Love's escape

Author: Bernhard Schlink
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-09-01
Features: The book tells the love stories of seven contemporary people, or rather, seven failed love stories. On one hand, the plots are often extraordinary; on the other hand, they collectively portray the real state of marriage, family, and gender relationships in modern life. Schlink's short story collection tells the love stories of seven contemporary people, or rather, seven failed love stories. A young man, driven by his love for a painting, is unexpectedly forced to reflect on complex historical legacies; a couple from East Berlin betray each other only to save their marriage; a recently retired official, after his wife's death, unexpectedly discovers a third party in their lives. After tracking and meeting the "other person" face-to-face, he gains new insights into both the person and himself; a German university student studying in New York preserves his love for a Jewish woman in an unconventional way; an elderly couple, who had abandoned their silver anniversary celebration due to waning affection, take a hopeful step toward rediscovering love when the man suddenly withdraws from their journey toward happiness, triggered by a mysterious dream from years ago; and a architect, entangled with three women simultaneously, becomes exhausted and overwhelmed. These stories reveal the real state of marriage, family, and gender relationships in modern life.