The Dinner by Herman Koch

The Dinner is an intriguing novel. It occurs during the multiple course a dinner at a fancy restaurant that is attended by two Dutch couples. Each has their own interests and deep need to protect themselves and their family. It is a well paced novel that slowly lets the reader in on the secret held within its pages, which the reader discovers slowly as the novel progresses.

It is a mystery novel of sorts, but not in the conventional way. The reader is pulled into a complicated mess that can be our family and it explores the deep desire to protect our loved ones at any cost. The novel shows what some people will do to keep up appearance,  the battles that are waged between brothers, and finally the cost of silence in the name of love.

This is a wonderful novel that is different from many others. It can be enjoyed by many different kinds of readers and I highly recommend giving it a chance. I promise you will not be disappointed!