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Early morning on the day of the most important booking in this august establishment’s history, the discovery of the theft of 22 ribeye steaks roils Aunt Orsa’s. Hers is the finest restaurant in this midwestern college town and Orsa anticipates a large party that will honor a very special guest, the bestselling author, a writer of international renown. And what’s up with the recent Yelp reviews, insulting to frankly terrible? Is Orsa, who wants only to be loved, being sabotaged on several fronts? And now no one is above suspicion, not the pretty Mennonite baker nor the tatted-up hard-ass chef de cuisine nor the various servers nor the great-looking, if unsure, co-ed working as hostess. Rebecca Kauffman''s talent for crafting rich, empathetic characters is on full display in
About the author
REBECCA KAUFFMAN received her MFA in creative writing from New York University. She is the author of Another Place You've Never Been, which was long-listed for the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize, The Gunners, which received the Premio Tribùk dei Librai, The House on Fripp Island, Chorus, and most recently, I’ll Come to You. Originally from rural northeastern Ohio, Kauffman now lives in Virginia.
Summary
For fans of The Bear, Elizabeth Strout, and Jennifer Egan, The Reservation explores the loves and labors of an ensemble of more than a dozen restaurant workers as they strive to get perfect meals to table
On the morning of the most important booking in the long history of the celebrated restaurant, Aunt Orsa’s erupts into chaos with the discovery that twenty-two rib eye steaks have been stolen. Hers is the most august of fine-dining establishments in this Midwestern college town, and tonight Orsa is set to host a large party honoring a very special guest—a bestselling author of national renown.
And what’s up with the recent spate of online reviews, from insulting to frankly terrible? Is Orsa, who wants only to be loved, being sabotaged on several fronts? No one is above suspicion, not the Mennonite baker nor the tattooed hard-ass chef de cuisine. Could the culprit be among the servers, or even the inexperienced undergrad working as hostess?
Who aside from Rebecca Kauffman—with her talent for portraying such abundant and sympathetic characters—could write with the wit and energy needed to launch all these various individuals whirling through their days with such complex and interactive choreography?
Like the works of the mystery guest, The Reservation is a dynamic and captivating story that shows us what it takes to get a beautiful meal to the table.
