Amours en fuite

More about the book

Flights of Love showcases Bernhard Schlink's talent through a collection of short stories exploring various facets of love, presented in seven distinct narratives. The opening story, "Girl with Lizard," follows a remote male character who becomes obsessed with a painting by his father, ultimately uncovering its troubling history that he feels compelled to confront. In "Sugar Peas," architect Thomas, now wheelchair-bound after an accident, faces revenge from his three lovers for his past indiscretions. "The Other Man" features a widower who finds solace in corresponding with his deceased wife's unwitting lover. Conversely, "The Circumcision" attempts to delve into deep themes of reconciling the past through a German man and his New York Jewish girlfriend, but it veers into improbable territory. Schlink often prioritizes scenarios over vivid scenes, focusing more on dilemmas than on language. His legal background influences his storytelling, resembling a courtroom drama rather than traditional fiction. While Schlink's ability to tackle the complexities of modern German identity is evident, the mechanisms he employs sometimes reinforce rather than challenge assumptions, leading to a didactic feel in parts of the narrative.