Flights of Love: Stories

Schlink seems to ask himself, "To what strange places might love drive a person?" His writing is distinctly un-American: poetic, deeply intimate, concise, and above all unashamed. The overall effect is provacative and thought provoking. Each story is unique and unattached to the next, but still focuses on the premise of people driven throughout their lives by love. The book shows the many different ways that love can effect a person: in one story, love brings them together, in another drives them apart, in another it causes infidelity, in another it sends a man looking after the man that the dead wife had an affair with. With his Kundera-esque writing style, I was riveted to Schlink's book. Subjects covered: war, religion, art, travel, infidelity, circumcision, lies, sex, falling out of love, family relationships, Jewish prejudice against a German. The "flights" seem unconcious and inevitable, each resulting conflict the believable outcome of the characters personality. Each story flows naturally, and yet, the conflict and resolution are unexpected. If you like this, you may really like "Searching For Intruders" by Byler or "Kissing in Manhatten" by Schlinker.

Bernhard Schlink created a devoted following with the translation of his first novel THE READER. Opinion was divided among critics and readers as to whether or not this author was playing on simplistic heart-string tuggings or whether he really had somthing new to say and an equal talent to say it. Being part of the camp of readers who were caught up in the story of 'The Reader' and waited eagerly to see just where this writer would/could go, I am happy to say that FLIGHTS OF LOVE is substantial proof that Schlink is a very fine storyteller. This book of seven short stories, while a bit uneven, at least shows that the author can relate tales of interest, of introspection, of intrique, and in general can keep his reader flowing with his thoughts to the somewhat open-ended conclusions. "The Other Man" is deftly told and has much more of a universal appeal than the isolated story would indicate. 'Girl with Lizard' is a mesmerizing tale based on a man's relationship to a painting! One of the unifying elements in Schlink's creative mind is examining how internalized perceptions, when maintained in the prison of an individual's mind, can alter the manner in which we live through relationships, ways that could have been more constructive had communication of these altered perceptions occurred. Sounds simple, but the way Schlink uses this tool to alter his characters reaction to not only each other but to everyone and everything in their lives is touching and rings true. If at times his writing seems detached or cold, I wonder how much of that is due to the fact that we are reading translations. Despite any of the negative points mentioned, here is a collection of short stories that merit attention and make us eager for the next full scale novel to come along.

I totally fell in love with this book. I seemed to like each story better than the last.... "Girl With Lizard" would have been my fave though, if I had to pick just one. I definitely plan on recommending this book to friends when they ask me if I have read any good books lately. Don't miss this one! This is one to be read over and over.

Bernard Schlink has done it again: created a small masterpiece, with this group of seven short stories. Their strength derives from the rigorous psychological self examination that each of his middle-aged or older male protagonists is forced to undergo. Most of the stories are set totally or partially in modern day Germany, some against the post Holocaust or post reunification backdrop, but all against the universal backdrop of human relationships. I would argue that the common thread is less about love, despite the title, and more about the search for self authenticity. My choice for the best of the seven are "Girl with Lizard" and "The Circumcision", but if you're going to read one, you should read all of it. The stories are unusual, original, and powerful with lots of layers, and worth several re-readings.

It may be a cliche, but Bernhard Schlink is a master storyteller. These stories surprise and fascinate in the same way as *The Reader*. Schlink creates real characters facing difficult moral and personal issues. His prose style is spare and elegant and he takes up large and important themes. This collection is not to be missed.