And speaking of the recession (which it feels like everyone. is. all. the. time. Am I the only one who could use a dandelion break?), here’s a book about the last night of a Red Lobster franchise, after its staff gets word that it has consistently underperformed and is being closed.
The book is Last Night at the Lobster by Stewart O’Nan. It’s written in the third-person omniscient from the point of view of Manny, the manager of the restaurant. It is Manny’s job, on this last day, to essentially keep everybody together and working, and get the last lnch and dinner service out. But the staff, of course, have other ideas. The restaurant has allowed for a handful of staff members to stay employed at an Olive Garden in town, and there is bitterness towards Manny, who was given the decision of which staff to take with him. Old grievances are finally aired, affairs are rehashed, rivalries come to light and the kitchen is out of a lot of food.
All this, and Manny has to keep an eye on the lobster and booze supplies, to ensure they don’t mysteriously disappear on the last night.
All this, and his girlfriend, who he loves but is not the woman with whom he’s most in love, is about to have a baby.
All this, and it’s snowing so heavily the plows can barely keep up and he’s not even sure there will be a dinner service.
All this, and Manny feels tremendously sad and wistful at the closing of the Red Lobster, where he has worked hard, conscientiously and to the best of his ability, for so many hours. There are so many customers he’ll never see again. So may coworkers he’ll never see again. And he seems to be the only one feeling this way - the rest of the crew can’t wait to get their last cheque and get the hell out.
Last Night at the Lobster is an incredibly quick read - I read it in two sessions. It’s understated and simple, and really quite sweet. it doesn’t try to be anything it’s not - it simply spans the last 12 hours of a Red Lobster franchise, and how that affects its staff, one man in particular. It’s a good story, and I enjoyed it more than I expected to. In times when almost everyone is directly or indirectly affected by the economy and uncertain times, it’s strangely comforting to read the emotions and experiences of one small person in one small story. I’d recommend this book.
Bitter-sweet!
it feels sweet to know these people but so sad to see’em go.
I’d like it if Manny appeared in another O’Nan book. I found him FASCINATING.