Lunch at the Piccadilly by Clyde Edgerton

Published by Algonquin Books, Chapel Hill, NC, 2003
252 pages

Reviewed by Sofia Burgess

Lunch at the Piccadilly is Clyde Edgerton’s newest novel and in it he  introduces us to Carl, his aged Aunt Lil and the colorful crew that they  associate with at Rosehaven Nursing Home. Carl is a middle aged  bachelor and the last surviving kin to Aunt Lil.  After a fall in her  bathtub compromises her abilities to care for herself, Aunt Lil is sent to Rosehaven to recuperate. Carl visits frequently and comes to know  Aunt Lil’s fellow patients.

I found Carl’s devotion admirable. His understanding of an elders  dignity was integral to his relationship with his aunt. Aunt Lil and her companions appreciate Carl’s patience and respect. Edgerton peppers this charming book with the nursing home resident escapades. They are discovered in a stolen car, go shopping for shoes (high heels for the  ladies), participate in a religious revolution- and of course have lunch at the Piccadilly.

In this novel, Edgerton addresses some of Carl’s mixed feelings about his aunt and her approaching death. Edgerton pens an easy read that gives the reader a glimpse into the lives of nursing home patients and the people who care for them.