Reviews

The Dinner by Herman Koch

jwolfpack's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

csmoke85's review against another edition

dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

feyley's review

4.0

This book. It's start off slow as you get to know the characters, primarily the narrator. As they get further into the dinner, you become aware of more problems that exist between the couples than what is obvious. Also, their teenage sons are some messed up kids. The last 20 or so pages of this just killed me. I did not see that coming in the slightest. But I definitely enjoyed the book more than I thought I would, especially because of how slow it started. Get past those slower chapters because it starts to build and all the things he told you at the beginning become extremely important. Overall, this is a messed up family but a great book to read.

ripbar's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.75

raven1971's review against another edition

1.0

I kept reading because I was wondering when this book would hold up to the reviews. Absolutely worst translation of a book into English I’ve ever read. Switching between English and American for school related matters. Calling it elementary school, later using A as marks them swooping to the continental numbers. Using football and soccer when as the same term. The whole book just not saying anything, not giving anything a name... not to speak of a parent promoting their child to kill a cousin and cover it up.

jennepher's review against another edition

3.0

The best and only entertaining thing was the main characters way of thinking. The rest was meh. I didnt like the way the story was broken up. An objectively bad book that i somehow enjoyed

thewrongqueen's review against another edition

dark mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.5

seraphinasees's review against another edition

dark mysterious

3.75

exorcismemily's review against another edition

4.0

This was a very odd book, but I liked it. Honestly, I feel like it would have been 1000x better as a short story. Some parts were a little slow, but I enjoyed it more once it picked up.

lalalibrarian's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5