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3.64 AVERAGE
3.64 AVERAGE
First appeared at https://www.thenewdorkreviewofbooks.com/2022/04/marrying-ketchups-by-jennifer-close.html
If you are a Chicagoan, the fall of 2016 was the absolute epitome of the "best of times, the worst of times." The Cubs won their first World Series in 108 years...and then six days later, there was an election, and I don't remember the rest, but I think it was really bad.
These are the backdrop events for Jennifer Close's fantastic new novel, Marrying the Ketchups. Sullivan family patriarch Bud has dropped dead of a heart attack. In his wake, he's left an institution Oak Park restaurant and a devastated family. A life-long Cubs fan, poor Bud checked out just before that rainy November night in Cleveland when the Cubs lifted a century-old curse, and that fact alone is all the more devastating to his family.
The restaurant Bud started in the early 1970s is still the cornerstone of all the Sullivans' lives, even as their lives have diverged away from the friendly confines and outdated decor of Sullivan's. After Bud's death, the novel tells the story of the Sullivan family from the perspective of three characters.
Gretchen is mid-30s, living in New York City and fronting a popular 90s cover band. When her boyfriend, also the band's guitarist, cheats on her, she dissolves the band and moves back to Chicago to live above the restaurant. Her older sister Jane lives a bougie Lake Forest life with her rich husband (who she suspects is cheating on her) and her two kids. And then Gretchen and Jane's cousin Teddy, the restaurant's floor manager, gets dumped by his boyfriend, only to begin an affair with him after he's engaged to another guy. So yeah, all their lives a little bit of a mess. But they take comfort in each other, in between shouting matches and disagreements. Just your normal family...
The meat of the novel is each of these characters evaluating their romantic relationships, their relationships to each other, and crucially, their relationship to the restaurant, the symbol of the ties that bind their family together.
If you were a fan of Claire Lombardo's The Most Fun We Ever Had, you'll love this book. I absolutely did — a definite favorite of the year so far.
If you are a Chicagoan, the fall of 2016 was the absolute epitome of the "best of times, the worst of times." The Cubs won their first World Series in 108 years...and then six days later, there was an election, and I don't remember the rest, but I think it was really bad.
These are the backdrop events for Jennifer Close's fantastic new novel, Marrying the Ketchups. Sullivan family patriarch Bud has dropped dead of a heart attack. In his wake, he's left an institution Oak Park restaurant and a devastated family. A life-long Cubs fan, poor Bud checked out just before that rainy November night in Cleveland when the Cubs lifted a century-old curse, and that fact alone is all the more devastating to his family.
The restaurant Bud started in the early 1970s is still the cornerstone of all the Sullivans' lives, even as their lives have diverged away from the friendly confines and outdated decor of Sullivan's. After Bud's death, the novel tells the story of the Sullivan family from the perspective of three characters.
Gretchen is mid-30s, living in New York City and fronting a popular 90s cover band. When her boyfriend, also the band's guitarist, cheats on her, she dissolves the band and moves back to Chicago to live above the restaurant. Her older sister Jane lives a bougie Lake Forest life with her rich husband (who she suspects is cheating on her) and her two kids. And then Gretchen and Jane's cousin Teddy, the restaurant's floor manager, gets dumped by his boyfriend, only to begin an affair with him after he's engaged to another guy. So yeah, all their lives a little bit of a mess. But they take comfort in each other, in between shouting matches and disagreements. Just your normal family...
The meat of the novel is each of these characters evaluating their romantic relationships, their relationships to each other, and crucially, their relationship to the restaurant, the symbol of the ties that bind their family together.
If you were a fan of Claire Lombardo's The Most Fun We Ever Had, you'll love this book. I absolutely did — a definite favorite of the year so far.
I enjoyed this book. The 2 cousins were far from perfect. I enjoyed their arcs while wanting to shake Teddy in particular. I had questions tho, e.g. where did Riley’s mother disappear to? When stuff went down she was nowhere to be seen.
This book is great for readers who love a lot of thoughtful character development. By the end of the book, I felt that I knew each character so well that I could already predict their response to situations before I read what was on the page. Each character is flawed and dysfunctional in different ways. It’s an excellent portrayal of a typical family, with all the ups and downs that go with it. The overarching plot line was blurry and meandering, but was not the focus of the book - the main takeaway was the rich characters, and their redemption or lack thereof. Delightful read.
Such a warm and heartfelt novel about a family in the restaurant business, who love the Cubs and are devastated about the 2016 election results.
So fun especially for anyone who’s ever worked in a restaurant whose side work included marrying the ketchups. I wasn’t clear on how the novel would end, and I really didn’t want it to end!
So fun especially for anyone who’s ever worked in a restaurant whose side work included marrying the ketchups. I wasn’t clear on how the novel would end, and I really didn’t want it to end!
I loved this one so much! I used it in between thrillers as a pallette cleanser and it did just that.
Jennifer Close developed the characters and setting so well without losing the readers attention.
This is a feel good book about family, good friends and good food. How food plays an important role in all types of relationships.
Following Jennifer Close right now!
Jennifer Close developed the characters and setting so well without losing the readers attention.
This is a feel good book about family, good friends and good food. How food plays an important role in all types of relationships.
Following Jennifer Close right now!
I really liked how this was framed, possibly because I have vivid memories of the 2016 World Series, albeit from the Cleveland side.
Interesting to me to be able to look back on November 2016 and its aftermath as history now.
Interesting to me to be able to look back on November 2016 and its aftermath as history now.
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book was such a delicious love letter to Chicago, to the weird magic liminality of that week where the Cubs won the world series and then Hilary Clinton didn't become president, to the complexity of family and growing up. I loved it; it gave me midwestern Pineapple Street and if you enjoy a low-medium stakes family drama with much heart + many laughs, this too could be for you.