Comments on: Luncheonette: A Memoir http://www.tjhc-hotel.com/luncheonette-a-memoir.html Hotel Management Schools Lead to a New Career Path Mon, 09 Aug 2010 10:35:37 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: J Martin Jellinek http://www.tjhc-hotel.com/luncheonette-a-memoir.html/comment-page-1#comment-118 J Martin Jellinek Sun, 06 Jun 2010 17:19:26 +0000 http://www.tjhc-hotel.com/luncheonette-a-memoir.html#comment-118 ncheonette is first and foremost a memoir - the life of young Steven and the ways in which he deals with his father's failing health, which precipitates a major shift in Steven's life. The story is told with great humor and vividness, bringing us into the life of an Italian family in suburban New Jersey. <br /> <br />But more than a story of place, this is a story of coming to terms with what life brings us. To paraphrase an old phrase, if you are dealt lemons, then make lemonade. As Luncheonette so adeptly points out, this is easy to do in theory, but a lot more difficult to do in practice. Steven was lucky in that he had a great role model in his father, but even with this guidance, the road is not an easy one. <br /> <br />Luncheonette is a quick read, one that you will not want to put down once you have started it. It is not a deep book, but its message is very important and relevant to each of us as we face life's changes and challenges. <br /> Rating: 5 / 5 ncheonette is first and foremost a memoir – the life of young Steven and the ways in which he deals with his father’s failing health, which precipitates a major shift in Steven’s life. The story is told with great humor and vividness, bringing us into the life of an Italian family in suburban New Jersey.

But more than a story of place, this is a story of coming to terms with what life brings us. To paraphrase an old phrase, if you are dealt lemons, then make lemonade. As Luncheonette so adeptly points out, this is easy to do in theory, but a lot more difficult to do in practice. Steven was lucky in that he had a great role model in his father, but even with this guidance, the road is not an easy one.

Luncheonette is a quick read, one that you will not want to put down once you have started it. It is not a deep book, but its message is very important and relevant to each of us as we face life’s changes and challenges.

Rating: 5 / 5

]]> By: reader http://www.tjhc-hotel.com/luncheonette-a-memoir.html/comment-page-1#comment-117 reader Sun, 06 Jun 2010 15:58:05 +0000 http://www.tjhc-hotel.com/luncheonette-a-memoir.html#comment-117 This is not the most "poignant" book I have ever read (although I must admit I really hate that word) but I definitely enjoyed it and will remember the characters long after I move onto the next book. What I liked most was that Steven is so honest and open about the fact that he spent quite a long time knowing full well that he needed to get himself out of a hopeless situation and yet he just could not bring himself to act. Meanwhile his father is dealt obstacle after obstacle and never once lets anything slow him down. I think all of us can relate to being in the place where Steven gets stuck and it is rare for that place to be described so truthfully. I liked that in the end Steven does get out, but there's no big loud finale with him finally taking a chance and making it on Broadway-- he just pulls himself up by the bootstraps and finds new ways to love his life wherever it takes him. Like father like son. <br /> Rating: 4 / 5 This is not the most “poignant” book I have ever read (although I must admit I really hate that word) but I definitely enjoyed it and will remember the characters long after I move onto the next book. What I liked most was that Steven is so honest and open about the fact that he spent quite a long time knowing full well that he needed to get himself out of a hopeless situation and yet he just could not bring himself to act. Meanwhile his father is dealt obstacle after obstacle and never once lets anything slow him down. I think all of us can relate to being in the place where Steven gets stuck and it is rare for that place to be described so truthfully. I liked that in the end Steven does get out, but there’s no big loud finale with him finally taking a chance and making it on Broadway– he just pulls himself up by the bootstraps and finds new ways to love his life wherever it takes him. Like father like son.

Rating: 4 / 5

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