The Dinner

The Dinner by Herman Koch
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Sum it up in a sentence (or two): Two families meet at an upscale restaurant for dinner, but secrets and lies hide just under the surface of their overpriced meals. The truth comes out in a series of flashbacks and through the course of the night.

First thoughts: What the what. This book drew me in and also repulsed me the entire way. It's quick to read and I wanted to know everything - the secrets, the motivations, the history, the lies - about the families. I simultaneously wanted to know more while feeling like I knew plenty.

A Disagreement: This book claims to be a "European Gone Girl," but I beg to differ. They are both thrillers, yes, but the subject matter and tone of each book is different.

Favorite Quote: "...happiness needs nothing but itself; it doesn't have to be validated." -p6

Final thoughts: (spoilerish) This book has no likable characters by the end. Paul is clearly unreliable and Claire is so cold. In that sense, it's amazing how engrossing the story is.

Editor's Note: I received a copy of The Dinner from Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review.


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