Journal Entry 1 by wildflower37 from Montclair, New Jersey USA on Friday, November 20, 2009

still on tbr shelf. 

Journal Entry 2 by wildflower37 from Montclair, New Jersey USA on Sunday, January 03, 2010

BEcause this novel features Manny, the manager at a Red Lobster on the last day that the restaurant is open, it is understanable that this is a short novel. But I wished it were longer because the portrait of Manny is so sincere and the descriptions of co-workers and customers is so apt. I am left with the same feeling of nostalgia for these characters that Manny feels for his restaurant and crew. 

Journal Entry 3 by wildflower37 at a fellow bookcrosser, RABCK -- Controlled Releases on Sunday, January 31, 2010

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Released (2/2/2010 6:00:00 AM BX time) in a fellow bookcrosser, RABCK -- Controlled Releases

Sending to another BCer as RABCK. Enjoy! 

Journal Entry 4 by bookczuk from Charleston, South Carolina USA on Friday, February 05, 2010

It's a rainy, rainy, rainy day here, but found this little gift of sunshine in my mailbox. Thank you wildflower37! I added this book to my wish list about a year ago after I saw the journal entry by newk. I look forward to reading it and will wing someone on your friends list in your honor, since you declined my offer.

Take care and stay warm! 

Journal Entry 5 by bookczuk at Charleston, South Carolina USA on Tuesday, August 17, 2010

I'm not entirely sure what I expected from this book, but it certainly was quite different from what I imagined. I think I expected lighthearted fun, but instead found myself immersed in the world of Manny, on the last night the Red Lobster he has managed for years is open. It's a different slice of life than the one I know, but in a few words and even fewer pages O'Nan takes the reader totally and thoroughly into that snowy night. Great character studies, and certainly a definite slice of America.

To be honest, I'm still not sure if I actually liked the book. It's a stark and not entirely hopeful glimpse of life. But in it's realism is probably its glory.

Will probably reserve this for a release challenge in September, unless a family member claims it first. Thanks for sending it along wildflower37! 

Journal Entry 6 by bookczuk at Charleston, South Carolina USA on Wednesday, September 08, 2010

Journal Entry 7 by bookczuk at Rockville, Maryland USA on Wednesday, September 08, 2010

Released 1 yr ago (9/8/2010 UTC) at Rockville, Maryland USA

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Mailed as a RABCK to florafloraflora. 

Journal Entry 8 by florafloraflora at Rockville, Maryland USA on Friday, September 24, 2010

This book has finally made it! Thanks, Bookczuk. I'm already reading it. It's good so far.  

Journal Entry 9 by florafloraflora at Rockville, Maryland USA on Friday, September 24, 2010

I started reading this book last night as soon as I'd unwrapped it. I didn't put it down until I'd finished it, after midnight. At 146 pages it's more of a novella than a novel, but there's more here than in many books that are three times as long.

A lot has been made of Stewart O'Nan's brave choice of setting, a Red Lobster in the parking lot of a semi-deserted mall in multiethnic small-town Connecticut, on its last day in business. Manny, the manager, is at a personal and professional turning point as he leads his crew through their last day of work together. There is drama, adventure, comedy, and romance (bitter and sweet). There is loyalty, shocking betrayal, and even a crime or two. Through it all Manny keeps trying to do the right thing, if only he can figure out what it is. 

It's true that a low-end, half-vacant mall at Christmastime is a uniquely horrifying setting that would be easy to give up on before the book even starts. It's also true that O'Nan does a great job of telling the story of these characters at a turning point without a hint of condescension or sentimentality. And maybe he invites claims of socioeconomic significance by quoting a snippet from a report of strong earnings in Red Lobster's real parent company on the page before the story begins. But rather than commend the author for his daring choice of subject, I'll just say how much I love the way he preserves the classical unities of time (one day) and space (one place) as he tells the story of the years that have led up to this day and gives us a glimpse of what's coming next. The only flaw is a bit of overwriting in the early exposition ("...a line of salted cars takes a left into the mall entrance, splitting as they sniff for parking spots. One goes on alone across the far vastness of the lot, where a bulldozed mound of old snow towers like a dirty iceberg. A white shitbox of a Buick, the kind a grandmother might leave behind..."), but that burns away as the action gets going. 

I'm glad this book made its way to me. Not only did I like it a lot, but I think I liked this copy the best of everyone who's read it so far. 
 

Journal Entry 10 by florafloraflora at Washington, District of Columbia USA on Saturday, September 25, 2010

Released 1 yr ago (9/25/2010 UTC) at Washington, District of Columbia USA

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Handed off to mdm139 at today's National Book Festival meetup on the steps of the Natural History Museum.  

Journal Entry 11 by mdm139 at Alexandria, Virginia USA on Monday, September 27, 2010

got this at a meetup yesterday. sounds like a good "slice of life" read. other bookcrossers showed interest in reading it also so once i'm done with it i will pass it on.