A window on the working class
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Last Night at the Lobster Stewart O'Nan has been heralded the "bard of the working class," but his latest novel, Last Night at the Lobster, while poignant, falls short of being spectacular. Last Night at the Lobster tells the story of Manny DeLeon, the dedicated manager of a Connecticut Red Lobster. Corporate has decided that the restaurant run by Manny isn't quite up to expectations, so it will close just five days before Christmas. Manny and a skeleton crew of his staff will move to the Olive Garden close by. The novel gives a minute-by-minute view into Manny and his staff's final day at the restaurant, where Manny must deal with no-show employees, a lack of morale and his romantic feelings for his ex-girlfriend and employee, Jackie Amid all the confusion and complications of the day, he must also find the perfect Christmas gift for his pregnant girlfriend, Deena. To make matters worse, a blizzard hits the Connecticut town, making customers few and far between. Despite his disgruntled employees, Manny refuses to close the restaurant early, clearing the walkways with a snow blower and a bag of salt. The novel is moving on many levels and gives a portrait of the lives of each employee at this small-town restaurant. O'Nan paints a picture of hope and quiet desperation as the main character struggles with a conclusion he knows he cannot stop from happening. Manny works beside his ex-lover throughout the day, completing mundane tasks, as he tries to figure out where their relationship went wrong and whether he should confront her about his feelings. In a few places, the story seems slightly melodramatic, and there never really is a climactic moment that stands out. In the end, the story seems to fade away with a less-than-spectacular ending grounded in realism, rather than some grand gesture or event. O'Nan writes like a poet, filling the novel with imagery. He describes the restaurant and the people who work there in beautiful depth. Last Night at the Lobster ventures a quiet glimpse into the lives of the often overlooked working class. Megan Honeycutt is a junior majoring in journalism at the University of Alabama. |
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