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3.33 AVERAGE
3.33 AVERAGE
3.5 stars. Herman Koch is SO good at creating unreliable and deeply creepy characters. This particular book centers around a general physician named Marc, one of his patients, Ralph, and the relationship that develops between the two men and their families. During a joint vacation, something happens at the Meier’s summer house that causes speculation and, eventually, questionable medical decisions on Marc’s part—the book starts at the end of the story before taking us back in time to follow the events leading up to the present. I’d call this not so much a thriller as a slow-burning, psychologically unsettling character study that will leave you wanting a long hot shower.
dark
reflective
medium-paced
Koch has a unique talent for taking something so commonplace and turning it into something so much darker. Koch effortlessly explores morality and human nature’s dark side. The story follows Dr Marc Schlosser who is concealing a medical mistake that costs Ralph Meier, a famous actor, his life. I will admit I was not fond of any of the characters in this book, but it was a good story nonetheless. All in all I found this book to be engaging and disturbing, as well as frustrating. Sadly you will not get any closure.
An excellent psychological study of a character, and a certain kind of a thriller too, I suppose. A family doctor, who loathes most people and most bodies, is accused of killing a patient through a wrong procedure and diagnosis. It is clear that he won't shy away from manifesting his strong opinions and beliefs-but we cannot know how far he actually went, and what could have brought him to such a dilemma.
Slowly, his mentor appears with his Darwinian values, many of which are supported by Patriarchal views anyway. We also learn about the doctor's affection for his wife and his protectiveness of his daughters. However, there is ambivalence in everything he feels, thinks or does.
It's a very quick read, because things develop and take different shapes all the time. The ending is odd and thought-provoking.
Slowly, his mentor appears with his Darwinian values, many of which are supported by Patriarchal views anyway. We also learn about the doctor's affection for his wife and his protectiveness of his daughters. However, there is ambivalence in everything he feels, thinks or does.
It's a very quick read, because things develop and take different shapes all the time. The ending is odd and thought-provoking.
Mr. Koch excels at creating characters readers want to hate. His characters speak their mind, letting readers know exactly what they think of their fellow human beings. He shines the spotlight on their every personality flaw and takes pride in making them truly despicable people. However, they are also so real that readers cannot hate them. His characters act no differently than anyone else, just as they think things no one would ever dare say aloud. The key is that they internalize their general disgust or hatred of others, just as every other person in the world does. Readers only learn about these thoughts because of their unique position as an omniscient audience.
In Summer House with Swimming Pool, Mr. Koch throws in an added complication by playing on a reader’s sympathies. As he connects one piece of the puzzle to another, a reader’s opinions about the characters constantly change. His characters may be appalling in their thoughts and sometimes even their actions, but one never knows when a new piece of information may make those questionable thoughts or actions understandable and even acceptable. Not only does this serve the purpose of keeping a reader off-balance and incapable of predicting the direction of the story’s flow, but it adds to the considerable amount of tension and foreboding building upon each page.
The writing within Summer House with Swimming Pool is superb. Mr. Koch deftly weaves his story of a vacation that is essentially doomed before it even begins as one weaves the most delicate lace. It is the type of story readers instinctively know is not going to end well but how or why never becomes clear. He plays with the timing of his storytelling to build on that sense of foreboding, and readers can never truly fall into the narrative because of the tension. However, this only invites readers to reflect on Marc’s actions and put themselves into his shoes as they actively wonder just what they would do if in his situation. This type of active reading does nothing to diminish the powerful story of appearances and reality, of innocence lost, and family bonds.
As a study of human nature, it does not get much better than Summer House with Swimming Pool. His characters cross the spectrum of human behaviors and attitudes, with every thought and action a direct consequence of their reactions to each other. It spectacularly shows the intricate culpability an entire group can have on a series of events as well as the degrees of subtlety involved in manipulating others, something readers experience firsthand as their opinions of the happenings and of the characters change page by page. It is quite simply a brilliant piece of literary fiction.
In Summer House with Swimming Pool, Mr. Koch throws in an added complication by playing on a reader’s sympathies. As he connects one piece of the puzzle to another, a reader’s opinions about the characters constantly change. His characters may be appalling in their thoughts and sometimes even their actions, but one never knows when a new piece of information may make those questionable thoughts or actions understandable and even acceptable. Not only does this serve the purpose of keeping a reader off-balance and incapable of predicting the direction of the story’s flow, but it adds to the considerable amount of tension and foreboding building upon each page.
The writing within Summer House with Swimming Pool is superb. Mr. Koch deftly weaves his story of a vacation that is essentially doomed before it even begins as one weaves the most delicate lace. It is the type of story readers instinctively know is not going to end well but how or why never becomes clear. He plays with the timing of his storytelling to build on that sense of foreboding, and readers can never truly fall into the narrative because of the tension. However, this only invites readers to reflect on Marc’s actions and put themselves into his shoes as they actively wonder just what they would do if in his situation. This type of active reading does nothing to diminish the powerful story of appearances and reality, of innocence lost, and family bonds.
As a study of human nature, it does not get much better than Summer House with Swimming Pool. His characters cross the spectrum of human behaviors and attitudes, with every thought and action a direct consequence of their reactions to each other. It spectacularly shows the intricate culpability an entire group can have on a series of events as well as the degrees of subtlety involved in manipulating others, something readers experience firsthand as their opinions of the happenings and of the characters change page by page. It is quite simply a brilliant piece of literary fiction.
I really loathed the narrator/main character of this book. And others in the story. But I don't like stopping in the middle of the book so I kept reading. I didn't hate the book but only some of the characters in it.
Herman Koch yet again stimulates and surprises with a twisted story about a general physician named Marc and a traumatic, life changing event that occurred during what started out as an innocent enough family vacation to the beach.
Summer House with Swimming Pool is suspenseful, titillating the reader with bits and pieces of what may (or may not) have taken place. Darkly humorous, Koch's novel is full of graphic metaphor and colorful description. Multiple storylines ultimately connect, leading to Marc's final aggressive action. Think you have it figured out? Guess again.
An all consuming novel, Summer House with Swimming Pool is a reminder at how great Koch's storytelling and plot weaving skills are. His imperfect, flawed characters are relatable and real, creating an even more powerful reaction when the complete story is finally known.
Summer House with Swimming Pool is suspenseful, titillating the reader with bits and pieces of what may (or may not) have taken place. Darkly humorous, Koch's novel is full of graphic metaphor and colorful description. Multiple storylines ultimately connect, leading to Marc's final aggressive action. Think you have it figured out? Guess again.
An all consuming novel, Summer House with Swimming Pool is a reminder at how great Koch's storytelling and plot weaving skills are. His imperfect, flawed characters are relatable and real, creating an even more powerful reaction when the complete story is finally known.
I didn't expect to like this book because I strongly disliked the dinner. I was pleasantly surprised.
dark
tense
slow-paced
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
