The Dinner
Registered by mathgirl40 of Waterloo, Ontario Canada on 1/10/2014
This Book is Currently in the Wild!
This Book is Currently in the Wild!
10 journalers for this copy...
Welcome to BookCrossing! This is a site for catching and releasing books for those who want to share the joy of reading. If you find this book, please leave a journal entry to let previous readers know how and where you found the book. Feel free to do this anonymously if you wish. You are welcome to keep the book, but I encourage you to pass it on and let it continue its journey.
Review from Amazon:
Amazon Best Books of the Month, February 2013: A good unreliable narrator is one of the most satisfying characters a novelist can dream up--and Herman Koch takes us on a hell of a ride through the mind of Paul Lohman, the deliciously sinister host of The Dinner. Paul's 15-year-old son, Michel, has committed an unspeakable crime; his brother, on the cusp of becoming the Netherlands' next prime minister, has a delicate wife and two teenagers who share Michel’s secret; Paul's wife, Claire, will do anything to protect their boy. As the two couples inch through an excruciating meal at a chic restaurant--their children's whereabouts uncertain--Paul peels back the layers of their situation, weaving to and fro through time and truth. Koch's finely structured story gives away just enough on each page to keep us riveted, feeling like private investigators on the verge of discovery, until the shock of an ending. It's no small feat for the author that the less we trust Paul, the more we want to hear what he has to say. --Mia Lipman
Review from Amazon:
Amazon Best Books of the Month, February 2013: A good unreliable narrator is one of the most satisfying characters a novelist can dream up--and Herman Koch takes us on a hell of a ride through the mind of Paul Lohman, the deliciously sinister host of The Dinner. Paul's 15-year-old son, Michel, has committed an unspeakable crime; his brother, on the cusp of becoming the Netherlands' next prime minister, has a delicate wife and two teenagers who share Michel’s secret; Paul's wife, Claire, will do anything to protect their boy. As the two couples inch through an excruciating meal at a chic restaurant--their children's whereabouts uncertain--Paul peels back the layers of their situation, weaving to and fro through time and truth. Koch's finely structured story gives away just enough on each page to keep us riveted, feeling like private investigators on the verge of discovery, until the shock of an ending. It's no small feat for the author that the less we trust Paul, the more we want to hear what he has to say. --Mia Lipman
This would make an excellent book club book - would generate some very interesting discussions. I enjoyed it.
This book has had mixed reviews and it seems that some people really disliked this book but I’m definitely not one of them. The novel is very creepy but also quite funny at times. I'm impressed by how the author manipulates our view of the unreliable narrator as the story progresses. It’s like the author was playing a game with my mind. Two-thirds into the book, I had no idea which of the characters were trustworthy. Overall, it’s a brilliant though not necessary likable book. I'm really looking forward to the discussion of this book in the 2014 Tournament of Books.
I'm offering this book for a bookring. Here is a list of the participants:
Blue_berry (UK, will ship within Europe)
Icila (France, will ship anywhere)
kiki66 (Germany, prefers to ship EU)
Bookworm-lady (Spain, will ship anywhere)
bookworm2525 (US, will ship anywhere)
HappyHarryBabe (UK, will ship anywhere)
Forum thread:
http://www.bookcrossing.com/forum/20/503173
Blue_berry (UK, will ship within Europe)
Icila (France, will ship anywhere)
kiki66 (Germany, prefers to ship EU)
Bookworm-lady (Spain, will ship anywhere)
bookworm2525 (US, will ship anywhere)
HappyHarryBabe (UK, will ship anywhere)
Forum thread:
http://www.bookcrossing.com/forum/20/503173
This book has now started its bookring journey and is on its way to Blue_berry!
I got this finally in yesterday's post! Thanks for sending! This will be my next read, looks very promising!
This was very good! Really creepy characters and great build up! Confirmed to me few things about Dutch society, which I already knew, but that been said this could have been set anywhere in northern Europe. Book handled certain universal dilemmas about the parenting, morality and related themes.
I understand why someone would not like this book though, it's to do with the characters and if the reader would normally try to relate to them (at least one of them!), here it proves quite difficult at the end. I was disgusted with the narrator quite early on...
Not sure what else to say not to give out too much!
I understand why someone would not like this book though, it's to do with the characters and if the reader would normally try to relate to them (at least one of them!), here it proves quite difficult at the end. I was disgusted with the narrator quite early on...
Not sure what else to say not to give out too much!
Journal Entry 8 by Blue_berry at -- Somewhere in London 🤷♀️ , Greater London United Kingdom on Thursday, March 27, 2014
Released 10 yrs ago (3/27/2014 UTC) at -- Somewhere in London 🤷♀️ , Greater London United Kingdom
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Sending to Icila, next reader in this BR, enjoy!
And here it is. Thank you.
As I never read the previous entries before reading I didn't have any idea about the matter of the book so I have been taken by the unwrapping.
A very interesting book that let you think.
Thanks for sharing.
A very interesting book that let you think.
Thanks for sharing.
On its way to Germany. Enjoy !
The Book has arrived in Germany!
Very appropriate title since the name of the author - Koch - means Cook in German! ;-)
will read asap - since BC's law struck again today and two bookrings arrived....
Very appropriate title since the name of the author - Koch - means Cook in German! ;-)
will read asap - since BC's law struck again today and two bookrings arrived....
Well, I am sorry to say that I have given up.. After a few pages I started to ask myself:
Why am I reading this?
Couldn't give me an answer so...
I send this one on now.
Already asked Bookworm-lady for her address!
Why am I reading this?
Couldn't give me an answer so...
I send this one on now.
Already asked Bookworm-lady for her address!
And here it is, with a lovely BC bookmark.
I'm really curious about this one, so I will do my best to get it moving as soon as possible.
Thanks for sharing, Mathgirl40; and thanks for sending it to me, kiki66! :)
I'm really curious about this one, so I will do my best to get it moving as soon as possible.
Thanks for sharing, Mathgirl40; and thanks for sending it to me, kiki66! :)
Time to move this book on...
I am sorry to say it was on one of the last boxes I unpacked after moving...
Bookworm2525 has asked to be skipped, so now I am contacting the HappyHarryBabe to see if still interested.
My apologies to all of you for this delay...
I am sorry to say it was on one of the last boxes I unpacked after moving...
Bookworm2525 has asked to be skipped, so now I am contacting the HappyHarryBabe to see if still interested.
My apologies to all of you for this delay...
No-one else after me in this bookray.
However, I have started reading it last night, and I already have found a new home for it when I finish... as it is in a Sweeps winner's WishList.
However, I have started reading it last night, and I already have found a new home for it when I finish... as it is in a Sweeps winner's WishList.
This is a most interesting read, and I have thoroughly enjoyed it.
A translation from its original Dutch (a very good translation, if I may say so!), the writer takes us on a real rollercoaster of emotions.
There is a middle section slightly weaker, in my opinion, and maybe the end is too abrupt... but nevertheless, unexpected.
A real page-turner; thanks for sharing, mathgirl40... I have found a new home for it... ;)
A translation from its original Dutch (a very good translation, if I may say so!), the writer takes us on a real rollercoaster of emotions.
There is a middle section slightly weaker, in my opinion, and maybe the end is too abrupt... but nevertheless, unexpected.
A real page-turner; thanks for sharing, mathgirl40... I have found a new home for it... ;)
Sent today to the last winner of the Book, Chocolate and Tea Sweeps... with some chocolate and tea.
Enjoy your WishList book... and sorry that I've kept you waiting.
Enjoy your WishList book... and sorry that I've kept you waiting.
Thank you so much Bookworm-lady for this book and the tea and chocolate that came with it. This is a very well travelled book and I'm looking forward to reading it soon :)
An evening in Amsterdam and two couples meet for dinner. They need to discuss their teenage sons. The boys committed a horrifying act, caught on CCTV. They remain unidentified - except by their parents. How far will each couple go to protect their child?
A good, solid read, which I really enjoyed. Told from the perspective of one of the fathers, who seemed to have a lot of anger management problems of his own. This story brings up quite a few moral issues, and you do wonder what you would do in similar situations.
A good, solid read, which I really enjoyed. Told from the perspective of one of the fathers, who seemed to have a lot of anger management problems of his own. This story brings up quite a few moral issues, and you do wonder what you would do in similar situations.
Journal Entry 21 by 
keeta1
at By mail / post / courier, By Mail/Post/Courier -- Controlled Releases on Saturday, March 3, 2018
keeta1 at By mail / post / courier, By Mail/Post/Courier -- Controlled Releases on Saturday, March 3, 2018
Released 6 yrs ago (3/3/2018 UTC) at By mail / post / courier, By Mail/Post/Courier -- Controlled Releases
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
A surprise Rabck :)
Happy reading!
Happy reading!
Thank you keeta1. I will try and get this book to daffodil-2 in due course..
I could not resist reading this book before passing it on. It is a cleverly constructed read which raises a number of moral problems as others have said. Certainly a book to make you think, I am glad I read it. Now to arrange a meet with daffodil-2.
I haven't been able to arrange a meet-up with daffodil-2 so I am now posting this book to her.
Received in a surprise parcel today from Ardachy, just expected as a book someone gave to him for me-no other details. Also in the parcel were no less than 10 release bags which I guess were made by Ardachy (?) and also some labels with my very own name and profile pic on them. Thank you very much to both Ardachy and Keeta 1 for this lovely surprise. Bookcrossers are so generous!
REVIEW:-"I really enjoyed this book which was compelling and well-written. It had a few surprising twists and turns and kept me guessing as to how things would turn out".
I'm reserving the book for Snoopy56.
I'm reserving the book for Snoopy56.
Journal Entry 27 by 
daffodil-2
at Wayford Bridge, Norfolk United Kingdom on Wednesday, April 17, 2019
daffodil-2 at Wayford Bridge, Norfolk United Kingdom on Wednesday, April 17, 2019
Released 5 yrs ago (4/17/2019 UTC) at Wayford Bridge, Norfolk United Kingdom
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
This book was given to Snoopy56 when we met for a bookswap and chat today. I hope she enjoys it as much as I did.
To the finder:-
Welcome to bookcrossing -you have found a travelling book. Please make a journal entry now to say where you found the book in case it has been moved. Then, when you have read it, please come back and make a further entry saying whether or not you enjoyed the book and why. It is now yours to do as you like with it, pass it to a friend or just leave it somewhere different for someone else to find and help it with its' journey. Of course if you can't bear to part with it at the moment then keep it, but please let me know that you have found it. If you join bookcrossing, which is free and spam-free, you can follow the book on its' travels as you will get an email each time it changes hands, but if you prefer to remain anonymous, that's fine too. Please also say what you intend to do with the book next. Thanks for coming onto the site to let me know you have found the book.
I already have books travelling in many countries around the world-a list can be found on my bookcrossing profile.
When re-releasing this book please be aware that airports are not a good place to leave books unless they have a specific book exchange shelf or area, due to security problems, so they may well just be disposed of. Also charity shops may well discard books that have been labelled in any way and they mostly chose only the books in the very best condition
to place on their shelves and discard the rest-so another bad release option.
To the finder:-
Welcome to bookcrossing -you have found a travelling book. Please make a journal entry now to say where you found the book in case it has been moved. Then, when you have read it, please come back and make a further entry saying whether or not you enjoyed the book and why. It is now yours to do as you like with it, pass it to a friend or just leave it somewhere different for someone else to find and help it with its' journey. Of course if you can't bear to part with it at the moment then keep it, but please let me know that you have found it. If you join bookcrossing, which is free and spam-free, you can follow the book on its' travels as you will get an email each time it changes hands, but if you prefer to remain anonymous, that's fine too. Please also say what you intend to do with the book next. Thanks for coming onto the site to let me know you have found the book.
I already have books travelling in many countries around the world-a list can be found on my bookcrossing profile.
When re-releasing this book please be aware that airports are not a good place to leave books unless they have a specific book exchange shelf or area, due to security problems, so they may well just be disposed of. Also charity shops may well discard books that have been labelled in any way and they mostly chose only the books in the very best condition
to place on their shelves and discard the rest-so another bad release option.
Journal Entry 28 by snoopy56 at Ormesby St Margaret with Scratby, Norfolk United Kingdom on Thursday, April 18, 2019
A very well-travelled book. I will try to keep it moving.
Journal Entry 29 by snoopy56 at Ormesby St Margaret with Scratby, Norfolk United Kingdom on Saturday, August 3, 2019
This was a very thought provoking read. It raises a lot of questions so would be great for a discussion group. I thought the characters were very well drawn and they didn’t necessarily turn out as you might have expected.
Highly recommended.
Highly recommended.
Journal Entry 30 by snoopy56 at Wickham festival site in Wickham, Hampshire United Kingdom on Saturday, August 3, 2019
Released 4 yrs ago (8/3/2019 UTC) at Wickham festival site in Wickham, Hampshire United Kingdom
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
Will be left somewhere on the festival site, probably in the wooden tea yurt thingy.
Welcome to bookcrossing. I hope you enjoy this book . Let’s keep it travelling.
Welcome to bookcrossing. I hope you enjoy this book . Let’s keep it travelling.
