Reviews tagging 'Classism'

The Dinner by Herman Koch

33 reviews

meshuganush's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious reflective tense fast-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

The way that this book was organized was very cool. The narrator goes back and forth between the dinner and his past in a way that is very easy to follow and moves the story along. The tension at the table was so well done! 

I would say none of the characters are likeable and I didn't root for any of them but I was still enthralled and had to know what happened!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Murder, Classism, Violence, and Mental illness

Moderate: Misogyny and Antisemitism

lisapparition's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Classism

Moderate: Mental illness, Racism, and Miscarriage

megwhitlock's review against another edition

challenging dark funny tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

The characters being so unlikeable and the story being so beyond belief reprehensible is what made this book so good. Hard disagree with those who say you have to identify with the characters or enjoy the plot to love a book. Great dark comedy

(plus an unreliable narrator is always a bonus

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Violence, and Murder

Moderate: Mental illness, Classism, and Racism

c_alma_d's review against another edition

dark emotional funny tense medium-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

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Hate crime, Murder, Bullying, Classism, Mental illness, Physical abuse, and Toxic friendship

afabbi'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? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

The writing is great, the story is interesting and told from an interesting perspective, but the characters are bad people who don't have any development throughout the story

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Classism, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Mental illness, and Violence

Minor: Blood, Chronic illness, and Child death

mjverrall's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.5

I can’t stop thinking about this book. It left a lot of open ends and questions but in a very intentional way. I couldn’t stop reading even though the characters are all absolutely terrible people. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Violence, Mental illness, Classism, and Racism

h4ppycupcake's review against another edition

dark tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

This read like a Dutch take on American Psycho. Not for the faint hearted. I didn’t find any of the characters particularly interesting and I didn’t end up feeling satisfied with how the story concluded. There was some interesting commentary regarding how society judges who can be considered an “innocent victim,” but it was not a pleasant character revelation. Truth be told, there were no pleasant parts of this book. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Classism, Death, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Fire/Fire injury, Violence, and Blood

Moderate: Gore, Torture, Body horror, Toxic relationship, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Alcohol and Cursing

sphinxofblackquartz's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Racism and Car accident

Minor: Classism, Xenophobia, Antisemitism, Abortion, Mental illness, and Alcohol

jkar7's review against another edition

slow-paced

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

0.5

I really did not like this. I should have DNFed. I did not like any of the characters. I thought the plot was stupid. I didn't enjoy the message (if there is one). And I really disliked the way Beau was discussed. I found the whole thing infuriating. I would never recommend this. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Racial slurs, Violence, Xenophobia, Colonisation, Misogyny, Murder, Racism, and Toxic relationship

sgtz00's review against another edition

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Murder

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Classism