The Dinner, Herman Koch
The Dinner, Herman Koch
21 Rating(s)
List: $19.95 | Sale: $13.97
Club: $9.97

The Dinner
A Novel

Author: Herman Koch, Sam Garrett

Narrator: Clive Mantle

Unabridged: 8 hr 52 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 02/01/2013

Synopsis

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER - The darkly suspenseful tale of two families struggling to make the hardest decision of their lives—all over the course of one meal. Now a major motion picture.“Chilling, nasty, smart, shocking, and unputdownable.”—Gillian Flynn, author of Gone Girl It’s a summer’s evening in Amsterdam, and two couples meet at a fashionable restaurant for dinner. Between mouthfuls of food and over the polite scrapings of cutlery, the conversation remains a gentle hum of polite discourse—the banality of work, the triviality of the holidays. But behind the empty words, terrible things need to be said, and with every forced smile and every new course, the knives are being sharpened. Each couple has a fifteen-year-old son. The two boys are united by their accountability for a single horrific act—an act that has triggered a police investigation and shattered the comfortable, insulated worlds of their families.As the dinner reaches its culinary climax, the conversation finally touches on their children. As civility and friendship disintegrate, each couple shows just how far they are prepared to go to protect those they love.Tautly written, incredibly gripping, and told by an unforgettable narrator, The Dinner promises to be the topic of countless dinner party debates. Skewering everything from parenting values to pretentious menus to political convictions, this novel reveals the dark side of genteel society and asks what each of us would do in the face of unimaginable tragedy.

About Herman Koch

Herman Koch is the author of several novels and three collections of short stories. The Dinner has been published in twenty-five countries and was the winner of the Publieksprijs Prize in 2009. He currently lives in Amsterdam.

About Sam Garrett

Sam Garrett has worked as a literary translator as well as a freelance journalist. His recent translated works include The Cave by Tim Krabbé and Silent Extras by Arnon Grunberg.

About Clive Mantle

Clive Mantle’s theater work includes Coming Clean, A Streetcar Named Desire, and Educating Rita. He has been nominated for an Olivier Award, and, for his performance as Lennie in Of Mice and Men, he was joint Best Newcomer in the Plays and Players Awards. He has also appeared in many films, including Alien 3 and White Hunter, Black Heart.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Delee on December 04, 2013

I really detested every character in this book (with the exception of Serge, him I just disliked). I hated the ending with every fiber of my being. I found myself wanting to put it down numerous times, and I felt physically ill when I realized where the ending was going....and yet I didn't hate the......more

Goodreads review by karen on June 25, 2018

so this is probably a safe bet for people who liked Gone Girl. in other words, not you, richard. but it is not nearly as twisty and satisfying as g.g., methinks. it has the moral bankruptcy of Gone Girl, the shallow people, banal small talk and heavily-done descriptive elements of American Psycho, a......more

Goodreads review by Noeleen on August 30, 2016

The Wall Street Journal has tagged The Dinner as ‘the European Gone Girl’. I beg to differ and I think that this book should more appropriately be tagged ‘the European Defending Jacob'...but hey who am I to question The Wall Street Journal! The Dinner tells the story of two families, the parents of......more

Goodreads review by Kevin on June 07, 2018

This is a book that polarises opinion. In some respects it could be viewed as being provocative, voyeuristic and dark; in other ways it could be seen as being unpleasant and incredibly dull. I, for instance, love the movie Lost in Translation and consider it to be a masterpiece. My wife, on the other......more

Goodreads review by Lala on April 09, 2017

what a vile little book.......more

Quotes

“A European Gone Girl…The Dinner, a sly psychological thriller that hinges on a horrific crime and its consequences for two families, has become one of spring’s most anticipated suspense novels.” Wall Street Journal

“The Dinner begins with drinks and dark satire, and goes stealthily and hauntingly from there. It’s chilling, nasty, smart, shocking, and unputdownable. Read the novel in one big gulp, and then make plans with friends—you’ll be desperate to debate this book over cocktails, appetizers, entrees, dessert…and then you still won’t be done talking about it.” Gillian Flynn, New York Times bestselling author of Gone Girl

“This chilling novel starts out as a witty look at contemporary manners…before turning into a take-no-prisoners psychological thriller…With dark humor, Koch dramatizes the lengths to which people will go to preserve a comfortable way of life…this is a cunningly crafted thriller that will never allow you to look at a serviette in the same way again.”  Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“A high-class meal provides an unlikely window into privilege, violence, and madness…Koch’s slow revelation of the central crisis is expertly paced, and he’s opened up a serious question of what parents owe their children and how much of their character is passed on to them…a chilling vision of the ugliness of keeping up appearances.”  Kirkus Reviews

“You’ll eat it up, with some fava beans and a nice Chianti.” Entertainment Weekly

“American readers may demand access to all of Koch’s books. If they’re half as good as The Dinner, we’ll want to devour all of them.” USA Today

“[A] deliciously Mr. Ripley-esque drama.” O, The Oprah Magazine

“Mantle’s delivery elevates the plot twists, moral dilemmas, and family relationships, making this a feast worth attending.” AudioFile

“Rather like The Slap, it is set to become a contentious must-read. It may thrill, chill, or cheat, but it is undeniably riveting.” Independent (London)

“Briskly paced and full of ingenious twists—a compulsive read…for those who can tolerate the unsavory company, The Dinner is a treat they’ll gulp down in one sitting.” Dallas Morning News

Awards

  • AudioFile Earphones Award
  • USA Today bestseller
  • Indie Next List
  • Amazon Best Book of the Month
  • Barnes & Noble Best Book
  • New York Times Book Review 100 Notable Books
  • ALA Notable Book
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