Barbara’s Pick
January 2019
The Dinner List
Rebecca Serle
Publication Date: September 11, 2018
Most if not all of us have played this game—invite a number of people, living or dead, to a dinner party and see what unfolds. This book is about the dinner of the protagonist, Sabrina Nielsen, with five people: her estranged father, Robert, who is dead; her favorite college professor, Conrad; her on again/off again boyfriend, Tobias; her best girlfriend, Jessica; and Audrey Hepburn (obviously dead). One more of the guests is dead, but we don’t learn that until later.
Sabrina is turning 30 and not settled in her life. She has never forgiven her father, a recovering alcoholic, for leaving the family. She’s irritated with her ex for never committing. She’s upset with her friend for growing into an adult and leaving her behind. But she’s really happy to see Conrad and to meet Audrey, for whose movie character she is named. In the hours between 7:30 and midnight, a huge amount of life is relived and some walls are broken down.
As long as you can suspend belief, this book is sweet and sad, cathartic and campy. It’s a relatively quick read, easily accomplished in a weekend—perfect for a snow day this winter. Reservations, anyone?