If the only thing you’ve ever read by Stewart O’Nan is the nonfiction book that he co-wrote with Stephen King about the Red Sox improbable first World Series winning year in decades (Faithful…), then I’m sorry to say that you’ve been missing out on some amazing works of fiction. His latest, Last Night at the Lobster is an incredibly detailed and intense look inside the lives of a few of the dying Red Lobster restaurant’s staff on the eatery’s last night in business.
Here’s the basic synopsis for you: “Perched in the far corner of a run-down New England mall, the Red Lobster 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 four shopping days left until Christmas, Manny must convince his near-mutinous staff to hunker down and serve the final onslaught of hungry retirees, lunatics, and holiday office parties. All the while, he’s wondering how to handle the waitress he’s still in love with, his pregnant girlfriend at home, and where to find the present that will make everything better.”
Sure, it sounds pretty simple, but there’s so much below the surface of that basic plot description. O’Nan has a knack for writing some of the most thoroughly enriching portraits of small-town life you’re likely to find on bookshelves these days. Behind the last-night-at-their-job proceedings, there’s a deeply felt nostalgia and remorse for what’s become a staple in these characters’ lives. O’Nan plays it perfectly.
I first fell in love with the author’s work when someone suggested I read his haunting ghost tale The Night Country. It’s a quick read, but one with some real depth. I try to re-read the novel every Halloween, if possible, as it’s simply perfect for the occassion.
Also worth noting is his novel The Good Wife, which is one of the most intense studies of loneliness I’ve ever had the privilege of reading.
Even if you’ve never picked up one of O’Nan’s works, now is the time. The man is a master at what he does, and there’s no better way to start than with Last Night at the Lobster.
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