Salon writes, Every week, our critics tell us about the books, TV shows and films that set their minds racing. As you settle into your weekend in pursuit of good stories, here's a recap of their most essential picks for what to watch and read — and discuss. Laura Miller is absolutely absorbed by Herman Koch's gripping thriller "The Dinner" — a best-seller in Europe, selling over 1 million copies — a story propelled by an unreliable narrator. It's not quite the Dutch answer to Gillian Flynn's huge hit, "Gone Girl," but is no less riveting. She writes: "What Koch achieves with his prose — plain but…