The Dinner by Herman Koch

 


The Dinner by Herman Koch - finely written novel about some of the most distasteful men and women you'll ever encounter in modern literature.

I just did finish the audio book - odious, obnoxious characters, to be sure. On reflection, it is a good thing Herman Koch injected that medical angle (narrator Paul has a condition requiring medication, a condition he passes on to his son). For without the medical/physical condition, the son, "sweet, dear Michel," could be judged nothing less than a sadist and murderer (that ATM machine was only one instance; as per another video, Michel committed violence against an old man in the subway). We can only imagine how many other acts of violence he committed against innocent victims.

Almost comical, Michel's dad and especially his mom are concerned about Michel's future. If his sadistic crime is not addressed, we can easily picture Michel as a college age lad indulging in mass murder. 

If you want fiction that's emotionally supercharged, The Dinner is your book.

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