G750 Book Review of The lobby by Randi m Sherman
Author: Randi M Sherman
ISBN: 9781460278116
Publisher: Friesen Press
Type of book: Hotel, hour-by-hour, multiple characters, California, travel, experience, business, high school reunions, fame, humor, comedy
Year it was published: 2016
Summary:
Welcome to The Shipley Hotel, where the perky and attentive staff provides the gold standard in artificial concern and comfort to all the colorful characters who pass through its polished brass revolving door and find themselves in The Lobby. Practically engineered for eavesdropping, San Francisco's juiciest hotel lobby offers the perfect place to witness the comings and goings-and the most comedic intersections-of staff, long-term residents, and eclectic guests. Featuring over fifty stories all transpiring in a single twenty-four hour period and intersecting in the Shipley's elegant lobby, readers will meet an eccentric and vast array of characters, most of whom will look awfully familiar and all of whom will speak to the heart. Employing acute skills in human observation and a keen understanding of the essential human needs-frequently unplanned and unexpected rendezvous, ready laughter at others' expense, and maybe even a little love and acceptance-Randi M. Sherman's unique wit and candor will surely make the reader sit up, stand up, roll over, or assume an interested leaning position and take notice. Get comfortable (on the exquisitely upholstered lobby couch) and spy on those checking in and out of the Shipley. Careful: you might just encounter a version of yourself among the ornate balconies and intricate woodwork.
Characters:
There are way too many characters to keep track of, but let me give a few of them; one of them includes a movie star that's hiding out from the world and enjoys pulling pranks; then there are various husband and wife duos who either came on vacation or to meet family members; there are also business people and their traveling lives; also there are cheating spouses, people who work in the hotel and so forth.
Theme:
Life is interconnected
Plot:
The story is in third person narrative from what seems to be everyone's point of view. Despite the constant change of point of view, the stories are interlinked and each represent an hour in a day. Later on in some cases the narrative returns to the previous characters. Something else that's constant is the humor that's included in the stories. The characters do tend to be a bit exaggerated, but that is what makes them fun and memorable. It is something fun and lighthearted to re-read whenever one gets a chance.
Author Information:
(From back of the book)
The Lobby is Sherman's fourth novel. Her third novel, The Truth About Caroline is a continuation of the story begun in Caroline Stars Over. Her first book, Paula Takes a Risk, was released in 2012. Sherman lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. She is an excellent parallel parker and a fantastic cocktail party guest.
Opinion:
At times I really need a breather from reading serious literature, and this perfect little book comes into play. At only 222 pages, The Lobby describes and goes into a lot of details about what is going on in the lobby with the guests. And apparently, there is a whole lot going on from renewing wedding vows to meeting family to business life, etc. I was surprised by how much went on in a 24 hour day. The stories also use a bit of dark humor and comedy to really make them stand out and feature all sorts of diverse characters. There are a few constant characters throughout the 24 hours, but most of them change and it makes a bit difficult remembering who's who. (Perhaps chapter headings or a character sheet might have helped?) Something I didn't appreciate about the book is towards the end when a group of Asians arrive at a hotel. I honestly was confused because the Asian group claimed they were from China, but one of the group leader's name is in Korean and when they spoke English, I thought they were Japanese.
This is for amazon campaign for Pump Up Your Book
5 out of 5
(0: Stay away unless a masochist 1: Good for insomnia 2: Horrible but readable; 3: Readable and quickly forgettable, 4: Good, enjoyable 5: Buy it, keep it and never let it go.)
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