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Grand Opening
Set in western Canada during the roaring nineteen eighties, "Grand Opening" is the tragi-comic tale of three men pursuing the dream of owning a restaurant.
Wayne Stevens is a near bankrupt entrepreneur looking for a second chance. Rene Lemieux is a hardened businessman seeking another conquest and more profits. Maurice Deshampes is a recovering alcoholic and chef, desperate to be a restaurateur. Together, they form a partnership that will change their lives in ways they did not imagine.
The launch of a new restaurant and an impetuous attempt to live out their dreams provides the backdrop for Grand Opening. An intricate cascade of fantasies, falsehoods, fabrications, lust, substance abuse, and cock-eyed optimism is served by the terse plot. A race for glory, seasoned with humor and drama inevitably unfolds.
It's a wild ride to the Grand Opening.
Wayne Stevens is a near bankrupt entrepreneur looking for a second chance. Rene Lemieux is a hardened businessman seeking another conquest and more profits. Maurice Deshampes is a recovering alcoholic and chef, desperate to be a restaurateur. Together, they form a partnership that will change their lives in ways they did not imagine.
The launch of a new restaurant and an impetuous attempt to live out their dreams provides the backdrop for Grand Opening. An intricate cascade of fantasies, falsehoods, fabrications, lust, substance abuse, and cock-eyed optimism is served by the terse plot. A race for glory, seasoned with humor and drama inevitably unfolds.
It's a wild ride to the Grand Opening.
234 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 12, 2016
370 people want to read
About the author
T.F. Pruden
8 books23 followersT.F. Pruden is a novelist born in Canada.
T.F. (Timothy Frederick) Pruden spent much of his life learning to write fiction while touring North America performing his music under the stage name Tim Harwill. Since retiring from life on the road, he’s published seven (and counting) well-received novels.
Of Metis descent, Mr. Pruden is a chronicler of the obscure captivated by a never ending search for independence.
His minimalist and historic fiction depicts postmodern life and the challenges of moral relativism among the people of western Canada. Mr. Pruden’s seventh novel ‘Things I Can’t Change’ published in 2023. He lives in the small town of Thorsby, Alberta, in western Canada.
T.F. (Timothy Frederick) Pruden spent much of his life learning to write fiction while touring North America performing his music under the stage name Tim Harwill. Since retiring from life on the road, he’s published seven (and counting) well-received novels.
Of Metis descent, Mr. Pruden is a chronicler of the obscure captivated by a never ending search for independence.
His minimalist and historic fiction depicts postmodern life and the challenges of moral relativism among the people of western Canada. Mr. Pruden’s seventh novel ‘Things I Can’t Change’ published in 2023. He lives in the small town of Thorsby, Alberta, in western Canada.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
November 21, 2016
Review can also be found in Chill and read
Set in western Canada in the nineteen eighties, “Grand Opening” is a tale of three men pursuing their dream of owning their own restaurant. The book intents to shed some light to the inner self of men. This is an answer to what happens to a man that buries his emotions and sensitivity deep inside, not letting anyone see his true thoughts. It is about how far from reality one can be, when consumed in own assumptions. It also about how much can be earned of hard work and devotion.
Rene owns a very successful trunking business. Lately he has come to acquire the restaurant hosted in the Marlene Hotel, owned by a dear friend. The restaurant has yet to be successful, while Rene’s ambitions in the hospitality field is what drives him towards success. Therefore he decides and partners with two of the most hard working and highly qualified people for the job.
Wayne is working on the constructing business, after a long attempt to run his own nightclub led to a failure. Nonetheless, he is very passionate with the hosting business overall, so he is thrilled to here Rene’s proposition. He becomes the manager of the restaurant, working on several activities, from hiring stuff to renovation, with the same passion and enthusiasm. His abilities and the results he drives impress his fellow partners and he ranks high on their esteem.
Maurice, who now becomes Rene’s partner, is a prep chef in the most successful restaurant in town. Though he has been working in several different positions within a kitchen, he was never the head chef on any establishment. This is what he is requested to do for the new partnership. Maurice has only been sober for one year now. He has not managed to acquire the chef’s degree due to his font of the cooking alcohol available in the school and any other cooking facility. He has now a low self esteem and cannot position himself rightly among his colleagues. It is not a surprise to the reader that he is caught out guarded when the head chef that employees him, speaks so much of his talent and abilities. Due to all the above factors, the tall chef finds the stake too high for him. This is when there is a turn of unexpected events.
It is a very interesting book to read. It goes on to some weeks, from the partnership to the opening. The characters are strict to their personality and they are quite interesting too. As it is located in Canad, there is the French accent that plays a significant role in the prose. Pruden goes into full throttle with it, which may become uncomfortable for the reader. The author goes into a lot of detail, describing everything from the clothes warn to the very detail of the restaurant renovation. This could come tiring the reader that would prefer more action.
Set in western Canada in the nineteen eighties, “Grand Opening” is a tale of three men pursuing their dream of owning their own restaurant. The book intents to shed some light to the inner self of men. This is an answer to what happens to a man that buries his emotions and sensitivity deep inside, not letting anyone see his true thoughts. It is about how far from reality one can be, when consumed in own assumptions. It also about how much can be earned of hard work and devotion.
Rene owns a very successful trunking business. Lately he has come to acquire the restaurant hosted in the Marlene Hotel, owned by a dear friend. The restaurant has yet to be successful, while Rene’s ambitions in the hospitality field is what drives him towards success. Therefore he decides and partners with two of the most hard working and highly qualified people for the job.
Wayne is working on the constructing business, after a long attempt to run his own nightclub led to a failure. Nonetheless, he is very passionate with the hosting business overall, so he is thrilled to here Rene’s proposition. He becomes the manager of the restaurant, working on several activities, from hiring stuff to renovation, with the same passion and enthusiasm. His abilities and the results he drives impress his fellow partners and he ranks high on their esteem.
Maurice, who now becomes Rene’s partner, is a prep chef in the most successful restaurant in town. Though he has been working in several different positions within a kitchen, he was never the head chef on any establishment. This is what he is requested to do for the new partnership. Maurice has only been sober for one year now. He has not managed to acquire the chef’s degree due to his font of the cooking alcohol available in the school and any other cooking facility. He has now a low self esteem and cannot position himself rightly among his colleagues. It is not a surprise to the reader that he is caught out guarded when the head chef that employees him, speaks so much of his talent and abilities. Due to all the above factors, the tall chef finds the stake too high for him. This is when there is a turn of unexpected events.
It is a very interesting book to read. It goes on to some weeks, from the partnership to the opening. The characters are strict to their personality and they are quite interesting too. As it is located in Canad, there is the French accent that plays a significant role in the prose. Pruden goes into full throttle with it, which may become uncomfortable for the reader. The author goes into a lot of detail, describing everything from the clothes warn to the very detail of the restaurant renovation. This could come tiring the reader that would prefer more action.
November 12, 2016
Book Review: Having read "A Dog and His Boy," I agreed to review the author's next book, and in a way, I find they have a bit of a connection. The first one sets up the question of what happens to a man who hardens himself against his emotions and buries guilt and sensitivity beneath a shell, and this novel answers that question, while dealing with a plot, characters, and premise all it's own.
So here's a closer look at its Narration, Content, Characters, Artwork, World-Building, and my Overall Response.
Narration: Three out of Five. The book gives a great many details to where you can picture, if you want, the exact layout of rooms and the restaurant the three men are renovating, but for me, it was too much detail. I far prefer having a quick, evocative mood presented and then to move on, and I feel that the author did a better job with this in "A Dog and His Boy" than in this book. (Though it could be personal preference: I'd rather hear a great many details about nature than about a building.)
The other weakness in the narration was the amount of telling that goes into the story. We're told what these characters want, what they hope for, and what they're planning rather than having the characters put in situations that show exactly who they are.
Content: Three out of Five. There is a lot of swearing in this book, though very little that an American might recognize as such. (The main term used was so French-Canadian I had to look it up to know what it meant and why, exactly, it was a swear word.) Other than that, it's fairly clean. There is a scene describing partial nudity, but all the more intimate scenes happen "offstage," to where the reader is told what happened but doesn't experience the details.
However, I felt like the plot was fairly repetitive, perhaps intentionally to show how life and even eventful moments are made up of humdrum details and cycles of action. There was a lot of cooking and eating and food preparation, and not a lot "happened"...which oddly enough, made me tense. When there was a description of how careful Wayne was painting the wall, for example, I felt like something major was going to happen, and when nothing did, it made me wonder why I was being told about all the details, as though they mattered, when they didn't. There may be readers who enjoy the details even if nothing comes of them, but to me, it felt like hype that never went anywhere.
Characters: Four out of Five. The characters are the strongest area of the novel, and perhaps that is why I wished we could know them through seeing them in situations that drew them out rather than just being told what they were like. For example, we're told that Rene envies his friend Richie, but I think it'd be far more interesting to see that in how women treat Richie, how other men treat him, or in some active demonstration of what it is about Richie's life that Rene wants.
And it was much the same with the other characters. They were strong and believable, but it felt like we were handed their life in a box rather than getting to understand it, layer by layer.
Artwork: Subjective. The cover was very professional, I thought, and I liked all the blue tones. The restaurant looked a little seedy with its neon lights and barred windows, but it fits the fact that its set in a rough neighborhood, and the lone man on the cover is quite appropriate, plot wise. I really felt the cover did a great job reflecting the story inside.
World-Building: Four out of Five. There were plenty of details about what the world of the story was like, from the weather to the people to the fabrics, smells, and textures. I do wish the story spent a little bit more time outside of restaurants and cars, though. The author mentions shopping for things, but when we come in, the characters are back in the car, and I feel a broadening of location for a story of this length would be appropriate (that, or having the story just be a shorter, evocative novella).
Overall Response: 14 out of 20, for a total of 3.5 overall. I think a lot of what I didn't care for was just artistic choices aimed to give a reader a particular experience rather than just relay the story (which is the one aspect of literary fiction that, while I can appreciate it, I cannot seem to enjoy). But it was a good book, and I'd certainly recommend it to those who enjoy literary fiction and want a story about the struggles of life without a great deal of action, adventure, or romance thrown in to "get in the way."
For more book reviews like this, click here.
So here's a closer look at its Narration, Content, Characters, Artwork, World-Building, and my Overall Response.
Narration: Three out of Five. The book gives a great many details to where you can picture, if you want, the exact layout of rooms and the restaurant the three men are renovating, but for me, it was too much detail. I far prefer having a quick, evocative mood presented and then to move on, and I feel that the author did a better job with this in "A Dog and His Boy" than in this book. (Though it could be personal preference: I'd rather hear a great many details about nature than about a building.)
The other weakness in the narration was the amount of telling that goes into the story. We're told what these characters want, what they hope for, and what they're planning rather than having the characters put in situations that show exactly who they are.
Content: Three out of Five. There is a lot of swearing in this book, though very little that an American might recognize as such. (The main term used was so French-Canadian I had to look it up to know what it meant and why, exactly, it was a swear word.) Other than that, it's fairly clean. There is a scene describing partial nudity, but all the more intimate scenes happen "offstage," to where the reader is told what happened but doesn't experience the details.
However, I felt like the plot was fairly repetitive, perhaps intentionally to show how life and even eventful moments are made up of humdrum details and cycles of action. There was a lot of cooking and eating and food preparation, and not a lot "happened"...which oddly enough, made me tense. When there was a description of how careful Wayne was painting the wall, for example, I felt like something major was going to happen, and when nothing did, it made me wonder why I was being told about all the details, as though they mattered, when they didn't. There may be readers who enjoy the details even if nothing comes of them, but to me, it felt like hype that never went anywhere.
Characters: Four out of Five. The characters are the strongest area of the novel, and perhaps that is why I wished we could know them through seeing them in situations that drew them out rather than just being told what they were like. For example, we're told that Rene envies his friend Richie, but I think it'd be far more interesting to see that in how women treat Richie, how other men treat him, or in some active demonstration of what it is about Richie's life that Rene wants.
And it was much the same with the other characters. They were strong and believable, but it felt like we were handed their life in a box rather than getting to understand it, layer by layer.
Artwork: Subjective. The cover was very professional, I thought, and I liked all the blue tones. The restaurant looked a little seedy with its neon lights and barred windows, but it fits the fact that its set in a rough neighborhood, and the lone man on the cover is quite appropriate, plot wise. I really felt the cover did a great job reflecting the story inside.
World-Building: Four out of Five. There were plenty of details about what the world of the story was like, from the weather to the people to the fabrics, smells, and textures. I do wish the story spent a little bit more time outside of restaurants and cars, though. The author mentions shopping for things, but when we come in, the characters are back in the car, and I feel a broadening of location for a story of this length would be appropriate (that, or having the story just be a shorter, evocative novella).
Overall Response: 14 out of 20, for a total of 3.5 overall. I think a lot of what I didn't care for was just artistic choices aimed to give a reader a particular experience rather than just relay the story (which is the one aspect of literary fiction that, while I can appreciate it, I cannot seem to enjoy). But it was a good book, and I'd certainly recommend it to those who enjoy literary fiction and want a story about the struggles of life without a great deal of action, adventure, or romance thrown in to "get in the way."
For more book reviews like this, click here.
March 14, 2017
I received this as part of good reads first reads
I found this to be a novel of intrigue as people tried to buy into a restaurant business yet with the backhanders and dodging dealings of some you wondered whether this was ever going to happen.
A short book which tells the story of the opening of this business without too much waffle or intricate complications.
I found this to be a novel of intrigue as people tried to buy into a restaurant business yet with the backhanders and dodging dealings of some you wondered whether this was ever going to happen.
A short book which tells the story of the opening of this business without too much waffle or intricate complications.
December 21, 2016
Originally posted on Book-o-Craze!
This book provided a quite interesting read, revolving around the lives of three men, that weren't as successful in life, trying to start a new business from scratch, and all the struggles and doubts they underwent!
First introduced is Wayne. Wayne knows how it's like to run your own business, having already co-owned a club, which after two years close down due to the partners' debts.
He is now forced to do a manual job, in order to make a living, having lost everything.
Rene is a businessman with quite a lot of wealth. The thing that really disappoints him in his life is the fact that he is divorced, something that his religion doesn't approve. He also doesn't have the chance to see his kids often, but he still wants them to be proud of him.
Maurice is a recovering alcoholic who works at a restaurant, but can't really have a say at the menu or even contribute to the main dishes, a fact that deeply disappoints him.
These three men, each driven by their own desires and ambitions, decide to unite in order to open their own restaurant, with Maurice as a chef.
Apart from the struggles that come with opening a new business, though, they soon need to face their own insecurities and self-doubts, too!
I immediately liked the writing style of the author, and I particularly enjoyed the fact that the main characters were described in detail, while at the same time quite a lot of information was withheld to be revealed gradually.
This way, while we thought we had completely figured a character out, we would see a new aspect of personality and consider things from a new perspective.
I really loved that fact, and it made me want to keep reading about these three hard-working and ambitious men!
The blurb of this book promises a wild ride until the Grand Opening, and it really is just that!
All in all, 4 stars for a great read that gives us a pretty good idea of exactly how difficult it is to open and run your own business, while at the same time reflecting upon yourself and your capacities and succeeding in overcoming your doubts and insecurities.
This book provided a quite interesting read, revolving around the lives of three men, that weren't as successful in life, trying to start a new business from scratch, and all the struggles and doubts they underwent!
First introduced is Wayne. Wayne knows how it's like to run your own business, having already co-owned a club, which after two years close down due to the partners' debts.
He is now forced to do a manual job, in order to make a living, having lost everything.
Rene is a businessman with quite a lot of wealth. The thing that really disappoints him in his life is the fact that he is divorced, something that his religion doesn't approve. He also doesn't have the chance to see his kids often, but he still wants them to be proud of him.
Maurice is a recovering alcoholic who works at a restaurant, but can't really have a say at the menu or even contribute to the main dishes, a fact that deeply disappoints him.
These three men, each driven by their own desires and ambitions, decide to unite in order to open their own restaurant, with Maurice as a chef.
Apart from the struggles that come with opening a new business, though, they soon need to face their own insecurities and self-doubts, too!
I immediately liked the writing style of the author, and I particularly enjoyed the fact that the main characters were described in detail, while at the same time quite a lot of information was withheld to be revealed gradually.
This way, while we thought we had completely figured a character out, we would see a new aspect of personality and consider things from a new perspective.
I really loved that fact, and it made me want to keep reading about these three hard-working and ambitious men!
The blurb of this book promises a wild ride until the Grand Opening, and it really is just that!
All in all, 4 stars for a great read that gives us a pretty good idea of exactly how difficult it is to open and run your own business, while at the same time reflecting upon yourself and your capacities and succeeding in overcoming your doubts and insecurities.
November 11, 2016
This is a powerful story! I thought it was a good representation of what it is like to open a restaurant. Rene is the wealthy landowner who buys the restaurant and hires two men who are in need of encouragement and new opportunities. Wayne is the new manager at the restaurant, who came from construction work and a failed attempt at owning a night club. Maurice is an assistant chef who has years of experience, but has never been a head chef, in charge of cooking for a restaurant. While Wayne renovates the new place, Maurice hires sous chefs and anxiously awaits his grand opening. The tall chef, as he is called throughout the book, lacks confidence in his ability to be lead chef, even though his partners and colleagues all enjoy his fine cooking. It's amazing that he is so clueless. He's shocked when his boss at his previous job praises his great abilities and work ethic. Wayne works hard to get the dining room updated and the look perfect as the grand opening comes up. He hires the waitstaff and meets a young waitress that takes a liking to him also. Rene, the owner, oversees everything and is proud of how successful the restaurant is sure to be...and he decides to get even more involved by offering and running a breakfast service in the soon to be open steakhouse. This is a surprise to the manager and chef and leads to some unforeseen circumstances. I liked the book, but the only thing that hindered the reading a bit, was the heavy accent of Rene, which made the dialogue hard to read, with all the apostrophes and skipped letters and such. I know the setting and nationality of the character calls for an accent, I believe it just needed to be streamlined or simplified a bit, maybe implied, so the reading is easier. It turned out to be a compelling story with the lovable characters, so I recommend the book.
November 13, 2016
In Grand Opening, a novel by T. F. Pruden, the author introduces us to three characters whose lives become intertwined as the result of a shared business venture. Rene sees himself as an entrepreneur and wants to move into something new for him. He buys a restaurant located in a questionable location and that has a series of failures. He is not deterred. Wayne is devastated by the failure of a club he was a partner in. When the story opens he is working at physical labor and just trying to get by. Maurice is a talented chef, but because of the lack of formal training and past drinking problem he now works for a tyrant chef. His job consists of peeling potatoes. Rene offers both men shares in his new venture and they both accept. Can these men come together and put together a successful restaurant?
This is a well told story. The complex characters are realistic. The author's attention to detail is impressive. I recommend reading this book.
This is a well told story. The complex characters are realistic. The author's attention to detail is impressive. I recommend reading this book.
November 11, 2016
Well written, very detail oriented book. The book spans a couple of weeks, but seems like it should be much longer. I was looking for more action and adventure, this book did not deliver. The author spends a lot of time explaining the characters clothing, etc.... it just wasn't the book for me.
I was impressed with the quality of writing, just wished it had moved faster.
I was impressed with the quality of writing, just wished it had moved faster.
December 21, 2016
I enjoyed this. It was a bit overwhelming in the details of absolutely everything though. I normally enjoy details and descriptions of everything, but this was overkill. It actually took away from the story at times.
This was a good look at three men working through their demons and coming together to open a business. My favorite was Maurice. His drinking has gotten him into trouble before and I really liked his arc the best out of the three. All of the men struggle with some issue in their past that brought them all together in this business and how they all work together is a great read.
If you can get through the details, I recommend this.
This was a good look at three men working through their demons and coming together to open a business. My favorite was Maurice. His drinking has gotten him into trouble before and I really liked his arc the best out of the three. All of the men struggle with some issue in their past that brought them all together in this business and how they all work together is a great read.
If you can get through the details, I recommend this.
August 8, 2018
I received my copy from Goodreads for my review. Although this is a shorter book, it took me quite awhile to read. As other readers have said, it is quite detailed in character development - which is not a bad thing - but I found many descriptions repetitive. For instance, Maurice (the chef) was often referred to as the "tall chef." One time is okay, repetitively - no. I enjoyed the character of Wayne as he had the most positive attributes including a great work ethic. The steps leading up to opening a new restaurant including the renovations, choice of menu, hiring of staff was all very detailed. I would call this an interesting read but not very exciting.
December 24, 2016
I was given a chance to read this book since I reviewed another book of his. This one was a much better read, in my opinion. I liked how the author gave descriptive backgrounds to his characters and we saw how they struggled and continued to struggle throughout the story. The author does a good job of character development, and as someone who has worked in multiple restaurants, it was an interesting read about how they went about opening their restaurant.
January 17, 2017
I recieved this book to give it an honest review.
This book took me 6 days to read and honestly it felt longer than that. This book is very VERY detail oriented, so if you like that then maybe this book is for you. It seemed forced and full of fillers.
I gave it a second star because it did pick up a little near the end and was a bit more interesting.
For my full review visit my blog here: https://aurorabattysbooks.wordpress.c...
This book took me 6 days to read and honestly it felt longer than that. This book is very VERY detail oriented, so if you like that then maybe this book is for you. It seemed forced and full of fillers.
I gave it a second star because it did pick up a little near the end and was a bit more interesting.
For my full review visit my blog here: https://aurorabattysbooks.wordpress.c...
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews