Today’s recommendation is a backlist title because library hold lists are long for the new releases and buying a new book may not be in the budget.
In Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club, J. Ryan Stradal tells the story of four generations of women who own and work at the Lakeside Supper Club in Quincy, Minnesota from 1934 to the present.
Have you ever been to a Supper Club? I have not, however, they were quite popular in the rural areas of the Upper Midwest (especially Wisconsin & Minnesota) in the late 1930s and 1940s after Prohibition, and some still exist today. Supper Clubs were a destination for the evening; attendees enjoyed a cocktail hour, supper and some form of entertainment. The food was not the most important element of the experience. The community building was and that was achieved with a drink, a meal and some gossip.
The four main characters are Betty, Florence, Mariel and Julia. Betty is the heart and soul of Lakeside and in desperation opens the Supper Club. Her daughter, Florence cannot wait to escape. Betty’s granddaughter, Mariel and her husband, Ned, inherit Lakeside and bring the business and traditions into the 2000s. And then there is Julia. Stradal employs a full cast of characters to drive the multigenerational story.
Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club is literary fiction with a strong family element. Do not expect much action or a mystery to solve. A couple times, I almost set aside the book, but I am so glad I continued reading.
One important thing to note: This is a sad story, and the emotion is very real on page.
Look for books at Knox County Online Library or your local independent bookstore each week.
Linda Sullivan is an avid reader and wants to inspire you to become one, too. For more recommendations or to talk books, reach out to her at thebookwhisperertn@gmail.com. She can also be found @thebookwhisperertn on Instagram.
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