Review: The Woman on the Stairs

I found this latest book from Bernhard Schlink tedious. I had high expectations as I found The Reader so moving and profound. This is neither.
I did not warm to the un-named narrator, who was unappealing: self centred, pedantic, a borderline stalker and ultimately unbelievable.
The woman on the stairs, Irene, was never fleshed out as a real woman and was a barely veiled device to drive what little narrative this novel had. What was the point? If I want existential angst, I will return to a master, such as Albert Camus.
The language was pedestrian - perhaps not a good translation? I couldn’t say.
By the time I forced myself to finish this, I’d already forgotten how it had started, and frankly didn’t care! At least it was short - but not so sweet!

• Review
• Bernhard Schlink