When Only One Book Will Do
What to read today
Did you see this headline today?
There is only one thing to do, and that is read Stewart O’Nan’s slim and perfect novel about Red Lobster. It is called Last Night at the Lobster, and I have definitely recommended it in this newsletter before, but please allow me to do so again, because TIMELINESS. Stewart is, low-key, an American treasure and a mensch but I would tell you to read this book even if he wasn’t a very, very good guy.
It is exactly what it sounds like—the novel takes place over the last night of service at a New England Red Lobster location. It’s about the staff and their lives but really their work lives, which I don’t think there are enough books around. It’s 160 pages!! Not an extra word! The jacket makes it look like Severance (the TV show, not the novel) which is also about work but this is straight up realism. If you’ve ever worked retail or food service, you will love it. It might give you PTSD but I think mostly in a good way. My new book (more on that soon, hopefully) is also a work novel. Hopefully you’ll love that too.
If you don’t already own six copies of Last Night at the Lobster, you can also order one from Books Are Magic.
Red Lobster forever, at least in fiction.
I love this book too, and it's one of the rare books my husband and I agree on. I had already read it and loved it when I picked it for a book club years ago. I served lobster bisque at the meeting and other delicious snacks. Some people in the group scarfed down the food and then proceeded to ruthlessly tear apart the book. Needless to say, I quit that book club.
I, too have recommended this book so many times. It is a rare, perfect slice of life novel. My new favorite work novel: You Are Here by Karin Lin-Greenberg which is about the closure of a mall. They match, in a way.