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Last Night at the Lobster
Last Night at the Lobster | Stewart O'Nan
31 posts | 44 read | 39 to read
A frank and funny yet emotionally resonant tale set within a vivid work day world Look out for "City of Secrets" coming from Viking on april 26, 2016 The Red Lobster perched in the far corner of a run-down New England mall hasn't been making its numbers and headquarters has pulled the plug. But manager Manny DeLeon still needs to navigate a tricky last shift with a near-mutinous staff. All the while, he's wondering how to handle the waitress he's still in love with, what to do about his pregnant girlfriend, and where to find the present that will make everything better. Stewart O'Nan has been called "the bard of the working class," and "Last Night at the Lobster" is one of his most acclaimed works.
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TEArificbooks
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Pickpick

Quick read, slice of life story. About the general manager of a red lobster working the last shift before their restaurant gets shut down. There is a blizzard and business is slow and he time to reflect on his life choices and pick out a Christmas present for his girlfriend. If you like the movie Waiting or Waitress you will like this book. #wintergames #teamevergreen @Clwojick

1520 pts

mcctrish I LOVED this book 3mo
38 likes1 comment
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Mccall0113
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Another quick read to boot my totals for the year. Looking into the lives of others is fascinating.

36 likes2 stack adds
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bookandbedandtea
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Setting up for #audiopainting while listening to the tagged book. I love weekends 😊
(I love this mug too! I use it non-stop the week leading up to Thanksgiving then scarcely at all the rest of the year. 🥧)

Ruthiella Love your seasonal mug! 👍 4mo
dabbe 🤩🤩🤩 4mo
bookandbedandtea @Ruthiella Thank you! 💜 4mo
30 likes3 comments
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Cinfhen
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Pickpick

O‘Nan is quickly becoming a favorite author - I love how authentic his characters are and his attention to detail is not overly written but so precise in the setting, mood and time.This is a short novella about a small crew of characters working the final shift ,just days before Xmas, in a mall located Red Lobster Diner. It‘s so pitch perfect in its simplicity, I just wish it would have been a longer story.

Cinfhen What should I read next @BarbaraBB ?? Thanks for posting & tagging me @Megabooks !!! 6mo
Cinfhen I see now you recommend a book @BarbaraBB !!! Going to look for 6mo
Megabooks You‘re welcome! Glad you enjoyed it too! 6mo
61 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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Megabooks
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Pickpick

I picked this up last minute at a 2NC solely based on the fact that @BarbaraBB liked it. I had it in my head that it was about lobster fisherman. No. It‘s not. It‘s about the last night of a closing forever Red Lobster restaurant. Despite the surprise, I enjoyed these characters. Manny the manager questioning how it all went wrong. Roz the lifer. Ty the chef hoping to have a good last service with a small crew. And Manny‘s ex whom he still loves.

Megabooks Apparently I didn‘t look at the cover closely either because that‘s more a sea of parking spaces than the actual sea! Y‘all can laugh at me!! 🤣🤣🤣🤣 6mo
BarbaraBB Lol! Glad you enjoyed it!! 6mo
Cinfhen Hahaha!!! Awesome review!!!! And I‘m SUPER INTRIGUED!!! I remember @BarbaraBB liked it too!!! I want to read more from O‘Nan 6mo
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Cinfhen I can‘t believe you still have hydrangeas !!! 6mo
Megabooks @Cinfhen let me put this in your Hanukkah package!! 💜 it was a bad year for colorful hydrangeas this year. I was shocked to see these at a friend‘s house! 6mo
Cinfhen You‘re so sweet, Meg but I actually already started the O‘Nan on audio from the library 😁and I‘m LOVING it @BarbaraBB 6mo
Megabooks @Cinfhen fantastic! I‘m glad you were able to find it! 💕 6mo
Cinfhen I see my library has quite a few O‘Nan audios!!!! Very excited 😊 6mo
BarbaraBB I am reading his backlist and he really is becoming a favorite author! @Cinfhen 6mo
Cinfhen @BarbaraBB which would you suggest I read next??? 6mo
BarbaraBB I loved this one. It‘s perfect for October too 😱 6mo
Reggie I loved this book a lot. It was covered in this bittersweet melancholy that I love. 6mo
85 likes5 stack adds13 comments
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Megabooks
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Recent library/Book Outlet/2NC haul! Five short story collections (bottom ones), which I‘m really pleased about. There are also a couple for author a month and then the tagged novella I remember @BarbaraBB enjoying. 👍🏻🤩💜

Cinfhen Well done!! I‘m curious about this one - I LOVE the cover 12mo
BarbaraBB I did! The O‘Farrell is good too. Wasn‘t Cursed Bunny a ToB contender earlier? 12mo
JamieArc Ooh I‘m curious about Wild Swims. 12mo
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Readerann What a haul! I love Louise Erdrich. 12mo
youneverarrived Great stack! I really liked 12mo
RebelReader Esme Lennox is still my favorite Maggie O‘Farrell book! 12mo
Megabooks @Cinfhen I like the hardcover cover better than the paperback, but they‘re both great! 12mo
Megabooks @BarbaraBB I know it was on the international Booker list before, but maybe the 2022 tob longlist??? 🤔 12mo
Megabooks @JamieArc that was a random book outlet find that sounded really good! 12mo
Megabooks @Readerann same! I didn‘t pick the right first book from her, but when I picked up several more in January, I knew I‘d have to read her backlist!! 12mo
Megabooks @RebelReader @youneverarrived @BarbaraBB such high praise for the O‘Farrell!! I can‘t wait for July! I plan to read that and this for sure. (edited) 12mo
BarbaraBB Heatwave is very good as well! 12mo
JamieArc I really liked Heatwave as well. 12mo
Megabooks @BarbaraBB @JamieArc she‘s such a fantastic writer, one really can‘t go wrong! 12mo
94 likes14 comments
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BarbaraBB
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#BookReport 05/23

Four books, all good. I finished two more for the #ToB23, one of O‘Nans backlist and the surprisingly good horror novel for #Roll100. A very satisfying reading week 👌🏽

squirrelbrain A fab week! 14mo
Cinfhen Great!!! 14mo
TrishB Great week 👍🏻 14mo
76 likes3 comments
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squirrelbrain
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This is a total #blameitonbarbara purchase! @BarbaraBB

It‘s a bit scruffy but I only paid Q9.14 for it!

It‘s also travelled rather a long way so it‘s bound to be a bit battered; from Hillsdale Public Library in New Jersey to North Yorkshire in the UK!

LeahBergen I always love to see the markings that show how far a book has travelled! 14mo
Librariana And I love to see how other libraries process materials since that's the department I work in! 😁 It gives us a sense of comfort when an item that is no longer part of the collection can find a good home 💕 14mo
BarbaraBB That is a great find! I hope you‘ll enjoy it. I really did ❤️ 14mo
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youneverarrived I love the cover! And a well travelled book 😍 14mo
MicheleinPhilly I loved this one! 14mo
Reggie Hope you like this one! 14mo
62 likes6 comments
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BarbaraBB
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Pickpick

Manny‘s restaurant The Lobster has to shut down. Today is the last day it‘s open. It‘s snowing hard and Manny wonders whether his staff will turn up. Or any customers, for that matter. Yet he still goes about his business like it‘s just another day at The Lobster. Very touching and so well-written.

#52Booksclub23 #SetInWorkplace #pop23 #TakesPlaceInOneDay

mcctrish I read this ages ago and I‘m so thrilled you enjoyed it ( I loved the title, that‘s why I bought it back in the day ) 🦞❤️ 14mo
BarbaraBB @mcctrish I recently enjoyed this other book by him (tagged) and wanted to read his backlist. So glad I chose this one! 14mo
squirrelbrain Sounds fab, and two great prompts too… I just bought a used copy for just over Q9. ? 14mo
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BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain that‘s a very good price! You won‘t be disappointed! 14mo
mcctrish Oh I want to read that one, thank you for reminding me about Lobster, I really should read more by him 14mo
Librarybelle I need to read this! 14mo
Suet624 Thanks for reminding me that I wanted to read more by him. I enjoy his writing. I read this one a number of years ago and liked it: 14mo
Suet624 it's also funny because I rated Ocean State so-so, but I think I did that more because I thought it was too simple for TOB. It was a good story though and kept me reading and interested. 14mo
LeahBergen What a gorgeous photo! 14mo
BarbaraBB @Suet624 Thanks, I was thinking about which of his books to read next! And I felt the same about Ocean State and the ToB (edited) 14mo
BarbaraBB @LeahBergen Thanks! A cozy Sunday ☺️ 14mo
Cinfhen I definitely want to check out more O‘Nan 14mo
BarbaraBB @Cinfhen I was thinking of you indeed since you liked Ocean State so much! 14mo
KarenUK Sounds lovely. And great pic 💕 14mo
sarahbarnes Looks like a great evening! 14mo
Reggie I‘m so glad you liked this. 14mo
BarbaraBB @Reggie Very much! 14mo
DreesReads I‘m glad you liked it! The Odds is the only other one of his I have read—it is very different yet somehow also felt very original to me. Even if I did not enjoy it as much. This one felt much more relatable to me personally. 11mo
BarbaraBB @DreesReads So good to see you here! I think I read this one because you just happened to mention it on your IG. I will read The Odds next. Have you read Ocean State? 11mo
DreesReads I have not! He has soooo many books I really don‘t know where to go next lol 10mo
BarbaraBB @DreesReads He‘s very productive indeed 😃. I‘m on the lookout for a cheap copy of The Odds and I can highly recommend Ocean State! 10mo
90 likes6 stack adds21 comments
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vivastory
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I just finished this remarkable novel (novella?) & later this week will def be posting a full review, possibly including a picture of the book @ a Red Lobster by a mall (no joke). This was my first O'Nan & I just added 3 more of his books to my TBR, including one with an Angel Olsen dedication AND epitaph!!!

vivastory PS-I have not actually entered a Red Lobster in years, so it will be an interesting experiment if I do so. I do like their biscuits though.... 😂 (edited) 1y
psalva I loved this book! It surprised me. Somehow he fell off my radar, and I haven‘t read any of his other things since I read it years ago. Coincidentally, however, I just checked out Ocean State from the library so that will hopefully be corrected soon. 1y
vivastory @psalva Ocean State is the one with the Angel Olsen dedication/epitaphs. I 💙 Angel Olsen. Def. looking forward to reading more of his works! 1y
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Aimeesue O'Nan is fabulous! I started reading him after he did the Red Sox book with Steven King. I was born and raised in Massachusetts, so obviously I had no choice 😋 1y
vivastory @Aimeesue I heard of that book years ago & I noticed that King had blurbed a couple of his books but it didn't click for me that it was O'Nan. Interesting! 1y
BarbaraBB I just bought this one too because I loved his writing in 1y
Cathythoughts Like @BarbaraBB I liked Ocean State … I just got tagged book on kindle 👍🏻 1y
Reggie I was just gonna mention I love their cheddar biscuits. Lol. Yeah, I loved this book. It‘s about a lot of different endings. 1y
vivastory @Reggie I couldn't agree more. Yesterday while I was getting ready for work I was imagining the futures for the different characters. Loved it! 1y
Bookzombie @Reggie You can now buy Red Lobster‘s biscuits in the frozen food aisle. I haven‘t tried them though. 🙂 1y
76 likes2 stack adds10 comments
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vivastory
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First #bookhaul of '23

LeahBergen I‘m SO excited for you to read O Caledonia. It‘s a bit bonkers and I think you may enjoy it. 😆 1y
LeahBergen Oh, and The Fifth Child! 1y
LeahBergen And just to gush a bit more … I think I put Great Short Books on my “to buy” list because of your posts. 😆 (edited) 1y
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Bookwormjillk Last Night at the Lobster was fun 1y
Aimeesue O'Nan is so great! 1y
vivastory @LeahBergen I've been looking forward to O Caledonia so I was pleased to see it on an end table! I haven't read Lessing yet, but I have a feeling that I'm going to love her work. I've been wanting to read it for awhile. I hope to start Great Short Books after my current read! 1y
vivastory @Bookwormjillk @Aimeesue B&N had a display of novellas & I recalled several people on Litsy talking about it recently so I figured I'd give it a chance 1y
BarbaraBB I just stacked this book too because I want to read more O‘Nan after enjoying 1y
vivastory @BarbaraBB I will have to look into Ocean State. Last Night etc looks like a quick read. 1y
Reggie I hope you like Last Night! 1y
76 likes10 comments
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LeslieO
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I love a book set in a restaurant and I love to post another Stewart O‘Nan title. #LetterL #AlphabetGame

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks 📚🙌🏻❤️ 2y
26 likes1 comment
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LeslieO
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February has been such a good month for me. I loved everything I read. I guess I‘ll pick Finlay Donovan as my top because of the twisty fun. #FebruaryStats.

41 likes1 stack add
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LeslieO
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I love me some Stewart O‘Nan! Read this little gem today. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💕💕

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Soubhiville
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Pickpick

If you‘ve ever worked a restaurant job, this is going to take you back! A short read about a Red Lobster closing down, and the strange and sad last shift.

#readtheusa2021 #Connecticut

58 likes2 stack adds
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Catsandbooks
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Mehso-so

3/5 ⭐️ This was super realistic and made me feel like I was at a Red Lobster. Just kind of a mediocre story though. Really I just want some cheddar bay biscuits now 🧀

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Kimbono
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Saturday afternoon reading soundtrack #readingsoundtrack

Reggie I really liked this book. 3y
Reviewsbylola This book has been hanging out in my purse “just in case.” 😂 3y
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Kimbono @Reviewsbylola I have “just in case” books everywhere 🤣 3y
Kimbono @Reggie @TheNeverendingTBR It‘s such a great book. This is a reread for me 🇺🇸 3y
Kimbono @Reggie @TheNeverendingTBR that 🇺🇸should have been a ❤️ hahaha 3y
Reggie Given this week, it‘s understandable. Lol 3y
TheNeverendingTBR @Kimbono That ❤ was for Born to Run 😁 3y
Kimbono @TheNeverendingTBR Even better! 3y
20 likes2 stack adds9 comments
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ATB
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Book featured on a podcast I just started listening to called Strong Sense if Place. #stayhome24in48 #24in48

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ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled
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Mehso-so

Meh.
Novella (145 pages) about the final night of a closing Red Lobster. Considers staff problems, restaurant minutiae, manager‘s romantic entanglements.
Thought this would afford more character development and contemplation, but it was just boring and fell flat.

Megabooks That sounds kind of odd, tbh. 5y
45 likes1 comment
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ReadingRover
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@MommyOfTwo awesome package! Thank you for all the wonderful goodies. I love St Patrick‘s day too! I know you can‘t tell by his face but Dexter loves his new bandana! The Dewey cards are perfect b/c I already have the book & I need cards for the #jb group. Love the socks & is that an eye mask that can be heated or cooled. Did you make it? It‘s so cool 😎 I can‘t wait to try it! Chocolate gold coins not pictured. Dexter would‘ve nommed them! #sfmbc

MommyOfTwo Oh shoot I forgot to tell you what that was lol. It is a page weight and I did make it! 5y
Avanders 👏🏽👏🏽🌌 5y
ReadingRover @MommyOfTwo 😂 well when I get back from vacation I may try out both options because I think it might also work as a nice headache reliever 😝 it‘s super cute! Obviously another use is to hold dogs in place for photos!!! 5y
Chrissyreadit @ReadingRover Do you subscribe to audible? 5y
ReadingRover @Chrissyreadit Yes I do and I‘m totally addicted! 5y
38 likes5 comments
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Reviewsbylola
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And here is our Christmas haul. Mine is on the left, the girls‘ is on the right.

Leftcoastzen Woo Hoo! 5y
GrilledCheeseSamurai I want that Roald Dahl boxset! ❤️😍❤️ 5y
LeahBergen I spy an Elizabeth Taylor! 👏🏻👏🏻 5y
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MicheleinPhilly I covet their Roald Dahl set! 😍 5y
Reviewsbylola That was a gift from @Mdargusch 😁 @LeahBergen 5y
Reviewsbylola That was any amazing Costco score that I couldn‘t pass up! @MicheleinPhilly @GrilledCheeseSamurai 5y
Mdargusch Good stuff! 5y
JustJill1963 I enjoyed The Bishop‘s Pawn. (edited) 5y
Cinfhen Nice!!! Don‘t forget we have a buddy read for 5y
125 likes10 comments
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Reggie
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#WinterWonderland #December1963 (Oh, what a night) What a sad, sad, night. Right before Christmas, this Red Lobster is closing for good and as we follow manager Manny, we come to realize, besides the restaurant, many things are ending. So good and melancholic.

Cinfhen Now this sounds like an @Reggie book!!! @Reviewsbylola 😂😂😂 5y
TrishB Love melancholy books! Have downloaded as only Qa on kindle - despite the fact it‘s less than 200 pages.....it can be a bus ride read! 5y
Reggie I hope you like it @TrishB!! 5y
Cinfhen I need to see the Kindle US price @TrishB I‘m good for $1.99 5y
Reviewsbylola I actually have this on my TBR and I think I bought it. @reggie @Cinfhen 5y
65 likes4 stack adds5 comments
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Octoberwoman
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Mehso-so

Overall this was a bit depressing, but I did appreciate the author's talent for imagery, especially in the outdoor scenes with the snow storm. When I walked out of my house I was momentarily surprised that the air was hot and humid instead of freezing cold.

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BlameJennyJane
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Pickpick

This was a quick read... fiction... but it reminds me of a micro-history. It‘s a snapshot of a day, the last day, in the life of a Red Lobster. I wish I hadn‘t read the reviews prior to reading. It raised my hopes to astronomical heights, convincing me it was one of the finest pieces of literature ever constructed. Nope. But the author is clearly brilliant and has a knack for capturing characters without caricature. I‘ll read more of his work.

Reggie Oh, I liked this one, I was left nostalgic for my waiting on table days and it also made me somber because of all the endings that were portrayed in this story. 6y
BlameJennyJane That‘s a great way of capturing the feel of this read for me as well- nostalgic. 6y
38 likes2 comments
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LeahBergen
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Here‘s a book post for you, @callielafleur ! 😂

Congrats on your milestone and thanks for doing this wonderful giveaway. ❤️❤️

#LitsyIsTheBestINT

JoScho but why!?! I wanted cheddar bay biscuits too!!!😂😂😂 6y
CouronneDhiver My perm wanted some lunch too... 😹😹😹 6y
readordierachel 😂😂😂 6y
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Leftcoastzen God ,that perm!! 6y
Mdargusch I had that perm! 6y
callielafleur 😂🤣😂 This is hysterical! 6y
AlaMich Is that for real?? They actually titled the book like that? 😂🙄 (edited) 6y
LeahBergen @AlaMich No, it‘s from a funny site called paperback-paradise.com . They take old paperback covers and give them “new” titles. 😂 6y
SandyW Ah... I was thinking it was clever marketing. 😃 6y
AlaMich @LeahBergen Well, color me gullible! 😂 6y
batsy Paperback Paradise is the absolute best 😂 6y
Chrissyreadit !!!! Sweet Valley High!!!! 6y
DebinHawaii 🤣🤣🤣 6y
vivastory Leah! I am commenting on your post that is several years old bc I just finished the O'Nan book & was looking through the Litsy feed & when I got to this pic I literally almost spit out my drink 😂 😂 1y
LeahBergen @vivastory 😆😆 I forgot about this! 1y
100 likes15 comments
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Reggie
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Pickpick

This short book was a the perfect, bittersweet, valentine to the food service industry taking place on the last night of a Red Lobster before it closes for good. Through Manager Manny‘s eyes, you see the culture that exists in many restaurants. How everyone is connected to each other, the host, the servers, the cooks, even the regulars. The whole story is lightly blanketed in a sadness for the ending of things, many things. A great read.

Reggie Thanks @Jas16 for putting this on my radar. Made me nostalgic for my waiting table days. And funny story, I base my happiness in a job on whether if I won the lottery would I take care of my coworkers. My restaurant I worked at we all agreed to take of each other, and I would have taken care of them. The job I‘m at, I‘d never think twice about just leaving, maybe throwing the peace sign or maybe the middle finger, depends who‘s working that day. 6y
Mitch Ohhh this is on my shelf - gonna bring it forward on my TBR! 6y
LauraBeth Dammit @reggie! 📚 6y
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Reggie @Mitch @LauraBeth it‘s such a short read. Ya‘ll could knock it out in an hour or 2. 6y
Jas16 I am so glad that you liked it (especially since you bought it right away. I would have felt guilty if you hated it). Great review 6y
Suet624 Some of my favorite memories come from my time working in restaurants. 💕 6y
Reviewsbylola I‘ve heard good things about this one! 6y
Centique This sounds so good! Also damn shame about the place you‘re working now ☹️ I had a great team a few years ago, would have done anything for them too. 💕 6y
62 likes4 stack adds8 comments
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Jas16
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Pickpick

Today‘s read along with my new bookmark from @BarbaraTheBibliophage I liked this brief book about the last night at a Red Lobster before it is permanently closed. Such a quick read but O‘Nan really manages to write with such detail I felt as if I knew the staff and restaurant as if I had been a regular there for years.

BarbaraTheBibliophage That book sounds pretty interesting. And pairing it with the bookmark is a great idea! 6y
Reggie I worked as a waiter for most of my 20‘s and I think this would speak to me. 6y
Jas16 @Reggie I would be happy to send you my copy if you would like. Just email me you address: himynameisjen@hotmail.com 6y
Reggie Thanks for the sweet and kind offer but as soon as I finished Catalina, I bought this kindle. 6y
91 likes7 stack adds4 comments
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emilycr2
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Bailedbailed

I read this in grad school and also taught it at least three times! A fascinating examination of the human condition.

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ericarobynreads
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Mehso-so

Last Night at the Lobster by Stewart O'Nan is an interesting look into the lives of the manager and his employees working the very last night before their location is shut down.

I've never been to a Red Lobster because I don't eat seafood, but I was still interested to check this one out when I first heard about it.

My full review here: http://www.ericarobynreads.com/2018/01/book-review-last-night-at-lobster.html

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ju.ca.no
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One reason why Vienna is one of the best citys to live in is the "One City. One Book" initiative! Each year the city decides on one book and hands out a 100.00 free copys all over the city! Today is the day and I just got mine and @taza_de_te 's copy! I'm very much looking foward to reading it, lasr years' book was really good! ?

AlaMich My city, Chicago, also has a similar One Book One City sort of program. But I don't believe they hand out free copies. I think the city libraries might stock up on extra copies, though. 6y
ju.ca.no @AlaMich I've heard that there are similar projects, for example in NY, but actually I think Vienna is the only city that hands them out for free 😊 6y
kspenmoll We have some in neighboring town to me, Bloomfield( Boys in the Boat this year) but also no free books but library stocks up & sponsors activities like documentary, crewing experience on CT River etc. It was a book club book for me 😊📚❤️ 6y
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minkyb Love this! 6y
ju.ca.no @kspenmoll still cool though! Everything that promotes reading is great! 😄 6y
taza_de_te @ju.ca.no Thank you! 💜 I am already looking forward to reading the book 😊 6y
33 likes6 comments
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Howardsimmons
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Pickpick

We listened to this tender, interior story while driving to visit family. Commemorated its bittersweet ending with a visit to the Lobster.