The Dinner

A Novel

By: Herman Koch, Sam Garrett - translator

Narrated by: Clive Mantle

Length: 8 hrs and 55 mins

Publisher's summary

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.

©2009 Herman Koch; Translation © 2012 by Sam Garrett (P)2013 AudioGO

Longest Dinner Of My Life

Would you try another book from Herman Koch and Sam Garrett (translator) and/or Clive Mantle?

Possibly but doubtful. And definitely not with the same narrator.

Would you be willing to try another book from Herman Koch and Sam Garrett (translator) ? Why or why not?

Most likely not. I don't think I'm a fan of this writer's style. The book had great reviews, which I generally relate to so I gave it a try. If anything, I'll go with a paperback version next time.

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

Not all books are made for Audio, and this is one of them. The narrators voice made the main character sound so whiny and over-analytical that it honestly just got on my nerves. (Not to mention I couldn't stand the way he drew out the name "Serge" like "Searrrrrrge.")

Was The Dinner worth the listening time?

In my opinion, no. Each "course" just seemed to drag on and on.

Any additional comments?

I really wanted to like it but honestly it just felt like the longest dinner of my life.

The Characters You Love To Hate

I begin this book with a presupposition; that I would like the main character. You always like the main character , right? But as I invested time into this book, even before the secretes were revealed, I had a strong distaste for Peter. What a self-centered jerk, I found myself yelling.

For that, I applaud the author and narrator. They did such a good job of it, I debated with myself weather or not I wanted to go on listening. I LIKE to like my main characters, to find some redeeming value in them. But the decisions made by these characters, I found absolutely appalling.

So go on... Get immersed in the telling, but have your mouthwash ready to wash the lingering taste from your conscience.

The Dinner, couldn't stop listening.

I loved The Dinner. I couldn't stop listening to it as it cleverly unfolded a story of family and what constitutes a "happy" family. I couldn't stop listening to it. It held my interest cover to cover.

Tedious...but interesting subject...

Who was your favorite character and why?

Claire. They are hers and she will do what she has to do...

Do you think The Dinner needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

Possibly....with the boys, years later? How did this event affect/change their lives?

Any additional comments?

It's an interesting subject... What do you do if your child does the unthinkable? Do you protect them? How does the event and how it is handled affect the rest of their lives? Can they live with it?

l loved it

it was a page-turner or your listener in this case and it was great except your interest throughout the entire book. I loved it as I know you will.

Odd ending

Kind of a boring book with a very abrupt ending. The narration was great though and very easy to listen to.

Left us hanging

It was confusing at times since the story goes back and forth between past, present and future. I think it was a good story, though a little slow and rambling at times. But I hate the ending. I really wanted to know what happened next.

Chillingly BIZARRE story!

Still shaking my head. This bk develops very slowly and leaves you with wide eyes.

good story narrator is meh

the writing is pretty good. I've read to story. but i had to speed up the narration to 1.5 speed to finish it. then the story felt paced better

A really good book

This book was really great! Some of the reviews almost made me back out. I am really glad I decided to go for it. You won’t be disappointed!