A review by jkulla
The Dinner by Herman Koch

dark medium-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

2.5

Actually closer to 2.5 stars. I really wanted to like this book, the concept sounded very interesting to me but the execution kind of fell flat. For starters, nothing on the book prepared me for how fucked up some of the plot was? <Spoiler>Once I got to the part where the boys end up killing the homeless woman I had to put the book down and take a break. Not only was that horrible, the main characters were truly insufferable to read about. <Spoiler> I could not stand Paul, which is perhaps the point, but it made me not even want to finish the book. I can see why this is a New York Times best seller but it did not live up to my expectations. Perhaps I’m sick of the “I’m a man and everyone is out to get me” trope because I cannot stand how much of that was in this book. 
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