Saturday Samplers Book Group to Discuss "The Dinner: A Novel"

Bernardsville Library’s book group, Saturday Samplers, will meet on Saturday, July 9 at 11:00 am to discuss "The Dinner: A Novel" (2009; translated into English, 2013) by Herman Koch. Please note the summer start time. [The author will not be present.]

The novel relates the dinner conversation of two couples who don't particularly like each other, but are bound by the fact that their sons have committed a terrible, violent crime. S.J. Watson, author of "Before I Go to Sleep," wrote of the book, "Funny, provocative, and exceedingly dark, this is a brilliantly addictive novel that wraps its hands around your throat on page one and doesn't let go." The New York Times review cautioned that readers desiring a "the cozy, redemptive, or the uplifting" should probably look elsewhere.

Herman Koch is a Dutch writer who is the author of seven novels and three collections of short stories. "The Dinner," his sixth novel, has been published in twenty-five countries and was the winner of the Publieksprijs Prize in 2009.

Led by Program/PR Assistant Evelyn Fischel, Saturday Samplers is a book discussion group dedicated to sampling various kinds of literature, including short stories, nonfiction, new and old novels, and teen fiction. Its goal is to search out interesting, noteworthy, and sometimes overlooked literary and narrative works. Readers can find information about the group and about the books and authors on the reading list at http://saturdaysamplers.blogspot.com. No sign-up is needed to join the discussion. Call the library at 766-0118 for more information.