The Dinner
Ratings102
Average rating3.2
Some books have characters you hate, and some books have characters you hate but still identify with and root for. This book was one of the former, and it's why I hated the book itself so much. There are many comparisons to Gone Girl - OK, yes, the characters are unlikable and the narrators are unreliable. But the people in this book aren't even entertaining or charming, or even interesting. (Their crimes aren't even creative for God's sake!) They're just bad people. Still, it was interesting enough to get me to read the whole thing, so that's something.
Loved the pacing and the dark psychology. I rarely like a book where I hate all the characters but this is an exception.
I gave it a 3.5 stars. It was a good book, sometimes there were parts that I found that was a bit toolong. Some of the characters I didn't really care about, but overall it was a good read.
Un bon roman qui m'a un peu rappelé l'excellent “Defending Jacob” que j'avais lu et adoré en début d'année. Le découpage en 5 parties au rythme du dîner (apéritif, entrée, plat principal, dessert, digestif) est un peu artificiel, d'autant que la partie la plus longue (“plat principal”) donne lieu à de nombreuses diggressions avec des flash-backs qui sans être inintéressants donnent l'impression d'être présents pour prolonger le suspense. Les personnages sont détestables mais on se laisse prendre au jeu par le récit.
I thought I would leave a bad review because the first half of the book really bored me. I do think certain things could have been cut down but it ended up being really unsettling which reminds me of lots of A24 films. So it was very well done with the way it made you feel gradually more and more unsettled.
An enjoyable read. I didn't know much about this before I started reading it and that I think helped my enjoyment. I think if I knew more about the plot I would have found it a bit more mundane and thus would have a rated it a bit lower.
The best and most interesting part of this book is that it takes the most normal, ordinary situations and makes disaster look...inevitable.
About a man pushed to his absolute limit, and a boy who learns from his father how to deal with that. Who learns that violence and secrets are okay and even natural.
The writer does a great job of conveying our main character, Paul, as someone we think is open-minded or “woke” at first, while harbouring a terrible secret. And only the story and events told in his own voice, made to sound understandable or even normal, reveals to us, bit by bit, how not normal, how incomprehensible, some of his actions are. His voice, increasingly paranoid and mean-spirited, takes us on a journey into his mind and heart.
Well worth listening to, as well. This book does very well in audio format.
I thought this book was, well I'm not going to tell you exactly what I thought it was. That would distract you from the point. The point is I read this book and I enjoyed it. Isn't that more important? Enjoying something? Anything? I don't mean the empty enjoyment empty-headed morons talk about when they say they enjoyed the afternoon. They can't even remember half of what they did and only say they enjoyed it because they have no better sense. No I mean I read it in less than 24 hours because I couldn't put it down. That it proved thoughts and stirred emotions and desires to find out what happened next.
I really enjoyed this book. It pulled me in right away and kept me turning the pages. Highly recommend!
I didn't find the book clever, I didn't find the twists that shocking, I am confused as to why this is labeled a thriller.
Could not identify with anything or anyone in this book.
The narrator was really whiny plot twist he is not just a complaining asshole, he also is mentally ill. Not only that, All 4 of them were horrible and self serving. Wow. Shocker.
This book did nothing for me.
1 star because I can't give half stars and because the author managed to make everyone unsympathetic, I guess that is an accomplishment.
Wow. This book is so dark?? I felt so uncomfortable after I finished reading it, but I do think it's worth the read.
I enjoyed this book. A fresh setting with clarity, I know some have said it meanders too long but I didn't think so. my only critique wd be occasionally things or dialogue came out of nowhere or out of character
This book was a unique book to me. Not in the way in it's ending but the way it was written. I do like Herman Koch's writing style and the way the story weaves between the past and present. Although the ending was a little shocking, it didn't really surprise me. The writing to me did make up for this. I liked the stream of consciousness with the mixture of the scene. Overall this is a great suspense book and I will be looking into more of Herman Koch's writing.
I absolutely hated this book. It was overpowered with unnecessary details and I couldn't relate to it or any of its characters in any way. The only thing that I found interesting was the food, but it would make more sense if the story was supposed to be about food since it wasn't even that became irritating after a while.
Not a book I recommend. On my cover, it mentions that it's an unputdownable book, quite the contrary, I would put it down and not pick it up again. Sorry.
Wow...I am not sure what i think of this book. I would start by saying this book is about prejudice, pretentious restaurants, the death penalty, violence, homelessness, adoption, illness, and more. None of it is pretty to look at but the novel is well constructed and though provoking ... for sure.
I was a bit disappointed at how the story ended, but the story line kept my interest throughout. The issue of morality is raised when the sons of Paul and his popular and well-to-do politician brother break the law in a major way. The parents are left to decide if and how to protect their boys and their own futures from becoming mud. This issue will definitely leave readers thinking about how far they might go to protect someone they love.
There were moments where I was truly shocked but there was something in the writing style that really irritated me. The comparisons to Gone Girl will prompt me to read that and hope for 4*
