Analysis and Review of O'Nan's Short Novel, Last Night At the Lobster

603 Words2 Pages

"Last Night At the lobster" isn't your typical novel. It is a short, brilliantly written novel by Stewart O'Nan. I would consider this novel to be realistic fiction because of the story line it holds and the characters are average Americans that can be related to. Although this piece of literature isn't intended to be a poetical piece, the author uses elements such as symbolism and sound to make passages flow like a poem would.

Set on the last day of business of a Connecticut Red Lobster, this novel tells the story of Manny DeLeon, a committed restaurant manager that is notified by corporate that his managed location is not meeting expectations and will close December 20. He is also informed that he will be assigned to a nearby Olive Garden and demoted to assistant manager. It's a loss he tries to rationalize much as he does the loss of Jacquie, a waitress and the former girlfriend that he believes means more to him than his current pregnant girlfriend, Deena. On this last night, Manny is committed to a dream of perfection, but no one and nothing seems to share his vision. Th...

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