The Dinner: A Novel

Paul and Claire Lohman...the morally nihilistic parenting team "in comparison with whom Caligula's horse was respectable"...

What is the joke about call me anything just don't call me late for dinner? This is the exception Dinner. Paul and Claire are meeting for dinner with Pauls' brother and his wife to discuss their teenaged sons and some serious trouble. The whole story is served up in one meal; with each course, more of the story is revealed. The restaurant is one of those Bourgeoisie establishments that relishes in detailing each artistic Lilliputian course, down to the PETA approved loving care the little lamb received before it was butchered for its sweetbreads that are now served "lightly sautéed in Moroccan olive oil and presented with white currants"...the server's pinky hooked and pointing out the fine details. The incongruity of that description stuck in my mind; and as the events are laid on the table, I wondered about the ethical treatment pre-butchering, the beautiful presentation of slaughter...there's an analogy coming? a statement about brutal society mayhaps?

Koch tortures you with the details, that banal, tiresome drivel taken to the extreme, the back and forth bickering, adding a sense of taut irritation to an already tense situation--but this manipulation of the listener becomes tiresomely repetitive. Comparisons have been made to Defending Jacob, We Need To Talk About Kevin, books with the theme of parents protecting their children at all costs. But don't expect to find a likeable or redeeming quality that will allow you empathy for these parents, or even a flicker of parental love to validate the violation of truth and accountability. Koch's complete dedication to the darkness of these characters even eclipses Flynn's Nick and Amy.

If The Silence of the Lambs, Gone Girl, American Psycho, Misery, even Prague Cemetery, are considered *dark*-- Koch has succeeded in creating a darker shade of black. This one left me agreeing that cell phones should not be allowed in restaurants, and feeling that the final course here should have been served with some Pepto.

When I first read the summary of this new novel, I was so intrigued that I "pre-ordered" the book before reading the first review. I am so glad that I did because it is a dinner I will never forget. I got very caught up in the story right away despite the fact that during the entire first third of the story you don't even know why two brothers, Serge and Paul, and their wives, Babette and Claire, have come together at a restaurant to discuss some terrible subject that involves their children.

This story starts with the ritzy restaurant and includes all five courses from "Apertif" to "The Tip". Paul, the narrator, has many (even too many) long-winded and disdainful thoughts about everything from the menu, to the outfits of the wait staff, to his brother and his family and politics. As more information about Paul and his family comes out, you begin to realize in horrifying degrees that all is not as it seems. The middle of the story was somewhat tedious, but the ending is so strong and sickening. It is the ultimate story of what parents will do to protect their children, no matter what they have done.

I strongly recommend this book and can't wait until more people read it so that I can discuss it with someone. The narrator did an outstanding job. I am still hearing his voice in my head as I can't stop thinking of this story. Loved it!

Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.
Thus begins The Dinner, a novel served up in courses. The food is minimalist, overly described, and at times not especially palatable. The same can be said for this little novel where characters we may not like are thrust before us. Just as the spaces on the plates are greater than the bits of food, what's unsaid about our characters is greater than what we are told.
The Dinner is often compared to Gone Girl. Both feature people acting without conscience and narrators whose voices don't quite ring true. Most readers prefer Gone Girl for its strong narrative pacing, but I was dissapointed by GG, while I loved The Dinner. I found the characters here to be much more interesting, and I enjoyed the structure of this novel, where the current action takes place over a few hours, while recollections fill in the story.
The audio narration by Clive Mantle was masterful. One of the best out of the several hundred books I've listened to. This is one where the audio narration elevates a good book to an amazing "reading" experience.

"Twists" isn't quite the right word. This book just went in directions I didn't expect it to go and I loved it. It sneaks up on you and before you know it, nothing is what it seems. I really liked this book. It's dark and surprising.

The narrator was fabulous, loved his voice and could have listened to him for days, in fact, because of his voice I listened longer that I would normally.

No, never read twice, but loved it.

Plot, satire

Wonderful accents, intonation. Compassion for characters.

Laughed out loud at the critique of the restaurant.

Very enlightening

Probably not.

No, just this particular author.

His narration was pretty good.

I kept waiting for something more revealing.

I heard an interview with this author on NPR. It sounded interesting as the host did not want to divulge too much and ruin the book. Throughout the book it felt like it was building to some sort of twist or something interesting...and it never really got there.

Lots of narrative, but not much story. The real story line doesn't begin until you're two-thirds through the book and then the story itself is not very interesting.

The narration is very good and Mr. Mantle's voice & accent are pleasant and additive to an otherwise boring book.

This audiobook ranks in my list of top 10, with its twists in the plot and overall storyline.

I rarely get to listen to books in one sitting, but I looked forward to listening during my morning workout or commute.

I hated this book. The reason it gets 2 stars is the performance by Clive Mantle is terrific. He manages to breathe life into what is otherwise a long, dull, and less-than-thrilling thriller where I was both confused and annoyed. The action takes place over one evening, with plenty (and I mean PLENTY) of rambling flashbacks. Two couples -- brothers and their wives -- meet for dinner to discuss their sons who have done something awful. BTW, that "something awful" is revealed pretty early on. There is no mystery here. The only issue being wrestled with at dinner is what to do about the boys' heinous acts. It's thoroughly unbelievable that anyone would be discussing such a private and dire situation in a crowded restaurant, especially since one of the brothers is a famous politician. SPOILER ALERT: the lead brother turns out to be some sort of sociopath with a history of violent assault, and yet is free to walk around and have dinner at a 5 star restaurant. He admits he hasn't worked in years. How does he support himself, much less not be in JAIL for his own crimes? Then there is a Lady MacBeth turn at the end with his wife that felt like a complete cheat. No idea why this got such good reviews in PEOPLE MAGAZINE, etc. Save your money and spend it somewhere else.