The Dinner

The Dinner by Herman Koch is one of those books you may not expect to like, but it grabs you from the beginning and gives you plenty to think about.  This internationally bestselling book was originally released in 2009 and is being made available in English, translated from the original Dutch, for the first time.

The entire story takes place during one meal, set in Amsterdam, involving two couples.  Paul Lohman and his wife Claire are meeting with Paul's brother, Serge, who is a candidate for prime minister and his wife Babette.  The couples decide to meet for dinner to discuss the situation their respective fifteen year old sons, Michel and Rick, have found themselves in.  We start off with pleasantries and small talk.  But as the evening progresses, we find out much more about the two couples and their sons.  To say the situation becomes uncomfortably tense is to put it mildly.

There is not a whole lot I can say without giving away too much of the plot.  I can say that this book does a lot of things better than last year's The Good Father was able to do.  This story is executed so well that the reader feels like they are sitting in a restaurant overhearing this painful conversation.

For a sneak peak into this fantastic book, check out NPRs Exclusive First Read.