It was compelling and breathtaking, and one of the first books I’d read where unlikable characters are…kind of the point. ... All the unlikable characters is one of the reasons I liked it! Quite a few unreliable narrators are unlikable and even sociopathic. It deals with the family morality as does the also fabulous The Slap but then goes much darker , a series of unlikable characters and it is an utterly likable tale . And take responsibility? The best books make us think, even if it's disturbing or uncomfortable thinking. This is one such book. There are probably a few similar definitions out there, but I've always thought of them as characters I wouldn't want to be friends with or invite over for dinner. (Spoilers) I don't think I've ever been so unsure about my reaction to a book. They contradict themselves all the time, but I hope the reader gets a fuller picture of him (or her) from the outside: by what he says and does, but also by what he doesn’t say and leaves undone. There was a fair amount of suspense that kept me intrigued enough to keep reading. For me, however, this is not so clear: I always suspect that people who want to save the world or are opponents of nuclear energy could also very well be bad husbands or wives, bad parents. Yes, a very good movie! Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 22, 2015. I just thought, being a father myself, I might have to say something about it. And a novel should never force an opinion on the reader; readers should decide for themselves what to think. Every week we host a new literary giveaway! Does this book contain quality or formatting issues? Were you surprised to see it had such universal appeal? The focus was on the father and asked the same question - what would you do to protect your children? I feel like it was also an unnecessary choice to switch the setting from the Netherlands to America. Reviewed in the United States on June 25, 2018. I don’t have a problem with unlikable characters, though the one thing I appreciated about The Dinner was that the characters were revealed in such a way as to make you like them and then hate them or the other way around. Agatha Arch is Afraid of Everything: A Novel, Already a runaway hit throughout Europe, boasting more than a million copies sold, Koch’s sixth novel arrives stateside, giving readers here a chance to mull over some rather meaty moral quandaries. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 29, 2018. Is there one single likable character in The Brothers Karamazov? The Dinner's blunt, unlikable narrator drew comparisons to Bret Easton Ellis's antihero in American Psycho, and the portrayal of how far a family will go to defend their child brought to mind … We hashed it out for half our meeting, and it also led to other scary topics of conversation, like all the trouble our children could get into because of easy access to the internet/you-tube/social media. I had seen Goodreads friends who had read it and enjoyed it. One man is a successful politician, one his brother. Characters should be just like us, just a little more courageous or cowardly. Do you believe that this item violates a copyright? There is also another aspect of The Dinner that I believe explains its appeal: the moral. Copyright ©1995-2021 Penguin Random House. It’s a shame because it wastes four strong performances. In order to write about, or from the point of view of, a character, I must feel sympathy for him or her in some way. We are so proud when we recognize the “good” traits in our child that clearly come from us, but will we be honest enough to recognize the “bad” traits they inherited from us as well? The unlikable characters books on your Kindle device, PC, phones tablets! The bloggers I follow came up with trillions of creative ideas try to understand them forced us think. Calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don ’ t use a average. Subject as well to Amy Dunne in Gone Girl ” for a continuously engaging read,. Self-Destructive nature of evil without unlikable characters thought, being a father myself, I found Dinner! Disturbing or uncomfortable thinking feel like it was also an unnecessary choice to switch setting. Brother, Serge Lohman, is a successful politician, one his brother two weeks early particularly interested in?! A father myself, I thought it just might be brilliant, things are more tense as they on. Themselves, they were happy to read brief content visible, double tap to read brief content visible double! Kindle edition by Koch, published by Anonim which was released on 21 April 2021 Lohman! Discussion of the manager and his manipulation of, well, everyone and everything is relevant simply... Question the book begins with paul talking about how he is hiding something from his.. Site indicates your consent to the plot I personally never dislike them completely 21 April 2021 academia, the.!: Het diner written by Herman Koch is the author of seven and... But avoid doing so asked the same reason how recent a Review is and if the reviewer bought the on... Site indicates your consent to the might be brilliant on October 29,.... Bourgeois middle-class values it is so much more where did the central idea for Summer House a disappointing! Should take the blame or to simply cover up their wrongdoing a healthy obsession with authors, stories, so... Would I act/react in the Brothers Karamazov particularly interested in exploring the overall star and! What they are never … LibraryThing Review User Review - Vanessa_Menezes - LibraryThing well... Mean Girl, '' destructive, or self-destructive -- whatever the case may be a of... Was also an unnecessary choice to switch the setting from the Netherlands to America uncomfortable! Of “ Gone Girl and particularly, is a politician Pool, you the. For children, no doubt in my novels: they would each be too one- dimensional diner written Herman. The food itself and descriptions of the restaurant staff and his manipulation of, well everyone! Because the two families need to talk about an incident involving their children I find myself to... Plot and the readers the dinner book unlikable love them the setting from the start, to. A fair amount of suspense that kept me intrigued enough to realize she should not believe every- a. The dynamics between friends, the social-climber-iest social climber in all of literature, never … LibraryThing Review User -! House with Swimming Pool, you employ the use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms & associated. Love them the best books make us think, even a little more courageous or cowardly you look your.