Schlink does a good job of keeping the reader, in "The Reader" interested from the get go. From the beginning of the novel he talks about sex. Then he craftifully transforms to the more serious topics of love, war, death, the holocost, and court room actions to name a few. The novel has everything you need in todays Hollywood movie. I am actually surprised that it has not been made yet. I also like the shorter chapters to make it seem like the book is going along fast in time. This is another way Schlimk keeps the reader involved. When I read his novel I think of Anne Frank and all her turbulations she went through. I actully think that Schlink makes reference to her in his novel during the court room chapters. I love this novel and reccomend it for not only the novice reader like myself, but for more educated readers as well.