Like the first two parts of this novel, part three was completely unexpected. Schlink has a way of beating the readers expectations with every part of the novel. That is in part what I think this book is really about, beating expectations. I really like the way he merged the story back with present time towards the end of the novel. From the beginning, it was clear that the story is being told as a memory and that the events are not occurring as time is elapsing but the way the author eased in the real time with the story time worked really well and it made for a great way to end the novel.
I did not particularly appreciate that Michael had to end up a failure in the emotional sense, it would have been nice to have seen him find some company to live out the rest of his life with but I understand why the author had to make it that way. It is only to ad credibility to the story that Michael had to end up alone and traumatized by the sexual abuse he received as a teenager. I do not understand why he decided to start sending her the recordings of books. After all the pain she caused not only to him but to the people that she took hostage during the holocaust; I personally do not believe she deserved the joy of knowing that someone was thinking about her. Michael should have let her rot in prison alone and miserable after everything she had down. Hanna should have never had the satisfaction of knowing that someone cared for her because she never truly cared for him, she only used him as she saw fit. I especially did not like the fact that Michael was willing to help her get on her feet once she was finally released. In the end, I believe that she got what she deserved and I do believe that finally, justice was served.
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