Title: Lucky’s
Author: Andrew Pippos
Published: 27th October 2020, Picador
Status: Read October 2020 courtesy PanMacmillan Australia
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My Thoughts:
Having recently lost both her job and her husband, Emily is in Sydney from London with an eye to writing a New Yorker feature about the rise and fall of ‘Lucky’s’, once an ubiquitous chain of restaurants/cafes across south eastern NSW.
Lucky Mallios has a plan – to relaunch the iconic restaurant/cafe he lost to a combination of tragedy and gambling in the mid 90’s. Old and broke, he wants to atone for his mistakes, and leave something for the only family he has left.
With a nod to Greek tragicomedy, Lucky’s is a character driven novel about fortunes won and lost, of serendipity and fate. It shifts between the past and present revealing secrets, coincidences, scandals and trauma. It has a kind of charm that comes from the author’s own affection for, and understanding of, his characters.
Lucky and Emily share not only a link to Emily’s late father, but also similar traits. They each struggle with the loss of a loved one, their expectations of themselves, and others expectations of them. I was keen to discover if Lucky would win his fortune, and thus his redemption, if Emily would find success.
Lucky’s is congenial literary debut from Andrew Pippos
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Available from PanMacmillan Australia
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Oct 31, 2020 @ 12:06:46
I have this one to review. Thanks for the review. Sometimes I need to read other’s reviews on my review books to help decide which one to read next!
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Oct 31, 2020 @ 16:55:50
A new one for me. Thanks for the review.
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Nov 01, 2020 @ 02:39:52
This definitely sounds interesting and isn’t one I’ve ever heard of. Thanks for sharing!
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Mar 19, 2021 @ 14:28:39
What a story. It bought laughter, empathy and then ripped my guts out with sadness.
This is a book you cannot leave – it grabs you and allows no escape – except to try some amazing Greek recipes that were mentioned in the story but needed an on line search for the recipe.
Last night I made Greek meatballs and stuffed tomato’s. Delicious.
Thank you Andrew Pippos for a wonderfully human story that I totally adored.
And thank you to all the Greek families who ran those restaurants found all over Australia, including small country towns. I well remember them from childhood days with my family.
Clever man, please hurry and bring us more of your thoroughly entertaining writing.
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Mar 19, 2021 @ 22:43:18
I’m glad you enjoyed it much more than I did
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