Staff Picks

Book Discussion: The Dinner by Herman Koch

Over the course of a meal at a fashionable Amsterdam restaurant, two couples move from small talk during the appetizer to weightier issues. While discussing their sons -- who have done something terrible -- we learn more about what ties the families together, and what seems to be a skewering of upper-class values turns into something far more serious. -- Description by Shauna Griffin, taken from Novelist

Discussion Questions:

The author has set the novel over a meal in a classy restaurant. What do you think he is trying to
illustrate by this choice?

The novel opens with Paul’s commentary on how much Serge irritates him. What accounts for their attitude toward each other? Does Paul’s animosity run deeper than typical sibling rivalry?

In the beginning of the novel Paul talks about his idea of happiness and quotes from Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina. What do you think he means when he says that ‘unhappiness can’t stand silence-especially not the uneasy silence that settles in when it is all alone’? -PAGE 6, top 1/2 of page

How does Paul's narration of the story influence the reader's perspective?

Did your feelings about certain characters change as the novel progressed?

How and to what extent do you think Michel is influenced by his father’s rage?

Do you think people can be born with a propensity for violence and evil, or are they more likely to be 
shaped by early life, family and circumstances?

Do Michel and Rick represent the indifference of their generation, or are teenagers more socially conscious in the Information Age?

Ultimately, who is to blame for the homeless woman’s death? What does the novel indicate about the responsibilities (or irresponsibility) of the upper class?

In what way do the courses of a meal— from aperitif to digestif— echo the experience of savoring a suspenseful novel? As the waiter described each delicacy in The Dinner, did the food appeal to you, or did you share Paul’s belief that it was pretentious?

Serge Lohman is willing to sacrifice his entire political career in light of the crime that his son has committed. What do you think his real motive is? Why does his wife so vehemently oppose his decision?

What commentary does the novel offer about the author’s homeland? What aspects of The Dinner would change if it were set in Washington, DC, rather than in the Netherlands?

Fun Facts:

The Dutch adaptation of the film came out in 2013. There is discussion of Cate Blancett making her directorial debut with the American version.