Separate Checks

Separate Checks follows three characters over the course of a single day in Los Angeles. At the center is Dex Braxton, a food critic for the LA Times who faces a life-altering crisis after receiving medical news. The narrative moves between Dex and two women whose lives intersect with his: his estranged adult daughter Alice, and a waitress named Willie at a restaurant Dex is reviewing. The events take place against the backdrop of the LA restaurant scene and the complex dynamics of the service industry. Food serves as both setting and metaphor throughout the novel, with meals and dining becoming focal points for exploring human connection and isolation. The structure mirrors a restaurant meal, with the story divided into sections titled after courses. The novel examines relationships between parents and children, questions of mortality, and how people navigate personal turning points within the routines of daily life. Through its focus on food and dining, it considers how shared meals can both unite and divide people.

Readers feel this novel about relationships and grief falls short compared to Wiggins' other works. Several note the story lacks the emotional depth found in her previous books. What readers liked: - Sharp dialogue between characters - Exploration of family dynamics - Southern California setting details - Complex mother-daughter relationship elements What readers disliked: - Plot feels disjointed and scattered - Characters seem underdeveloped - Ending leaves too many threads unresolved - Writing style more fragmented than her usual work One reader on Goodreads noted: "The characters never quite connect with each other, which may be the point but makes for frustrating reading." Ratings: Goodreads: 3.1/5 (based on 89 ratings) Amazon: 3.0/5 (based on 12 reviews) LibraryThing: 3.2/5 (based on 23 ratings) Several reviews mention this book works better for readers who haven't read Wiggins' other novels and come in without expectations.

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🌟 Marianne Wiggins wrote "Separate Checks" while teaching creative writing at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). 📚 The novel explores the complexities of modern relationships through the lens of food culture and restaurant dynamics in Los Angeles. 🏆 Wiggins is a Pulitzer Prize finalist for her 2003 novel "Evidence of Things Unseen." 🍽️ The book's title plays on both the literal meaning of restaurant bills and the metaphorical separation between characters in their relationships. 🎬 Like several of Wiggins' other works, "Separate Checks" incorporates elements of Hollywood and the entertainment industry, drawing from her experiences living in Los Angeles.