Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club Summary
Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club by J. Ryan Stradal, narrated by Aspen Vincent, is a heartwarming story about family, loss, and the ties that bind. Set in the Midwest, the novel takes us into the world of the Lakeside Supper Club, a family-run restaurant that has been a staple in the community for generations.
Mariel Prager is the owner of the restaurant, which she inherited from her grandmother. Mariel's husband Ned is having an identity crisis, and her mother Florence is refusing to leave the church where she's been staying for over a week. Mariel's beloved restaurant is bleeding money, and she's struggling to keep it afloat. The Lakeside Supper Club has been a source of comfort for Mariel and her family for decades, but it seems as though it may be on its last legs.
Meanwhile, Ned is an heir to a chain of home-style diners, but he doesn't have a head for business. Ned believes that his family's chain could provide a better future than Mariel's restaurant, but Mariel is fiercely loyal to her family's legacy. When tragedy strikes, Mariel and Ned lose almost everything they hold dear. The hard-won victories of each family hang in the balance, and the future of the Lakeside Supper Club is uncertain.
In this world of relish trays and brandy Old Fashioneds, Stradal has given us a story full of honest, lovable, yet fallible Midwestern characters as they grapple with love, loss, and marriage. The novel explores what we hold onto and what we leave behind, and what our legacy will be when we are gone.
Aspen Vincent's narration of the novel is outstanding. She brings the characters to life, giving each one a unique voice and personality. Her portrayal of Mariel is particularly impressive, capturing the character's strength, determination, and vulnerability. Vincent's narration draws the listener in, making it easy to become fully immersed in the story.
One of the strengths of the novel is its depiction of small-town life in the Midwest. Stradal has a talent for capturing the rhythms and quirks of small-town life, and his descriptions of the Lakeside Supper Club and the surrounding area are vivid and evocative. He also has a keen eye for the dynamics of family relationships, and the novel is full of moments of tenderness and conflict between the various family members.
Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club is a delightful novel that is sure to appeal to anyone who loves a good family drama. With its strong characters, engaging story, and vivid setting, it is a novel that will stay with you long after you've finished listening to it. If you're looking for a heartwarming and entertaining audiobook, look no further than Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club.
