You'll find many novels to put you in the holiday spirit here at the library, but sometimes it's interesting to find the stories that aren't necessarily so tidy--maybe events don't get wrapped up so nicely, but somehow they seem just a little more...real.Stuart O'Nan's Last Night at the Lobster is a great one to pick up if you're in the mood for something different. Plus, at just 146 pages, it's a quick read for this busy time of year. The book's central character is Manny DeLeon, manager of a Red Lobster who has just found out his restaurant will close right before Christmas. On the final night, he struggles with his staff of lively characters, and a complicated relationship with one of the waitresses--not to mention a powerful New England snowstorm that brings in some unexpected clientele. Reading about the jobs of other people can be fascinating, and O'Nan includes specific and surprising details of Manny's work day, along with the kinds of coworker interactions to which many of us can relate. Manny's eternal optimism in the face of what's crumbling around him makes this endearing story one you'll remember.
Do you have a favorite unusual holiday novel?
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