5 things I don't understand about
this book
So I went to a resort, so I had time, so a book had to come along. Anything by Herman Koch had been on my list for years. The man sold ‘The Dinner’ to 48 countries and more than 100,000 copies of ‘The Ditch’ have been sold, so if you want to be able to join the conversation a little, there needs to be a Koch book on the shelf. Read it too, right?
‘Summer House with Swimming Pool’ seemed like a great title for my sunny mindset and here in the Hillside house, spontaneous cheering and clapping occurred when I was spotted with this book. Someone even did a little hop at the thought of all the fun that awaited me.
I was immediately drawn in because Koch writes humorously and cleverly. The passage where he describes his patient, who insists on an anal examination, causing a bit of fright by washing not only his hands but his entire forearm was masterful. Up to the elbow.
But now it's over. And now I have so many questions. And loose ends. When I studied Dutch and Film and Television Studies, I was taught that everything in a novel or film must contribute to the plot. Apparently, they think differently in the Koch household. Because:
”Summer House with Swimming Pool’ seemed like a great title for my sunny mindset’
1. What is the point of the kissing scene?
The protagonist makes advances on the hostess, she of the house with the swimming pool, but after the kiss and hand-in-bikini scene, the door is more open than before. The protagonist is very concerned about this, but why? It leads in no way to the ultimate resolution. Engaged and worried about nothing.
2. Then there's something else
They are with three families in a summer house. The protagonist Marc suspects both of the other male guests of, spoiler alert, raping his daughter. Yet he continues to have a good time with the wife of suspect 1 and they then visit Stanley, the sleazy director they find disgusting and repulsive with an unhealthy preference for young girls, with the family twice in LA.
3. And also
One of the suspects is suspected because he puts his clothes in the washing machine and turns it on the night after the rape. That's strange to say, because usually you throw the laundry in the laundry basket and do the laundry at a more appropriate time. This is never revisited.
4. Then the plot
The whole time the protagonist rewinds the history in hopes of finding a connection to who did it. But not that he cleverly figures it out; no way. Someone just tells him. This is what happened. Bam. You didn't expect that, did you? Well, that was it. Nothing spectacular about it.
5. And an open ending
Can be very beautiful, but come on, the protagonist is waiting for a possible conviction from the Medical Disciplinary Board. A possible prison sentence looms over his head. And then suddenly stop on a diving board?
Dear, nice, talented Herman Koch, may I have a sequel? With a solution for all loose ends and paths taken? And just as clever and vividly written as this novel? Then we won't have anything more to talk about.
