A Place at the Table: A Novel
White’s engrossing novel tells the story of three seemingly disparate characters, Alice Stone, an African American girl growing up in Emancipation Township, North Carolina, whose life is torn apart by racism; Bobby Banks, a gay man from Decatur, Georgia, ostracized by his family and friends; and Amelia Brighton, a well-to-do Connecticut housewife whose life is turned upside down by her husband’s infidelity and a mysterious family secret. As the novel unfolds, these three are drawn together at a tiny café in New York City. Inspired by the stories of chefs Edna Lewis and Scott Peacock, A Place at the Table is the story of troubled souls finding their way and making a place for themselves through the magic of the big city and a love of cooking. With unforgettable characters, rich detail, and seamless narration, White’s new novel (after A Soft Place to Land, 2010) will long remain in the reader’s mind and memory, a gentle reminder of the importance of acceptance in all its forms and the myriad connections that surround us. --Carol Gladstein