The Dinner
by Herman Koch
by Herman Koch
Synopsis
An internationally bestselling phenomenon: the darkly suspenseful, highly controversial tale of two families struggling to make the hardest decision of their lives—all over the course of one meal.
It's a summer's evening in Amsterdam, and two couples meet at a fashionable restaurant for dinner. Between mouthfuls of food and over the scrapings of cutlery, the conversation remains a gentle hum of polite discourse. But behind the empty words, terrible things need to be said, and with every forced smile and every new course, the knives are being sharpened.
Each couple has a fifteen-year-old son. The two boys are united by their accountability for a single horrific act; an act that has triggered a police investigation and shattered the comfortable, insulated worlds of their families. As the dinner reaches its culinary climax, the conversation finally touches on their children. As civility and friendship disintegrate, each couple show just how far they are prepared to go to protect those they love.
Skewering everything from parenting values to pretentious menus to political convictions, this novel reveals the dark side of genteel society and asks what each of us would do in the face of unimaginable tragedy.
Review
Oh, how to review a book like this? I kind of knew I wasn't going to like it when the description said "dark" but I also wanted to take a risk and maybe surprise myself and like it. But I didn't really like it. It was a little too dark for me and "dark" novels aren't really a genre I get excited about. So I took a risk and while I didn't absolutely abhor this book, I probably wouldn't recommend it to a friend. It's just not my style. That being said it was a thought provoking read and a well constructed story that left you guessing until the end. If you like a little "dark" in your novel you will probably enjoy this book - it hasn't gained in popularity for no reason. There are definitely those that like this type of book. I'm just not so much one of them. As an aside, for some reason reminded me of the "Girl with a Dragon Tattoo" series - not sure why. Maybe European writers or their translated books gift off that certain aura.
Other books you may like…
Gone Girl: A Novel
The Husband's Secret
(my review here)
Before I Go To Sleep: A Novel
Other books you may like…
Gone Girl: A Novel
The Husband's Secret
(my review here)Before I Go To Sleep: A Novel
I read this book after it was compared to Gone Girl, which I loved. I kept waiting for something to happen, and then when the author finally described what the boys did I was so disappointed. It was appalling, but it also seemed too out there for me. I was not a fan, and I know it's a popular book. It just wasn't a winner for me.
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