Read Recently: “On a Night Like This” by Ellen Sussman

Onanightlikethis

Title: “On a Night Like Thus”

Author: Ellen Sussman.

Synopsis: Blair Clemens is a chef in San Francisco. Luke Bellingham is a successful screenwriter, also in San Francisco. They went to high school together but barely new one another. Many years later, they run into one another, Luke on the verge of a divorce, Blair with a teenage daughter and terminal cancer. Love ensues.

Backstory: Ellen is a friend the local literary scene and Readerville. In honor of my trip down the coast last month, I wanted to read something set in California.

Notes: A quick plot heavy read. Strong sense of setting.

Verdict: There’s something to be said for a book that simply makes you want to come back to it while you’re away. I can’t say the characters or the story spoke to me but they did make me hold on. I want to know what happened next, to wolf it down instead of chew lightly.

It’s a different sort of reading experience perhaps from the books that change your life but it takes all kinds. Sometimes I want a peanut butter and jelly sandwich rather than a 9 course masterwork. And this was a damn fine sandwich.

Reader interactions

2 Replies to “Read Recently: “On a Night Like This” by Ellen Sussman”

  1. Ellen Sussman, author of “On A Night Like This”, has edited a collection of essays that was just published. It’s called “Bad Girls”. Kevin, this is right up your alley. Check it out: http://www.badgirlsanthology.com.
    And I just finished the new Anne Fadiman collection. Brilliant as always.

  2. Ellen Sussman, author of “On A Night Like This”, has edited a collection of essays that was just published. It’s called “Bad Girls”. Kevin, this is right up your alley. Check it out: http://www.badgirlsanthology.com.
    And I just finished the new Anne Fadiman collection. Brilliant as always.

Leave a Reply