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campaigee's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
outoftheblue14's review
4.0
Bello. Il finale, però, mi ha un po' delusa. Mi aspettavo grandi rivelazioni, e invece...
justinkhchen's review against another edition
4.0
4 stars
A bait-and-switch, Dear Mr. M starts out as a gripping stalker-mystery, but switches gears halfway through to a meandering meta-fiction on authorship and the human condition. Depending on one's expectation, this novel can be either deeply fascinating or frustratingly boring.
Either way, there's no denying Herman Koch is a terrific storyteller, as I was thoroughly engaged in unpacking the psyche of its roster of unlikable characters. While I did learn to appreciate the lengthy character study, as well as details on the transactional aspect of publishing (promotion cycle, adaptation, etc.), it was off-putting for a self-claimed 'thriller' to completely ditch its mystery plot for almost half of its page count. The novel did eventually circle back and close the book with a few more twists and reveals, but for some readers it might be too little too late.
Dear Mr. M gets a cautious 4 stars from me—I was slightly underwhelmed immediately upon finishing, feeling like I only got half of what I signed up for (a streamlined, fast-paced thriller). But once I unpacked its plot and characters with a few friends, my appreciation for its complexity grew and agreed Dear Mr. M was razor-sharp on its theme and intent, even if I had some issues on the execution.
A bait-and-switch, Dear Mr. M starts out as a gripping stalker-mystery, but switches gears halfway through to a meandering meta-fiction on authorship and the human condition. Depending on one's expectation, this novel can be either deeply fascinating or frustratingly boring.
Either way, there's no denying Herman Koch is a terrific storyteller, as I was thoroughly engaged in unpacking the psyche of its roster of unlikable characters. While I did learn to appreciate the lengthy character study, as well as details on the transactional aspect of publishing (promotion cycle, adaptation, etc.), it was off-putting for a self-claimed 'thriller' to completely ditch its mystery plot for almost half of its page count. The novel did eventually circle back and close the book with a few more twists and reveals, but for some readers it might be too little too late.
Dear Mr. M gets a cautious 4 stars from me—I was slightly underwhelmed immediately upon finishing, feeling like I only got half of what I signed up for (a streamlined, fast-paced thriller). But once I unpacked its plot and characters with a few friends, my appreciation for its complexity grew and agreed Dear Mr. M was razor-sharp on its theme and intent, even if I had some issues on the execution.
chelseatm's review against another edition
2.0
I was very excited for this book as I've loved his novels in the past but I was very disappointed.
It was almost self-congratulatory in its mehta-ness and rambled unnecessarily in some exceedingly pretentious proses. Koch is a strong writer but he was much too aware of that fact.
By the end of the novel, I was indifferent to the mystery's solution. Rather, I was just ready to stop feeling like I was sitting in the company of self-aggrandizing teeangaers intent on making me feel small and stupid.
I'd rather just reread The Dinner, thank you.
It was almost self-congratulatory in its mehta-ness and rambled unnecessarily in some exceedingly pretentious proses. Koch is a strong writer but he was much too aware of that fact.
By the end of the novel, I was indifferent to the mystery's solution. Rather, I was just ready to stop feeling like I was sitting in the company of self-aggrandizing teeangaers intent on making me feel small and stupid.
I'd rather just reread The Dinner, thank you.
katykelly's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars
Difficult to classify or describe, a multi-stranded story that pulls together. Interesting look at writers and their world.
I loved The Dinner, quite liked Summer House, the premise of this was one I couldn't turn down.
A neighbour of a famous writer (now selling far fewer copies than he'd like) keeps a close watch on 'M', attending his book readings, watching his young wife on her holidays.
We also see a second story narrated, that of two students and a teacher, who had an affair with one student, and the disappearance of whom later gave M his breakthrough novel as he wrote about the case (and assumed murder by the two students).
I spent much of the book searching for connections, wondering how the two narratives were going to come together. As happens in Koch, they do.
And both are equally interesting. M's world of signings and dinners (or buffets as they increasingly become) is rather fascinating, as we see the outer glamour and the inner turmoil. The story of the long-toothed teacher and the pretty student (and her new boyfriend) feels like a different book, but you know early on that it is going to turn darker.
Very enjoyable, a refreshing plot and situation, I always love books about writers and writing. Lots of different perspectives and dark humour, and a great ending for both plotlines. Great choice for book groups to discuss.
Difficult to classify or describe, a multi-stranded story that pulls together. Interesting look at writers and their world.
I loved The Dinner, quite liked Summer House, the premise of this was one I couldn't turn down.
A neighbour of a famous writer (now selling far fewer copies than he'd like) keeps a close watch on 'M', attending his book readings, watching his young wife on her holidays.
We also see a second story narrated, that of two students and a teacher, who had an affair with one student, and the disappearance of whom later gave M his breakthrough novel as he wrote about the case (and assumed murder by the two students).
I spent much of the book searching for connections, wondering how the two narratives were going to come together. As happens in Koch, they do.
And both are equally interesting. M's world of signings and dinners (or buffets as they increasingly become) is rather fascinating, as we see the outer glamour and the inner turmoil. The story of the long-toothed teacher and the pretty student (and her new boyfriend) feels like a different book, but you know early on that it is going to turn darker.
Very enjoyable, a refreshing plot and situation, I always love books about writers and writing. Lots of different perspectives and dark humour, and a great ending for both plotlines. Great choice for book groups to discuss.
93ali_mod's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
norasword's review against another edition
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? Yes
3.5
speckbetsy's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
sposnick's review against another edition
4.0
Compared to 'The Dinner', this one loses it's place here and there in the storytelling but still a very engrossing read with a strangely satisfying ending.
megadeathvsbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Koch writes these novels with just despicable main characters, but for some reason I can't make myself put them down. This was another good one that kept me wondering the whole time.