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3.33 AVERAGE
3.33 AVERAGE
these people think and behave in some seriously evil ways! combine that with the cultural differences where assisted suicide and old men walking around naked in front of kids is a-okay and you have a lot of "say what now?!" type moments.
Like a lot of other people, I read The Dinner some time ago. While I didn’t love it, it was interesting and an excellent book for discussion (and argument) for book clubs. When I saw Herman Koch had a new book translated into English being released, I thought I might like this one better. Summer House with Swimming Pool is about a GP (family physician) who has made a fatal mistake and is being brought up before the medical board. How did things come to this? What did happen last summer – and did Marc really make a mistake?
The book opens with Marc discussing what he thinks about when he’s seeing patients – it’s not particularly pretty, and it’s really not what you hope your GP is thinking about during your consultation (naturally, it was at this point that I was discussing my Kindle with my GP – embarrassment central!). Already, we’re starting to get an idea Marc is not your typical kind-hearted doctor…he doesn’t appear to like his patients or what he does. He does seem to like his status in society and that his patients give him tickets to gallery openings and plays. It’s here that Ralph Meier is introduced to us. He’s an actor of some renown, mainly in theatre. However, he’s got a new role in TV series which is going to be BIG. Unfortunately, Ralph becomes sick and eventually dies (choosing euthanasia). Marc is told by Judith (Ralph’s wife) that he’s a murderer. By accident or design?
The narrative then moves back to a summer spent in another country where Marc and his family just ‘happen’ to meet up with Ralph and Judith. Their children hit it off, so it’s a natural progression for the family to camp in the grounds of the Meier family’s summer house (yes, it does have a swimming pool). Much time is spent by the adults drinking and smoking with the odd swim, but then things start to irk Marc. Why does Ralph get his gear off at the slightest of whims? Why does his daughter insinuate that Ralph has pulled down her bikini bottoms? Marc’s getting very suspicious of Ralph and things come to a head when they start chatting up a few young ladies. That part of the night ends badly, but there’s much worse to come when something happens to Marc’s daughter. Who is responsible? Is Marc right in taking matters into his own hands?
I found Summer House with Swimming Pool quite slow to start – Marc’s observations on his patients were initially just creepy but as the novel went on, I found them difficult to stomach. I didn’t like Marc as a character (in fact, the majority of the characters in this book are distinctly unlikeable) and I felt there just wasn’t something right with him. As for doing what he did – I could see where he was coming from as a father, but as a doctor, it’s plain unprofessional. I didn’t like how Ralph’s illness was only alluded to, as I thought this watered down what Marc did and I was unsure if I should be sympathetic towards the Meiers (even though Ralph is quite sexist and strange). I also found some of the dialogue stilted – whether that’s because of the translation or to emphasise Marc’s oddness, I don’t know.
I think I’ve done my dash when Herman Koch. While this book will generate discussion, I just don’t have the inclination to read about moral and ethical dilemmas over and over, particularly when I thought there was a clear-cut answer and the characters are not worth the argument. This book left me craving something with a happy ending, as it’s devoid of positivity.
Thank you to Crown Publishing for the eBook.
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
The book opens with Marc discussing what he thinks about when he’s seeing patients – it’s not particularly pretty, and it’s really not what you hope your GP is thinking about during your consultation (naturally, it was at this point that I was discussing my Kindle with my GP – embarrassment central!). Already, we’re starting to get an idea Marc is not your typical kind-hearted doctor…he doesn’t appear to like his patients or what he does. He does seem to like his status in society and that his patients give him tickets to gallery openings and plays. It’s here that Ralph Meier is introduced to us. He’s an actor of some renown, mainly in theatre. However, he’s got a new role in TV series which is going to be BIG. Unfortunately, Ralph becomes sick and eventually dies (choosing euthanasia). Marc is told by Judith (Ralph’s wife) that he’s a murderer. By accident or design?
The narrative then moves back to a summer spent in another country where Marc and his family just ‘happen’ to meet up with Ralph and Judith. Their children hit it off, so it’s a natural progression for the family to camp in the grounds of the Meier family’s summer house (yes, it does have a swimming pool). Much time is spent by the adults drinking and smoking with the odd swim, but then things start to irk Marc. Why does Ralph get his gear off at the slightest of whims? Why does his daughter insinuate that Ralph has pulled down her bikini bottoms? Marc’s getting very suspicious of Ralph and things come to a head when they start chatting up a few young ladies. That part of the night ends badly, but there’s much worse to come when something happens to Marc’s daughter. Who is responsible? Is Marc right in taking matters into his own hands?
I found Summer House with Swimming Pool quite slow to start – Marc’s observations on his patients were initially just creepy but as the novel went on, I found them difficult to stomach. I didn’t like Marc as a character (in fact, the majority of the characters in this book are distinctly unlikeable) and I felt there just wasn’t something right with him. As for doing what he did – I could see where he was coming from as a father, but as a doctor, it’s plain unprofessional. I didn’t like how Ralph’s illness was only alluded to, as I thought this watered down what Marc did and I was unsure if I should be sympathetic towards the Meiers (even though Ralph is quite sexist and strange). I also found some of the dialogue stilted – whether that’s because of the translation or to emphasise Marc’s oddness, I don’t know.
I think I’ve done my dash when Herman Koch. While this book will generate discussion, I just don’t have the inclination to read about moral and ethical dilemmas over and over, particularly when I thought there was a clear-cut answer and the characters are not worth the argument. This book left me craving something with a happy ending, as it’s devoid of positivity.
Thank you to Crown Publishing for the eBook.
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
1.5 out of 5. In the end, this was the theme of the book: it was just unnecessary. It's an unnecessary addition to the canon of unreliable narrators, an unworthy follow-up to The Dinner, and does absolutely nothing new and/or interesting. The characters are not only unlikable, they are uninteresting. They are repugnant or annoying or both. The plot hinges on several moments of utter ridiculousness - and it nearly made me pass out on the train and not in a way that felt earned. Honestly, I think less of The Dinner having now read this book.
More at RB: http://wp.me/pGVzJ-ZH
More at RB: http://wp.me/pGVzJ-ZH
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
“There are times when you run back through your life, to see whether you can locate the point at which it could still have taken a different turn.”
― Herman Koch, Summer House with Swimming Pool
This was another one of those books I had trouble getting into (I usually read fantasy), but once the story started to roll, I was barely able to stop reading! The best word I can tag to this book is ‘interesting’. I don’t want to spoil anything, but some ‘things’ happened which made the doctor do what he did. It was awful to read about, but it was so well written. To quote the review of La Tribuna, ‘A story about love, betrayel, taboos and revenge, which will make you feel the shivers on your spine,’
Rating: ★★★★
Note: I read the original, the Dutch version, of the book. There are translations of it. The English title is ”Summerhouse with Swimming Pool”.
Read other reviews on my blog:
https://ezziesbookshelf.wordpress.com
I do like this book, not because the story has such a great moral thought behind it or because it was so original. I like it because of the way Herman Koch writes. He knows how to build the tension and I was totally sucked into the story. The only thing that I didn't like was the ending, I felt rather empty and as if he wasn't quite finished yet. But overall a good read.
Koch writes the most despicable characters. Caroline is the only character that is even somewhat likeable and even then . However despite the gagging that occurred on multiple occasions while I was reading, the story is provocative and I have many thoughts and maybe even a different perspective to ponder them from as a result of reading, so 4 stars it is
I read this on vacation, and was completely absorbed for the final two thirds. I found the first 50-75 pages a bit slow. I
I never truly understood the father, Marc and his motivations/deal. Why did he dislike people and the human body so much? Why did he end up with his wife? Did he love her? Had he cheated before? Did he consummate the cheating with Judith or was that just to keep her suspicions at bay for the purposes of the investigation? Was he a sociopath as he appeared to be? And was it just me, or did he remind any other readers of the main male character of Koch's other novel "The Dinner"?
I never truly understood the father, Marc and his motivations/deal. Why did he dislike people and the human body so much? Why did he end up with his wife? Did he love her? Had he cheated before? Did he consummate the cheating with Judith or was that just to keep her suspicions at bay for the purposes of the investigation? Was he a sociopath as he appeared to be? And was it just me, or did he remind any other readers of the main male character of Koch's other novel "The Dinner"?