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Summer Lies by Bernhard Schlink



Thought provoking seven Short stories from best-selling author of "The Reader" exhibit the most humane aspects of our inner inhibitions, our desires and the willingness to go distance to satisfy our deep down insecurities. 

Psychologically, the cold winter months cause people to have Seasonal affective disorder with less positive mood but the Spring/Summer months bring the exposure to bright light which in turn increases the Brain hormone Serotonin which elevates our mood. The aptly named book contemplates the human tendencies transforming from dark, grey emotional downside into bright revelation which is not necessarily happy. But the revelation is definitely more clear and open to all kinds of possibilities. All the stories start with an emotional turmoil that journeys through the difficult decisions and are all left open ended for readers imagination for the possible closure of the story.  

This 240 pages book is a collection of 7 short stories are unrelated in terms of characters or plot but are connected on the same theme of human emotions. The author Bernhard Schlink is the author of the internationally best-selling novel The Reader. He is a former judge and teaches public law and legal philosophy at Humboldt University in Berlin and at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in New York City.    

Quotes from the book 

“I've written things about that, about how life's really big decisions aren't right or wrong, it's just that one lives different lives. No, I don't think your life went wrong. "

“He wasn't looking for the easy life, but the beautiful. He wasn't hungry for money, he played with it."

“Drunk with sleep, drunk with colors, drunk with freedom - I don't know where I am or where we're going. I forgot where I come from. "

Link for Goodreads ratings for the book: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15812545-summer-lies?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=85o2MBgFFP&rank=4

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