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3.33 AVERAGE
3.33 AVERAGE
dark
slow-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:
No
I’m not sure if all of the male characters including the protagonist are supposed to be unlikable, but they are and they way they talked about women was awful
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Rape
Disturbing and fascinating at the same time. I would start reading it and find myself so bothered I had to put it down, but 5 minutes later I would pick it up and start reading again. The main character is a doctor who is disgusted by the human body. His inner dialogue is brutally honest and a bit unsettling. When an incident happens that touches him he falls apart slowly. If I didn't have sympathy for the character who suffered I would have been almost gleeful at his demise. At times the emotion is a bit hollow but overall it leaves you with a lot to digest and think about.
Second book I've read by the Koch and I like his style. You basically hate most all of the characters so reading the story is like watching a really elegant wreck of a truly ugly old train.
I thought I had this book figured out after the end of the third chapter or so (remember, I don't re-read the synopsis once I've chosen to read the book). Not only was I wrong - I was so off track I embarrassed my so-called "Nancy Drew Skills." For fans of Mr. Koch's last novel, "The Dinner," this book won't disappoint. However, I didn't rate his new novel "Summer House with Swimming Pool" as high as I did "The Dinner." Not because it wasn't as good, but because, "The Dinner" just seemed more shocking - and the storytelling fresher. Perhaps because the timeframe for "The Dinner" was very
finite. "Summer House with Swimming Pool" comes with all of the not-sure-if-I-like-this-guy characterization to the point where just when you've made up your mind, something happens and you think the exact opposite - swinging back and forth on the same page! And it has even more plot twists than "The Dinner" - mostly because it has far more characters. And, ultimately, I am unsure of what actually took place and who is actually to blame -which leaves you thinking for days (I finished this book two days ago!). This throws the actions of "the hero" more into shadow than many suspense novels typically do -which is a great thing to me. I think it lost a star (form 5 to 4, mind you) because after "The Dinner," I thought I'd read something that was as unexpected as the plot of "The Dinner" turns out. But please, keep in mind that "Summer House with Swimming Pool" is a riveting read (I read each half in two hour periods) that could not, at times, be put down. And I still highly recommend it.
Enjoy!
finite. "Summer House with Swimming Pool" comes with all of the not-sure-if-I-like-this-guy characterization to the point where just when you've made up your mind, something happens and you think the exact opposite - swinging back and forth on the same page! And it has even more plot twists than "The Dinner" - mostly because it has far more characters. And, ultimately, I am unsure of what actually took place and who is actually to blame -which leaves you thinking for days (I finished this book two days ago!). This throws the actions of "the hero" more into shadow than many suspense novels typically do -which is a great thing to me. I think it lost a star (form 5 to 4, mind you) because after "The Dinner," I thought I'd read something that was as unexpected as the plot of "The Dinner" turns out. But please, keep in mind that "Summer House with Swimming Pool" is a riveting read (I read each half in two hour periods) that could not, at times, be put down. And I still highly recommend it.
Enjoy!
The protagonist was a horrible person. I put the book down towards the beginning because it was so draining to know his thoughts. Once I picked it back up, I continued on and became engaged in the book. If you are looking for a light summer read, this isn't it- beware the pool friendly cover! LOL it's a really good read, sticks with you.
