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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