Reviews

Middagen by Herman Koch

persuadingdaisies's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective 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? It's complicated

4.0

whtlander's review against another edition

dark tense 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

4.0

babsaway14's review against another edition

2.0

Ho-hum. So much buzz about this book and I'm not sure why. I picked it up as Gillian Anderson of "Gone Girl" praised it, plus the Netherlands connection. Yes, there's a twist, although you have to spend 100s of pages with irritating twits to get there. Irritating rich twits going into unnecessarily detailed rants about their poor service at over-priced restaurants. Honestly, this was a murder mystery written at the Woodsman Tavern. Maybe if I didn't live in Portland, OR I would appreciate it more.

onlyschmankerl's review against another edition

mysterious reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

dawnthoma100's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

The fundamental idea of this book—the extent parents will go to protect their children—was appealing to me. I found that the storyline made sense when it was set around a tense family dinner; the tension was skilfully built.  I felt a little let down by the story's underlying events, which included the nature and source of the illness, how it had affected his life, and his relationships with his brother, wife, and son. Also, the fundamentals like how they made ends meet in their non-working lives.

keng1760's review against another edition

3.0

Took me AGES to finish because the narrator is the most insufferable white male to exist possibly ever (which is the point ig) but the ending ramped up quite a bit. I thought this was supposed to be a subtle critique of masculinity and power at first, which was meh, but the details revealed throughout the second half of the story created a more nuanced questioning of first impressions and parental duty. Exceeded expectations tbh

veronicarohlfing's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

lee_griffith's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny mysterious medium-paced

3.75

tigersmom's review against another edition

dark tense 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

3.0

baronvallon's review against another edition

5.0

This book is about family, society, anger, and it made me feel dark visceral things. It is an amazing piece of work, but be prepared to confront some very ugly aspects of family and humanity.
I would compare it to Brave New World's theme of if happiness or truth is more important.