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| credit: goodreads.com |
I purchased a copy of The Dinner by Herman Koch at my local Half Price Books store for $4 plus tax. I'm glad I didn't spend anymore, or I might have felt cheated. The book is set at a posh restaurant in Amsterdam and occurs over the course of dinner shared between two brothers and their respective wives. Through flashbacks, we learn about some sinister activity involving each couple's respective 15-year old son.
The story is basically one that involves a moral dilemma: How far would a parent go to protect his or her child? By the end of the book, the reader learns that no one at the dinner (or their offspring) are exceptionally moral in character. The characters seemed a bit out of touch with reality, self-absorbed, and highly unlikable. I suppose this makes them realistic, but not particularly enjoyable to read. The one character who tries to exercise sensible judgment suffers a horrible fate at the hands of his/her family members.
There was no happy ending in this book. There was no redemption. It was a simple story told over nearly 300 pages with a very unsatisfying ending.
Recommendation: I really can't think of one thing I could offer a recommendation for this story. The book has been turned into a movie featuring Richard Gere. So, maybe go see the movie and enjoy the Gere eye-candy. Sorry, that's the best I can come up with.
Until next time ... Read on!
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