New to the Independent
Bestseller List
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THE DINNER is a Dutch psychological thriller originally published in 2009 that has become international bestseller with over one million copies sold. The book has finally been translated into English and released in this country, and it  has been quickly discovered by readers and independent booksellers. Reviews have used words like "dark", "nasty", "smart", and "chilling" to describe the novel, written by Herman Koch, and The Wall Street Journal called The Dinner "a European Gone Girl" - pretty high praise given Gone Girl's extraordinary success.
The book is set in Amsterdam and the story unfolds over dinner in a fashionable restaurant where two couples have gathered. As the dinner progresses, the polite small talk between the diners becomes more pointed and the connection between the couples is revealed. Both have teenage sons whose single horrific act has brought the families together to discuss issues of accountability stemming from their childrens' actions. Those issues soon overwhelm civility and friendship as both couples attempt to protect those they love.
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WHERE TO FIND A BOOKSTORE
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Many of you already have a favorite local bookstore, but for those of you without such a relationship, this link will take you to a list of Northern California indie bookstores by region.
If you live or work elsewhere, you can click here to find the nearest indie bookstore by simply entering your postal code.
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subject in telling the story of a lonely young woman saddened by her mother's death who strikes up an unlikely friendship with an elderly man. The relationship takes an abrupt turn when the man asks her to help him end his life because he claims to be a former Nazi guard at Auschwitz. The moral and legal repercussions that Picoult's heroine faces forms the crux of the story.
of disparate characters in a small Colorado town whose interactions underscore the power of community and the decency of ordinary people. With Benediction, Haruf returns to familiar territory - both literally and figuratively - in a story set in the same small town of Holt. This time, he explores the impact of Dad Lewis's terminal cancer diagnosis on his wife, adult children, and other members of the small town. Expect suffering, compassion, and extraordinary humanity.