Last Night at the Lobster by Stewart O'Nan

[paperbackbandit]

A perfect suggestion for a stocking stuffer book, or for someone just looking for a good read.  Following manager Manny DeLeon's final night at a local Red Lobster, this novel captures the daily bustle of a restaurant kitchen and its crew.  While a sense of ominous finality hangs over the scene, a desire to keep things at top-notch quality drives Manny and his co-workers.  Although the lives of the Red Lobster bunch are never resolved, it's easy to imagine what would happen if O'Nan had continued for another 150 pages.  It's a very fast read -- I popped it out in a few hours -- but it's easily one of those books readers will turn back to simply for the characters and the story-telling.

[Bruce Hollingdrake]

That's hilarious Meg,

Guess who worked at Red Lobster for a year?  He's currently working on a new booksellers blog & forum, need another hint?
It was an amazing time - had lots of fun there. I'll certainly get a copy of this.

Bruce

[paperbackbandit]

Ha ha, that's awesome!  It's a really good book.  I worked in a kitchen all summer (one of those "help out a friend, learn to cook from a Culinary Institute of America trained chef" deals that I would have been stupid to pass up) and the detail about the daily kitchen activities was spot-on.  You'll enjoy it, for sure.

[prying1]

paperbackbandit - I love your icon and motto. Pretty funny but I don't know if it would work in real life. - Probably get nailed with a lawsuit. - Paul -

[paperbackbandit]

. - Probably get nailed with a lawsuit. -

Yeah, that's why I just stack them in their hands or shopping baskets ;-)