One of the few thrillers I've read. It was interesting start to finish, but not very special. ( )

Well, there is certainly a lot to talk about in this book: family relationships, pretentious fine dining, hazards of keeping secrets, the state of education, homeless people, casual violence, abortion, the death penalty...the list goes on. Unfortunately, not a bit of it is pleasant to think about and it certainly isn't pleasant to read about. I think I have reached my saturation point on books about awful people behaving in awful ways.

I knew this was a dark book when I picked it up. I've seen it compared to Gone Girl (a book I hated myself for loving) but this was more like a boring story about scary people. The kind of scary people that could be hiding in plain sight at the table next to you at a restaurant. I'm afraid that there are more people in the world like these creeps than I care to imagine but the events of today's world make it seem likely.

For pleasure reading, I can't recommend this. For a book to prompt discussion, it will be excellent.

( )

Seems like there's not a lot of middle ground in opinions of this book. It's ridiculous to think a family would meet in public to discuss what these people need to discuss. That being said, I liked the way the characters spooled out over the course of the dinner. But really they are all so nasty it's hard to care what happens to them. I haven't disliked characters so much since The Ginger Man. And like that book I'm taking this one to Half Price just to get it out of my house. ( )

This one is a rather disturbing book.



Told from the first person perspective of one Paul Lohman, it is a story of a dinner event that he goes to with his wife, his brother and brother's wife. What starts as his monologue on petty habits and political standpoints of middle class (using his brother as a target) quickly escalates into something much much darker.

Paul's opinion on his brother, professional politician, and his view of his actions as simple PR acts soon transform into general aggressive stance to everything and anyone that Paul does not like. He is not above physical violence against anybody. when confronted with opposition of any kind he just ... snaps. Paul's monologue soon becomes more and more about his righteousness and high moral ground, high above everyone else. This escalation of violence that we begin to witness in Paul's story quickly gets replaced by vicious and completely psychopathic actions of his son and wife. In my opinion, especially his wife considering she was shown as a reasonable person through almost 3/4 of a book.

Very, very dark story that shows that you cannot ever truly know anyone, even your own child, spouse or sibling.



Recommended for all fans of thrillers but keep in mind that most probably you wont like any of the characters in the book. ( )

Too quirky for me--and, the nail in the coffin--I didn't care about any of the characters. ( )