Rating: 
Summary: Something in common
Review: Edgerton is a great writer, able to distill a single character in one or two sentences, usually by the way they talk and/or look. But he has something in commmon with two other writers that I admire. The first is Carl Hiaasen whose books "Lucky You," "Basket Case," and "Sick Puppy" contain some of the most entertaining and unusual characters ever written. The second writer is Jackson McCrae, whose "The Bark of the Dogwood" contains equally funny yet disturbing scenes from the south and its environs. But all three of these writers share a common thread: the secondary characters they write are infinately more interesting than the primary ones. This is meant to be a compliment, for in a way it's brilliant misdirection. It's sort of a "Will and Grace" idea where Karen and Jack are the more colorful ones. You go into some of these books thinking that you'll follow characters "A" around, only to find that the wonderful world Edgerton has created is more interesting that he initially led you to believe. Edgerton's themes are universal despite their physical settings. Longing, laughter, and ultimately heartbreak are just some of the songs he sings. He's also deftly creative at commenting on religion and social morays without shoving his opinons down your throat. Overall this book deserves far more than five stars.
Rating:
Summary: Careful; This Novel Will Break Your Heart
Review: I cannot remember when I've gained so much wisdom from such a small novel. In his first book in several years, Clyde Edgerton tells a haunting tale of Aunt Lil, her nephew Carl and L. Ray Flowers along with several other memorable characters, several who "live" at Rosehaven Convalescence Center in Listre, North Carolina. The time is the present; the movie "O Brother Where Art Thou" is still playing at the local theatre. The themes are timeless, however: old age with all its problems and sorrows, missed opportunities, the ills of fundamentalist religion, the warehousing of those who can no longer look after themselves--and trite as it may seem-- the redeeming power of both music and love. Truth breaks through on every page. Homecooked, delicious meals have been replaced by cafeteria lunches and/or-- heaven help us-- fast food chains. On religion, Reverend L. Ray wonders why the local Baptist church sends missionaries to Alaska , England and South Africa. "It seems like church members often have a desparate need to be unaware of the local needs of the local wrecks of local women stacked along the local grim halls of local nursing homes, places in conditions far sadder than merry Rosehaven--places like Shady Rest." (All too soon L. Ray will witness firsthand the awfulness of Shady Rest.) Then there is the sad truth of the lot of women like Aunt Lil, women who because of their age and community, had their entire lives determined by whom they selected for a husband. Neither Aunt Lil nor her friends got out of a bad marriages. "Until death do us part" was taken quite literally, often to women's great detriment. Edgerton with much grace and compassion depicts the truth of these women like Lil-- they always outlive their spouses-- who are in out and of nursing homes and often in and out of reality because of advancing dementia. Sure, the author makes much gentle humor of Aunt Lil's driving skills or lack thereof. But she also says on a rare visit to her old apartment, "I used to come home. . . Now I visit home." She describes life in a nursing home as "life after life." Finally it is no accident that the novel ends with Carl, who is an altogether decent man, feeding the words to L. Ray of one of the saddest bluegrass songs ever written, "Rank Stranger." This gem of a novel with make you smile, even laugh out loud in places, but be careful. It will ultimately break your heart, particularly if you have just spoken to a parent who isn't sure what day of the week it is or who talks to you about you in the third person. One final note: Mr. Edgerton has Reverend Flowers come up with the plan to unite churches and nursing homes as one where "The First Breakfast" would be served instead of "The Last Supper." While this may be a novel idea, Messers Edgerton and Flowers have been trumped by a progressive thinking Presbyterian congregation in Atlanta that has turned their sanctuary into a dormitory for homeless men during the week. On Sundays volunteers come in and remove the beds and install the pews for the morning service. Sometimes churches do really wonderful things.
Rating: 
Summary: Very entertaining, but lacks focus
Review: I enjoyed every page of this novel, but found the ending was flat. The main character, Carl, doesn't seem to have changed or learned anything in particular about life. He has a few insights along the way that are interesting and I liked his relationship with his aunt and the other old ladies. I'm just not sure what the point of the novel was.
Rating: 
Summary: Love Cyde Edgerton, But - Hated This Book !
Review: I have every Edgerton book and each is a delicious little gem to be enjoyed over and over - except "Lunch at the Piccadilly." I was shocked and disappointed with this book as I found it meanders at an incredible slow and directionless pace. Reminds me of an assignment I had in a college writing class to write a descriptive paper about watching someone eat a sandwich. It might be a good writing exercise, but to the reader, it's pretty dang boring. In fact, I found "Lunch at the Piccadilly" so boring I quit reading two thirds of the way into the book. Life is too short to read boring books! I highly recommend Edgerton's other books, but this one is not worth the time or money. Sorry, Clyde.
Rating:
Summary: Love Cyde Edgerton, But - Hated This Book !
Review: I have every Edgerton book and each is a delicious little gem to be enjoyed over and over - except "Lunch at the Piccadilly." I was shocked and disappointed with this book as I found it meanders at an incredible slow and directionless pace. Reminds me of an assignment I had in a college writing class to write a descriptive paper about watching someone eat a sandwich. It might be a good writing exercise, but to the reader, it's pretty dang boring. In fact, I found "Lunch at the Piccadilly" so boring I quit reading two thirds of the way into the book. Life is too short to read boring books! I highly recommend Edgerton's other books, but this one is not worth the time or money. Sorry, Clyde.
Rating:
Summary: Thoroughly enjoyable!
Review: If you're a fan of literature that captures dialogue, settings, and people (think McCrae's BARK OF THE DOGWOOD or Flagg's FRIED GREEN TOMATOES) then this is the book for you. Edgerton's ear for dialect and inflection is unsurpassed and this funny, charming, irreverant, and wonderful look at human nature is not to be missed. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Does Clara take out her glass eyeball at night?
Review: Lunch at the Piccadilly is an impossibility: Edgerton manages to create a nursing home environment that sounds downright like fun, even a place you might want to settle in for a stay sometime. This master of humor (esp of the Southern border state variety), makes the halls of Rosehaven Convalescent Home ring with laughter, debate, religious fervor, and general hilarity. Maudie Lowe and Beatrice Satterwhite can't agree on whether Clara removes her glass eyeball at night. Lil Olive won't give up her driving license. Period.
I still think Walking Across Egypt and Raney are Edgerton's best ones ever, but Lunch at the Piccadilly is pushing at the gates, close on their heels.
You'll love it. If by some bizarre chance you haven't read Edgerton before, you have a rare treat in store.
Rating:
Summary: Edgerton Finds Humor in Everything
Review: So again we find ourselves in (imaginary) Listre, North Carolina where a new cache of characters keep popping up in Edgerton's world. In this (his most recent) novel, Edgerton in about 250 pages expresses the humor residing in having the audacity to be relieved that an elderly family member has passed on. Carl's Aunt Lil must stop driving--she runs red lights, is overcome with brief spells of aphasia ("Which one is he?" she wonders at her nephew), and can't really see over the dashboard. However, since the government saw fit to give her a license and hadn't taken it away yet, she would keep driving until they did. Fortunately for Carl she passes before he can put his foot down. Is that what we all fear? Having to be the one to snatches away what independence the elderly have left? Although making a point was unlikely to be the purpose of this book, Edgerton softly compares which way is better to go: falling from the toilet pulling a call cord for help, or in a car with old friends running red lights--laughing. The crop of secondary characters tend to outshine the primaries in Edgerton books and this one is no different. I found the eloquent, yet grating, Reverend L. Ray to be an absolutely brilliant addition to the storyline. He reminded me of a ill-conceived cross between Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, and...well, Colonel Sanders: "O God in us all, may we embrace the rooms of refuge food. Real food, cheap food, food served by people with wet rags under their arms. I eat; I cheat. I forge; I gorge. I taste; I waste. Waffle House, Huddle House, Puddle House, Muddle House..." he begins his blessing. The cursing one-eyed Beatrice, little Maudie, and Clara that spend their time on the front porch of the "convalescent" home with Lil evoked for me memories of Huck Finn and Mark Twain. How they yearned for adventure and ended up finding it when they least expected it! I found the theme to be soothing rather than morbid: relief comes from death. Edgerton did a good job of finding humor in old age and seemingly in the process comes to terms with his own aging. I liked it--it was a good quick read. I believe it to be yet another Edgerton book that would be better viewed onscreen rather than in absorbed through print.
Rating:
Summary: Affectionate and humorous
Review: Sometimes hilarious, sometimes painful, usually both, Edgerton's affectionate portrait of old age charms the reader with Southern cornpone humor and quirky, but subtle characterizations. Carl Turnage, bachelor awning salesman, on the doorstep of middle age, and self-conscious about his lack of height and high voice, has always taken care of the women in his family. He was an only child, doted on by his mother and her two childless sisters, but now Aunt Lil is all that's left. Lil has had a bad fall and landed in the Rosehaven Convalescence Home, a pleasant convivial place, as such places go. Though many get around in wheelchairs, the patients are at least mobile (sicker ones are shipped out). Carl is shocked at his favorite aunt's rapid decline since her fall, but Lil still enjoys planning - and executing - outings, and talks of going home. After one particularly harrowing experience, Carl resolves to speak to her about giving up driving, but somehow Lil evades this conversation. When not lunching out with Carl, Lil likes to sit on the porch, smoke a cigarette, and hatch schemes with fellow residents. One of these - a delightful plan to make churches and nursing homes interchangeable - inspires the excitable L. Ray Flowers, an itinerant preacher in temporary residence recovering from an injury. Though put-off by the preacher's volubility, Carl, too, is inspired by the man. He takes up the country music he's always loved and joins the preacher in weekly performances. But time brings decline in a place like Rosehaven and the playful interlude can't last. Edgerton ("Raney," "Walking Across Egypt," "Where Trouble Sleeps"), switches points of view to reveal inner turmoil - Lil's sad secret, Carl's insecurities, dreams, and brief lapses from sainthood. The strong ending is both sad and heart-warming. As usual, Edgerton's touch is deft.
Rating:
Summary: ""Music is Just Poetry Without Words"
Review: The title for my review epitomizes Edgerton's writing style and story in "Lunch at the Picadilly."
This is a story of the subtle relationships that emerge as we all go through the different stages of our life.
Edgerton once again manages to create inventive characters and throws them together for humor and thought provoking moments. There is a little mystery, a little love, a bit of saddness but most of all truth.
You don't have to be from the south to enjoy this novel (but it definitely helps)! This particular edition is great with question and answers from the author at the back and questions designed for book club reading.
I think you will find a little of yourself or someone you love when you pick up this book. A great short read. Perfect for lunchtime.
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