Reviews

Het diner by Herman Koch

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anluluz's review against another edition

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dark mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Content Warnings

doctor_km's review against another edition

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4.0

I would have to say that this book took enough turns that I really never knew what was going to happen. it started off slow and seemed to be building toward something but what that thing is turns out to not be what you expect. and then a twist and then another twist and then another twist and it ends up nowhere near where you expected. overall I really enjoyed it

chloerose2193's review against another edition

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dark mysterious medium-paced

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

1.5

lizee59402's review against another edition

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4.0

It was a suspenseful read that I couldn't put down. The story of two brothers and their wives at dinner, and the secret they all carry, is well crafted in such a way that builds as the courses are served. I really liked how details are permanently omitted by the narrator and how you get brief glimpses into his own illness, which is never named throughout the novel. It leaves the reader thinking of how the narrator's son might also have unnamed illness, another variable playing into the secret causing much turmoil among the two couples at dinner. Suspenseful and interesting, yet disturbingly keeping the issues 'in the family'.

abigail_reading's review against another edition

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dark medium-paced

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

3.0

This book is going to live rent free in my head I think. What a dark look into the head of a truly disturbed and unlikable main character. The lack of self awareness or remorse is a really interesting to explore from a first person perspective. It also explores the relationship between a parent and child and how hard it is to let them deal with the consequences of their actions.