Review: The Dinner

 ★★★★★

    The Dinner by Herman Koch was an interesting read, to say the least. The novel follows two couples over the course of one dinner as they discuss a topic detrimental to the future of their sons. The book takes place on one night, although the author frequently utilized flashbacks and personal narratives to add backstory to the dinner conversation. I deeply enjoyed The Dinner, as I felt it was an interesting way to structure a novel. The chapters, entitled Aperitif, Entree, etc., lent themselves to a riveting, although sometimes convoluted, plotline.

     I felt the author did an excellent job of bringing the reader inside each of the character's heads, especially considering how individual actions lent themselves to the greater issue at hand. I didn't particularly identify with a few of the characters, but that was at no fault to the author. Indeed, at certain times I felt the dialogue was stilted or contrived, but I enjoyed the novel nonetheless.