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jess_mango's review against another edition
4.0
Last Night at the Lobster is Stewart O’Nan’s eleventh novel, but the first of his that I’ve read. We recently selected it as a book club read since it takes place in New England in the winter…and we just happen to be living in New England and it’s the middle of winter. Last Night at the Lobster is a simple, charming story about the final night of business for a New Britain, Connecticut Red Lobster. This particular Red Lobster is located in the parking lot of a mall just off the interstate. Lobster big-wigs have decided that this particular Lobster is not meeting expectations and should be closed. The restaurant’s manager Manny DeLeon and his bare-bones crew show up for the final day of work at the Red Lobster. It is a few days before Christmas, a day that is usually busy due to all of the shoppers at the mall. However, on this particular December day, a huge snow storm blows through town.
The novel is a minute by minute account of the last day and night at the Red Lobster. It gives a realistic glimpse into a day in the life of hard-working folks in middle America. I have only eaten at a Red Lobster once (there really aren’t any in the greater Boston area…we have plenty of seafood restaurants without them!) and have never worked at a restaurant but have always been curious about behind the scenes “dirt”. The interactions of the staff at the Lobster is similar to the dynamics between co-workers at any job that I’ve worked at. There are tensions between some and more developed relationships between others. Manny’s ex-girlfriend Jaqui works at the Lobster and Manny still moons over her even though they’ve both moved on to new relationships.
At just over 140 pages Last Night at the Lobster is a short yet worthwhile read. At its heart, the book is about the trying to get by in America and striving to make yourselves a better future even while you have one foot stuck in the past. Manny finds himself asking questions such as: why are they closing my Red Lobster? What went wrong? Where did my relationship with Jaqui go wrong? What will my crew do for work now that the Lobster will be closed? O’Nan treats his characters with respect, he doesn’t make the reader look down on them.
In my opinion, Last Night at the Lobster is the perfect book to curl up with while you are stranded inside during a winter storm. If you’ve ever worked in a restaurant or wondered what it is like to work in one, this book is a great way to get a peek inside the day in the life of a restaurant crew.
The novel is a minute by minute account of the last day and night at the Red Lobster. It gives a realistic glimpse into a day in the life of hard-working folks in middle America. I have only eaten at a Red Lobster once (there really aren’t any in the greater Boston area…we have plenty of seafood restaurants without them!) and have never worked at a restaurant but have always been curious about behind the scenes “dirt”. The interactions of the staff at the Lobster is similar to the dynamics between co-workers at any job that I’ve worked at. There are tensions between some and more developed relationships between others. Manny’s ex-girlfriend Jaqui works at the Lobster and Manny still moons over her even though they’ve both moved on to new relationships.
At just over 140 pages Last Night at the Lobster is a short yet worthwhile read. At its heart, the book is about the trying to get by in America and striving to make yourselves a better future even while you have one foot stuck in the past. Manny finds himself asking questions such as: why are they closing my Red Lobster? What went wrong? Where did my relationship with Jaqui go wrong? What will my crew do for work now that the Lobster will be closed? O’Nan treats his characters with respect, he doesn’t make the reader look down on them.
In my opinion, Last Night at the Lobster is the perfect book to curl up with while you are stranded inside during a winter storm. If you’ve ever worked in a restaurant or wondered what it is like to work in one, this book is a great way to get a peek inside the day in the life of a restaurant crew.
maribelleblount's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.25
Might enjoy this more once I’ve worked a nine to five it was boring
weevil's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
book_concierge's review against another edition
4.0
Audiobook narrated by Jonathan Davis
3.5*** (rounded up)
Five days before Christmas, Manny DeLeon arrives for his last day as manager of the Red Lobster. Corporate has sent word down that the under-performing store, near a highway and separated from a run-down mall but an expanse of parking lot, is to be closed. If their last day wasn’t bad enough, a blizzard is brewing. Manny must convince his nearly mutinous staff to excel at their jobs for just one more shift, serving the patrons as if their jobs and the restaurant’s success depended on it. And while he wears the demeanor of an unflappable manager, inside he is torn – between his pregnant girlfriend at home and the waitress he is still in love with.
This slim volume is a study in reflection. The reader witnesses Manny’s struggles, small victories, and seemingly endless defeats as he continues to put one foot in front of the other, ever hopeful that things will work out, and that he is somehow in control of his future success. There are no pretty romantic endings here, no sudden realizations or changes in character. Instead Manny plows through his day (literally and figuratively), doing his best even when he realizes that his best isn’t quite good enough.
It is a perfect appetizer of a novel, whetting my appetite for O’Nan’s writing, and leaving me hungry for more.
Jonathan Davis does a fine job on the audio. He has a gift for voices and brings the various characters to life - both men and women.
3.5*** (rounded up)
Five days before Christmas, Manny DeLeon arrives for his last day as manager of the Red Lobster. Corporate has sent word down that the under-performing store, near a highway and separated from a run-down mall but an expanse of parking lot, is to be closed. If their last day wasn’t bad enough, a blizzard is brewing. Manny must convince his nearly mutinous staff to excel at their jobs for just one more shift, serving the patrons as if their jobs and the restaurant’s success depended on it. And while he wears the demeanor of an unflappable manager, inside he is torn – between his pregnant girlfriend at home and the waitress he is still in love with.
This slim volume is a study in reflection. The reader witnesses Manny’s struggles, small victories, and seemingly endless defeats as he continues to put one foot in front of the other, ever hopeful that things will work out, and that he is somehow in control of his future success. There are no pretty romantic endings here, no sudden realizations or changes in character. Instead Manny plows through his day (literally and figuratively), doing his best even when he realizes that his best isn’t quite good enough.
It is a perfect appetizer of a novel, whetting my appetite for O’Nan’s writing, and leaving me hungry for more.
Jonathan Davis does a fine job on the audio. He has a gift for voices and brings the various characters to life - both men and women.
theliterarymuse's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.5
As a young person who does not work a 9-5 and have a bond with coworkers, I did not particularly enjoy this book. Maybe I will revisit it when I have grown up more but as of right now this book did not have any real resonance with me.
mrswhite's review against another edition
3.0
Set in a Red Lobster on its final day of operation, Last Night at the Lobster makes unlikely heroes out of chain restaurant managers and proves that pride can be found from performing the most menial tasks. I picked this book up based on Stephen King's raving recommendation, but although it was an enjoyable enough way to spend a few hours, the characters never felt fully developed to me, and - probably due to its claustrophobic setting - I couldn't shake the nagging feeling it would have succeeded better as a play rather than a novel.
vegprincess's review against another edition
4.0
This is a quick and enjoyable read. The writing is so descriptive that I felt like I was there with all the characters.
amowenaminute's review against another edition
funny
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
brenna_law's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25