The Dinner Party.

by Howard Fast

Book Club Edition of popular novel

Genres: Fiction, American, Novels

250 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1987

About the author

Howard Fast was one of the most prolific American writers of the twentieth century. He was a bestselling author of more than eighty works of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and screenplays. The son of immigrants, Fast grew up in New York City and published his first novel upon finishing high school in 1933. In 1950, his refusal to provide the United States Congress with a list of possible Communist associates earned him a three-month prison sentence. During his incarceration, Fast wrote one of his best-known novels, Spartacus (1951). Throughout his long career, Fast matched his commitment to championing social justice in his writing with a deft, lively storytelling style.

Pseudonyms: Walter Ericson, E.V. Cunningham

Reviews

[Piyangie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book while I was still in my teens. At that time I was too young to grasp the implications of the controversial themes the author addressed. I was very new to the concepts of homosexuality and the AIDS and this book was a sort of eye opener for me to the issues so hushed up by the society.
This was written at a relatively early time when awareness and acceptance of AIDS was felt necessary. Though I do not remember much of the story, I remember that I keenly felt the suffering and misfortune of Kid who was an AIDS victim and the difficulty he faced in confronting his parents about it. I also remember that after I read the book, I was quite undone for some time; a rare feeling I have experienced. I would love to read this again.

[Ellice · Rating 3 out of 5]

On the one hand, this book presents a pretty simplistic view of mid-1980s America, when Ronald Reagan was president and the AIDS epidemic was just getting started. Race relations, politics, old money--these are presented in a stereotypical way, and some of the characters are more like caricatures. Still, I did find myself wanting to know what happened, and engaged with certain characters, like Senator Cromwell. A product of its time, with some redeeming characteristics.

[Charles Duvel · Rating 2 out of 5]

My first time reading a Howard Fast novel. Since the novel was published in 1985 and the story pretty clearly reflects the thinking of the time regarding heavy topics like homosexuality and AIDS it is a bit dated. Still, I kept waiting for something dramatic to happen which never seemed to occur. Might be more for fans of Sydney Sheldon or someone. My final summation: Meh, did not do anything for me.

[Ana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Já faz três anos que li este livro e por algum motivo que não me recordo, não escrevi na altura a minha opinião. Hoje, ao escolher ler um livro de contos cujo primeiro é deste autor, revi no Goodreads as leituras que dele fiz.

Recordo "Spartacus", uma leitura incrível de cinco estrelas da qual nunca me esquecerei e "O Jantar do Senador". Este último, embora não tenha sido tão memorável, continua presente na minha memória. Passados estes anos ainda me sinto capaz de deixar aqui a minha opinião sobre ele, o que considero um excelente sinal.

Lembro-me de ter sido uma boa leitura, sempre interessante, com personagens fortes e bem delineados. Toda a ação decorre em torno de um jantar de alto nível, em casa de um senador, onde se reúnem várias figuras importantes. É um retrato social acutilante, que expõe sem pudor as fragilidades e hipocrisias políticas, sociais e humanas.

Os temas, na altura em que o li, pareceram-me um pouco datados. A SIDA que nos anos 80 foi uma tragédia avassaladora, assim como outros assuntos que hoje, embora infelizmente não desaparecidos, como as questões de género e questões raciais, são tratados de forma diferente.

No essencial, o livro revela a hipocrisia, o eu público versus o eu privado, a manutenção de aparências, os jogos de poder e como uma família, neste caso a do senador, vive tudo isso.

Foi uma experiencia de leitura agradável que provocou uma boa reflexão e da qual não me arrependo.

[E · Rating 3 out of 5]

A day in the life, but what a day! Despite cardboard characters (we even get to know how tall everyone is and, in the case of women, the state of their breasts!) and somewhat unbelievable circumstances, it’s a quick and compelling read. Curiously, set in the Reagan era, there are uncomfortable parallels with today’s horrors and the failure of the opposition party to effectively deal with it.

Beyond that the main story is just a little hard to believe, unless lack of awareness and/or wilful blindness is dragged in as an explanation. And some things, generally minor ones, just don’t add up.

Having said all that, I was hooked and read it in a day.

[Mary Daniels · Rating 3 out of 5]

First published in the mid-1980s, this novel is now badly dated, with its emphasis on homosexuality and the AIDS epidemic. However, it does illustrate that some of our most important moments involve human interactions and feelings rather than dramatic action. However, if you're new to the prolific writer Howard Fast, I suggest you start with "The Immigrants," the first in a long series that showcases Fast at his storytelling best.

[Maureen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Senator and his wife and two children give a very fancy dinner party with some very influential people. The Senator and his son have never had a close relationship. What evolves at this dinner party is a relationship with his son that was never expected.
I found this book a little difficult to follow with all the different characters at the beginning. However, as I read on it was easier to understand.

[Ellen Barker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I missed this book when it came out in 1987. Thirty-seven years later, I picked it up and read it in two sittings. Howard Fast is a great writer, so of course it's great story-telling. But what struck me most that in 2024, it reads like an allegory for today.

[Angie · Rating 1 out of 5]

If this was a true Literary Guild featured alternate selection in the 80's, I have serious doubts about their choices. It was HORRID!! DO NOT BOTHER to try and read.

[Laura Padilla · Rating 1 out of 5]

The fact that the characters have VIH because they are gay it's awfully disgusting

[Laurie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this book over a long weekend while visiting my dad. The book was only okay and had I not wanted to find out how one particular problem was solved--the relationship between the senator and his son--I don't know if I would have finished this book. I think that I was expecting a story more like a Dominic Dunne historical fiction story. This book was not that. I do not know if I would read anymore by Howard Fast. I will say that this book did make me think about it for a few days after I finished it, so maybe it made more of an impact on me than I thought, i.e., that it is more memorable than I think it will be. Time will tell. I don't think I'd recommend it as "a good read".

[Angela Natividad · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm gonna start by saying Howard Fast is one of my favourite authors. In his The Immigrants series, which I read and reread when I was a kid like they were Narnia or something, Fast spent volumes exploring the topics he tries distilling in this short story: Race, sexuality, love, loyalty, family, politics, class, wealth and generational divides.

This doesn't hold a candle to the family epic he created there. It felt a little pedestrian, but I cried both times the kid with AIDS had to confront his parents. This isn't his best, but it's still damn good in-flight fare.

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting book, it takes place in the course of one day (and I was able to read it in a day), makes you think about values, politics, relationships and how people handle the prospect of death.

[Cws]

F Fas

[Kim Westheimer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just picked up this book at a library yard sale. Not the best written book in the world but despite tending toward a didactic tone the book engaged me and I read it in two days.

[Linda Branham · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very profound book. it all revolves around a dinner party... but many crises are occurring underneath the calm of the day. I don't want to spoil it but it is a good book

[Cindy · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was Howard Fast at his worst.

[Cindi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Only read it because my grandmother gave it to me. Definitely not my kind of book.

[Veronica Harris · Rating 2 out of 5]

(3)

[Papa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love Howard Fast. Good book