Der Vorleser by Bernhard Schlink

I read this book in German. It starts as a conventional bildungsroman--a teenager falls in love with an older woman, but the affair ends and the boy moves on. Later, the young man, now a law student, comes across his former lover again--as one of the defendants in a trial which is trying to determine the guilt of former concentration camp guards. The novel explores the question of secrets--what secrets are most important, what actions should we be ashamed of--and the question of fitting in--what skills are necessary to live in our world, what might those who lack these skills be forced to do to make up for that lack. There's no moral high ground here, and no absolution in the end. But if we cannot forgive, we can still understand, and mourn the losses and broken lives all around.

Return of the Dancing Master by Henning Mankell

This book is about people turning out to have mysterious pasts and to be almost unknown despite being a colleague or a family member. It's also about the long hand of history reaching out beyond expectation to address wrongs. I thought the mystery was pretty well handled--although the murderer is identified pretty quickly, there are a lot of layers of motivation and facts to untangle.

Schindler's List by Thomas Keneally

Even though this book relies on witness testimony and matches historical accounts I've read about the Holocaust, it bills itself as a novel. It has lots of facts, and carefully recreates some conversations, while indicating where it moves into the realm of speculation. But this book is far more powerful than a dry history. By picking the story of industrialist Oskar Schindler--a man who drank excessively and cheated on his wife, but who was also moved to risk his life and fortune to help the Jews of Cracow--and ultimately to save 1,300 of them in his factory. This story was really well told, and despite the unrelenting cruelty and terrible conditions that it depicts, also offers hope that people can rise above their surroundings to look out for each other. Booker Prize winner 1982.

Far to Go by Alison Pick

This book is a beautiful story about the power of human courage and the temptations of betrayal in the face of unimaginable evil. It's also a testament to the power of storytelling to reclaim experience. I hate to say too much, as a good deal of the story's power comes from its challenge to the reader to make sense of what's going on and who has control over the narrative.

Beatrice and Virgil by Yann Martel

I enjoyed this book much more than The Life of Pi, Martel's previous bestseller. At times it struck me as a bit smug (Henry seems to stand in pretty obviously for Martel), and at times the violence of the text really shocked me (although I don't know that it was inappropriate in a book about the Holocaust). I was really intrigued by the play Beatrice and Virgil: I thought it was very well done, in the manner of Beckett. I know this book will remain in my mind for a long time--there's a lot to ponder.

The Postmistress by Sarah Blake

This book examines the ways that war can change one's values--as it shows two women making decisions that they would never have made in peacetime to protect a third. I found the story engaging, especially Frankie Bard's pursuit of the story of what was happening to Jews throughout Europe after her flatmate died in the London Blitz. I thought the story about Harry Vale and the U-boats was a bit tacked on and disappointing. All in all, an enjoyable read, but neither the best First Look nor the best book about World War II that I've ever read.

Night by Elie Wiesel

In this memoir Elie Wiesel recounts his experiences from the beginning of the Second World War to the liberation of the camps. The heart of the story, though, is his experience of the time he spent with his father in the camps--his father's death is the real end of the story. In lyrical prose, Wiesel (and his wife, who has re-translated the book into English) recounts his utterly devastating story. In the introduction, Wiesel spends a lot of time talking about the importance of memory and the reason he recounted his story. This book is very moving.

The Strain by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan

In this book a renegade vampire launches an all-out war on humanity, starting with New York City. For typical vampire material, Hogan and del Toro handle their story quite well. The plot jogs along and the writing was surprisingly enjoyable. These authors portray vampirism as a disease, one that might be understood by scientists but that will not be cured by science. So far, the love story mixed into the story isn't all that impressive, and I think the Holocaust side of the story muddies the water more than anything else. While quite enjoyable, this book doesn't exactly stand alone--I'm eagerly waiting the second and third installments because the plot's nowhere near to being wrapped up.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

I could not put this book down. Ms. Shaffer and Ms. Barrows have written an epistolary novel, and handled the form so well, that this book really shows the best of what such a novel can be. Furthermore, the characters are memorable, and, for the most part, loveable. They meet loss and oppression with grace, generosity, kindness, and a willingness to love and trust. They also love books and reading (which makes me love them all the more). Finally, although this book deals with tragic circumstances, it ends up affirming the power of the human spirit, and the value of kindness and love. I am so pleased to have read such an uplifting and wonderful book.