Sunday

I found this book to be very depressing and in all honesty, I didn't enjoy it very much. It's not that I disliked the book but it didn't make much of an impact on me. I could've lived happily without having read it.
At first, I found the book to be slightly awkward considering Hanna could have been Michaels mother but the author did a good job at surprising me with a twist. The fact that she was included in the Nazi party emphasized how wrong the relationship between her and Michael was. Considering he was at such a young age and had no expirience, she could have easily influenced him into anything she wanted, including becoming part of the Nazi party. But she didn't. Perhaps this is why she disappeared from his life; because she didn't want to drag him into her craziness.
There is a lot of guilt surrounding this story and I can understand why Hanna feels guilty but not why Michael would. Hanna should feel guilty because she basically took away Michaels youth. He was so infatuated with her that he barely to the time to hang out with kids his age and do immature things. She should also feel guilty because of her actions during her Nazi affiliated days. The amount of guilt she must've had for all those lost souls is probably why she ended up hanging herself. Also, even after her death she wanted to be granted absolution which is what led her to giving the tin can and money. It was clear that she still cared about Michael since she had a picture of him in her cell and I can bet that she wanted him to forgive her for her actions.
However, I don't see why Michael should feel guilt. He didn't do anything wrong. Hanna left him, not the other way around. Perhaps he feels guilty because he thinks he could've done something to save their relationship or he did something wrong to drive her away, but even then, she didn't stay to try and mend things.