. Something in them doesn't suit me and they generally leave me with a feeling of dissatisfaction. This collection, by of fame, could not have made me feel more different.
With the thread running through them all, these stories examines our shared, fundamental desire to find love but the many different forms that love, that one, lasting relationship can take. The characters leading these stories are all very different peop I have never really been one for short stories. Something in them doesn't suit me and they generally leave me with a feeling of dissatisfaction.
This collection, by of fame, could not have made me feel more different. With the thread running through them all, these stories examines our shared, fundamental desire to find love but the many different forms that love, that one, lasting relationship can take.
Schlink shows us in turn love as desire, love as confusion, love as a quick affair, love as a drastic life-changing rebellion, love as a force of habit, love as self-betrayal. The cumulative effect is a book which uses effortlessly beguiling language to examine the universal human desire to find a lasting loving relationship, however thwarted.
The characters leading these stories are all very different people and yet Schlink is able to draw out this common need in all of them whilst skilfully creating a range of atmoshperes and feelings for the reader. Whilst some of the stories create empathy for the pain and guilt of its protagonists, others haunt and still others are shot through with almost wicked humour. Of all of them, my favourite to read was 'Sugar Peas' in which the rogue-ish Thomas takes himself off for a year, masquerading as a monk (of the fictitious Order of St. Thomas - vain sod!
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He has worn himself out keeping three lives going at once: his family in Berlin with his wife with whom her runs an architectural firm, his 'second family' of Veronika and their daughter Klara in Hamburg, where she sells his paintings through her gallery, and his girlfriend Helga, back in Berlin again, who is young, determined, and whose dental clinic he is financing. When a dreadful accident brings his escape to an end, his self-involvement and selfishness comes back to bite him and we are left in no doubt as to where the power now lies!
The most effecting, however, is probably the story that concludes the collection - 'The Woman at the Gas Station'. This story has such a well of sadness in it as the man in it is confronted by the fact that his life, which has been held together by the rituals and habits of a not unhappy marriage, has not made him happy when a long-held dream comes before him as a possible reality.
This story was a poignant note on which to end the collection, but I wished there had been more. Picked this up because I wanted to get beyond the tortured obsessions of Homecoming, and Schlink is so highly thought of, I wondered whether I was being overly critical. Happily this collection of short stories is much better, although not uniformly. The first, “Girl and Lizard” is written in the same dessicated and tortured style that beset Homecoming, only this time it’s over a painting. It’s also marred by Schlink’s tendency to sink into a courtroom inquisition substitute for conversation tha Picked this up because I wanted to get beyond the tortured obsessions of Homecoming, and Schlink is so highly thought of, I wondered whether I was being overly critical. Happily this collection of short stories is much better, although not uniformly. The first, “Girl and Lizard” is written in the same dessicated and tortured style that beset Homecoming, only this time it’s over a painting.
It’s also marred by Schlink’s tendency to sink into a courtroom inquisition substitute for conversation that sounds ludicrous when it’s a middle-aged son asking his aged mother about her past. A couple of others left me unmoved too for the same reasons, but several, eg “the Son” about a Jewish American and a German, are full of compassion and understanding of complex relationships. But oh, god, are his characters ever so rational and reasonable, even at the height of their anger or despair! Surely somewhere in these seven stories someone would fly off the handle and say or do something they would later regret, without first weighing the consequences? Girl with Lizard This was a meh for me. I really didn’t get the boy’s obsession with the painting.
Why choose a painting over real love? It seemed silly.it was probably symbolism for picking other things over love, but still a meh. 1 star for this. A Little Fling I’ll be honest.I was worried at first for this being a love story between the main guy and his friends’ daughter. Ugh, but it got worse and he had a fling with his friend’s wife. Why do people do this?
I wanted to slap all thr Girl with Lizard This was a meh for me. I really didn’t get the boy’s obsession with the painting. Why choose a painting over real love? It seemed silly.it was probably symbolism for picking other things over love, but still a meh. 1 star for this. A Little Fling I’ll be honest.I was worried at first for this being a love story between the main guy and his friends’ daughter.
Ugh, but it got worse and he had a fling with his friend’s wife. Why do people do this? I wanted to slap all three of the characters; especially the husband and wife. I could see both sides of their argument.
The ending surprised me! I had mixed feelings thoughit seemed too easy. But alas, overall this was okay. I was annoyed a lot, but it was okay.
The Other Man This was super sad! I felt so bad for the husband! I felt like this short story was giving Lisa excuses for being a cheating wench.
Especially the endingman, I hated the ending. I must admit that it was an interesting way to look at story. I gave it a 2. Sugar Peas Ugh. Thomas needed a punch in the face and the 3 girls irked me to no end. HOWEVER, it was my second favorite short story. I loved the ending, because karma is a bitch and karma hates you Thomas.
This one surely did give me lots of emotion, mainly anger, but lots of emotions. It was certainly entertaining. I didn’t quite understand the title until an hour or so later!
There are 3 girls three peas in a pod. In the end, I gave this a 4.
The Circumcision The title certainly intrigued me. It confused me until the end.and it all made sense. I LOVED THIS STORY! I hated the girl, she was ignorant and I felt bad for the main guy. However, this was a great way to look at Judaism, Germans, and the Holocaust. It’s been 50 years since the Holocaust and a Jewish girl ends up dating a German man who had NOTHING to do with the event. The point this story makes is that prejudice can happen on both ends.
Yes, it was horrible about what happened to the Jews, but one should not discriminate or hate a German that had nothing to do (especially if they weren’t born yet) with what happened. Poor guyI would have railed the girl when she said, “It must be the Nazi in you.” 00 HE WASN’T EVEN BORN AND HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE KILLING OF YOUR PEOPLE AND YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS! The ending was perfect. I had to read it 3 times to truly realize what happened. I gave a good HUZZAH once it sank in.
This book have me such emotion. I had to explain what was going on, because Boyfriend was in the room with me giving me odd looks. Since his Grandfather’s family is German, he was mad that they guy stayed with her and he was happy on how it ended as well. I stamped this with 5 stars of course.
The Son This was a meh and I skimmed until the last page. The last page made everything worth it for me. It was super sad. I stamped this with 3. Woman at the Gas Station The ending made me sad even though I knew it was going to happen (hintthe title). I was super hopeful, but not every relationship can be saved.
In the end, a 3. Overall I enjoyed the writing style of this author. One of his books was chosen in the book club I’m in, so I interested to read it and see if it’s better or worse than this. The short stories all showed in interesting take on love. All the stories had to do with love and how sometimes it can burn you. Hintthe title is “Flights of love”.
Some of the short stories where meh and I didn’t like it, while some other I really liked. I would recommend this to those looking for a quick read about love. After averaging out all the numbers, it comes to 2.6, so since I don’t give decimals, I shall round this to 3 stars. Promises met Bernhard Schlink created a devoted following with the translation of his first novel THE READER. Opinion was divided among critics and readers as to whether or not this author was playing on simplistic heart-string tuggings or whether he really had somthing new to say and an equal talent to say it. Being part of the camp of readers who were caught up in the story of 'The Reader' and waited eagerly to see just where this writer would/could go, I am happy to say that FLIGHTS OF LOVE i Promises met Bernhard Schlink created a devoted following with the translation of his first novel THE READER.
Opinion was divided among critics and readers as to whether or not this author was playing on simplistic heart-string tuggings or whether he really had somthing new to say and an equal talent to say it. Being part of the camp of readers who were caught up in the story of 'The Reader' and waited eagerly to see just where this writer would/could go, I am happy to say that FLIGHTS OF LOVE is substantial proof that Schlink is a very fine storyteller. This book of seven short stories, while a bit uneven, at least shows that the author can relate tales of interest, of introspection, of intrique, and in general can keep his reader flowing with his thoughts to the somewhat open-ended conclusions.
'The Other Man' is deftly told and has much more of a universal appeal than the isolated story would indicate. 'Girl with Lizard' is a mesmerizing tale based on a man's relationship to a painting! One of the unifying elements in Schlink's creative mind is examining how internalized perceptions, when maintained in the prison of an individual's mind, can alter the manner in which we live through relationships, ways that could have been more constructive had communication of these altered perceptions occurred. Sounds simple, but the way Schlink uses this tool to alter his characters reaction to not only each other but to everyone and everything in their lives is touching and rings true. If at times his writing seems detached or cold, I wonder how much of that is due to the fact that we are reading translations. Despite any of the negative points mentioned, here is a collection of short stories that merit attention and make us eager for the next full scale novel to come along. I borrowed this book from my friend's fiance.
When my friend delivered it to me he said 'this looks like a very boring book'. Honestly I had my doubts when I started reading it as the story would go on with details but then the ending was not so dramatic or stunning as you usually get in fiction. But I liked Bernhard's style of writing. It's so beautiful that it always persuaded me to read more our of curiosity even if I knew the ending would not be surprising.
My friend's fiance said his ending I borrowed this book from my friend's fiance. When my friend delivered it to me he said 'this looks like a very boring book'. Honestly I had my doubts when I started reading it as the story would go on with details but then the ending was not so dramatic or stunning as you usually get in fiction. But I liked Bernhard's style of writing. It's so beautiful that it always persuaded me to read more our of curiosity even if I knew the ending would not be surprising. My friend's fiance said his endings need to be taken in with a pinch of salt and she is right. But this is the way life is.
Even though we find perfect endings in fiction, in real life whatever the drama we deal with, in end we just go on. Life simply goes on.
Not everyone has happy endings or dramatic stunning ones. I felt this is what Bernhard was trying to show in his stories. He plants the seed of the story in our head, take us to the climax but then just drop us with a simple ending where you go 'so that's it?? Nothing happened??
Is this how it ends?' However I really loved how Sugar Peas ended. I feel in real life Thomas would have gotten away with it. I've seen many men who have.
But the fact that he didn't in the story made me quite satisfied. Circumcision was probably my favourite out of the 7 stories.
It makes you question what love is, written in simple terms but touching the very depth of your heart. All in all I found the book worth reading even though at a glance it appears to be boring and dull. I guess that's why they tell you not to judge a book by its cover:). Schlink has written seven stories with male German protagonists. To me what unites the stories is a certain moodiness as the men examine the nature of love in their lives.
Most deal with regret and loss. Some are compassionate and some shocking. It's difficult for me to rate the book as a single work. Of course I feel more strongly about some stories than others. I decided to go the generous route.
I wasn't particularly impressed with the first three stories, though they are interesting, but I v Schlink has written seven stories with male German protagonists. To me what unites the stories is a certain moodiness as the men examine the nature of love in their lives. Most deal with regret and loss. Some are compassionate and some shocking. It's difficult for me to rate the book as a single work.
Of course I feel more strongly about some stories than others. I decided to go the generous route. I wasn't particularly impressed with the first three stories, though they are interesting, but I very much appreciated the last four. I won't spoil any plot elements, so I'll just mention that I find the final scene of 'The Son' to be brilliant and moving, 'Sugar Peas' completely unexpected, and 'The Circumcision' a very compelling two-sided portrait.
My thoughts on 'Girl with a Lizard': One's life, emotion, and feeling may be explained; the painting may take-on more meaning then anything else. She may offer an explanation for an unhappy or cheerful life that cannot be given by simple words and actions. My thoughts after reading 'The Other Man': Most don't understand the burden and cold gift that vengeance can be. The weak and trying obsession with the other person. How often you wish to be close to the other person-to find their secrets so you My thoughts on 'Girl with a Lizard': One's life, emotion, and feeling may be explained; the painting may take-on more meaning then anything else. She may offer an explanation for an unhappy or cheerful life that cannot be given by simple words and actions.
My thoughts after reading 'The Other Man': Most don't understand the burden and cold gift that vengeance can be. The weak and trying obsession with the other person. How often you wish to be close to the other person-to find their secrets so you can use it against them. For some, in the end, it all falters; the anger tightens and weakly breaks. Another passion forms where the weak passion has broken: one falls so deeply in love with the one they crave to hate.
Sometime that person gives you a gift-through all the mixed anger and passion-you learn more about yourself in a way you never understood before. You never forget them and your love remains. Bernhard Schlink is a German jurist and writer. He became a judge at the Constitutional Court of the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia in 1988 and has been a professor of public law and the philosophy of law at Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany since January 2006.
His career as a writer began with several detective novels with a main character named Selb-a play on the German word for 'sel Bernhard Schlink is a German jurist and writer. He became a judge at the Constitutional Court of the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia in 1988 and has been a professor of public law and the philosophy of law at Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany since January 2006. His career as a writer began with several detective novels with a main character named Selb-a play on the German word for 'self.' In 1995 he published The Reader ( Der Vorleser), a partly autobiographical novel.
The book became a bestseller both in Germany and the United States and was translated into 39 languages. It was the first German book to reach the number one position in the New York Times bestseller list.
The Reader by Bernhard Schlink Hailed for its coiled eroticism and the moral claims it makes upon the reader, this mesmerizing novel is a story of love and secrets, horror and compassion, unfolding against the haunted landscape of postwar Germany. When he falls ill on his way home from school, fifteen-year-old Michael Berg is rescued by Hanna, a woman twice his age. In time she becomes his lover–then she inexplicably disappears. When Michael next sees her, he is a young law student, and she is on trial for a hideous crime. As he watches her refuse to defend her innocence, Michael gradually realizes that Hanna may be guarding a secret she considers more shameful than murder.