'The Dinner' by Herman Koch is a dark and disturbing novel that unfolds over the course of a dinner at a high-end restaurant in the Netherlands. The story revolves around two brothers, their wives, and a terrible secret involving their sons. As the dinner progresses, flashbacks and revelations shed light on the complex relationships, moral dilemmas, and disturbing decisions made by the characters. The unreliable narrator, Paul, guides the reader through a narrative that is both shocking and thought-provoking, exploring themes of family dynamics, parental instincts, and the consequences of protecting one's own.
The novel delves into the depths of human morality and societal taboos, presenting a chilling portrayal of how far parents are willing to go to protect their children. Through clever storytelling and intricate plot twists, Herman Koch weaves a tale that keeps readers on the edge of their seats, questioning their own beliefs and values. With elements of suspense, dark humor, and psychological tension, 'The Dinner' offers a gripping exploration of family secrets, guilt, and the lengths people will go to in order to maintain appearances.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Content warnings include themes of violence, crime, mental illness, and moral decay.
From The Publisher:
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
The darkly suspenseful tale of two families struggling to make the hardest decision of their lives-all over the course of one meal. Now a major motion picture.
"Chilling, nasty, smart, shocking, and unputdownable."-Gillian Flynn, author of Gone Girl
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, and as civility and friendship disintegrate, each couple shows just how far they are prepared to go to protect those they love.
A NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOK
"A European Gone Girl . . . A sly psychological thriller."-The Wall Street Journal
"Brilliantly engineered . . . The novel is designed to make you think twice, then thrice, not only about what goes on within its pages, but also the next time indignation rises up, pure and fiery, in your own heart."-Salon
"You'll eat it up, with some fava beans and a nice Chianti."-Entertainment Weekly
"[Koch] has created a clever, dark confection . . . absorbing and highly readable."-New York Times Book Review
"Tongue-in-cheek page-turner."-The Washington Post
"[A] deliciously Mr. Ripley-esque drama."-O: The Oprah Magazine
Ratings (22)
Loved It (4) | |
Liked It (7) | |
It Was OK (7) | |
Did Not Like (1) | |
Hated It (3) |
Reader Stats (36):
Read It (23) | |
Currently Reading (1) | |
Want To Read (10) | |
Did Not Finish (1) | |
Not Interested (1) |
4 comment(s)
I felt frustrated and bored with this book. The plot was unbelievable. I really did not care about any of the characters in this book which made it difficult to get through. The child is a monster in the making and the parents are completely twisted in their views of how society works.
DNF. I made it maybe 2 hours into the (audio)book and just...couldn't. The depth of the characters was below shallow. I couldn't make a connection with any of them...except maybe the waitress who bonks the lady on her head with her elbow while trying to open a bottle. Seriously it was awful. I don't even know the crime the boys did because I just couldn't keep listening.
I absolutely hated this contrived piece of drivel. There is not one likeable character and my eyes were glazing over reading this boring story. Would not recommend it.
This book has good and bad points. It is a bit hard to review without giving away details, however I enjoyed it for the most part. The narrator, Paul, is a very bitter man and the first 100 pages of the text make it abundantly clear. If there is such a thing as too much detail, this is the story that gives it to you. But if you can get past that the story picks up at a much faster pace.
What can you read after
The Dinner?
About the Author:
HERMAN KOCH is the author of nine novels and three collections of short stories. The Dinner, his sixth novel, has been published in more than 50 countries and was the winner of the Publieksprijs Prize in 2009. He currently lives…
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