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3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
Growing up in NY in the 70s. So much that was familiar. Appreciated his writing and vivid portrayal of the relationships he developed at the bar. His tender reflections bring them to life as meaningful men in his life. But, so much drinking, with only mild allusions to perhaps problematic drinking. And so much dysfunction. his mom- really the true hero in his life. Such an undercurrent of sadness so sweetly crafted.
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
In the end this book was a touching story of a young man seeking male influence throughout his lifetime. At times, this book is challenging. The beginning it it hard to believe the narrative and throughout the book, there were times that the story seemed to drag on. However, in the end the entire story in retrospect was touching and worth the read.
It was great and then around page 300, it started to drag. What seemed to be an excited memoir turned out to be a really drawn out autobio. I appreciate detail, but I honestly think he could've cut a lot out and made it shorter and still gotten all the crucial points across.
Also, I read this book because I loved Agassi's 'Open.' I realized the tone and sentence structure of both are extremely similar which leads me to think that Moehringer may have done a biography on Agassi in Agassi's voice. Interesting and disappointing at the same time.
Also, I read this book because I loved Agassi's 'Open.' I realized the tone and sentence structure of both are extremely similar which leads me to think that Moehringer may have done a biography on Agassi in Agassi's voice. Interesting and disappointing at the same time.
Reads like a great feature story. This is a great book about a boy who tries to learn what it means to be a man in the absence of a father. And it's also about a bar.
Subscribing to belief that the book is always better than the movie, I set out to read J.R. Moehringer’s THE TENDER BAR before watching the Netflix adaption.
Typically, I’m not a reader of non-fiction and biographies. I like to say there is “too much real world in my real world.” I read to escape. However, as an English Major and bartender for 20 years, THE TENDER BAR called to me. Moehringer’s memoir reads like a novel much like Steinbach’s TRAVELS WITH CHARLIE and Hemingway’s A MOVEABLE FEAST and, like Steinbeck and Hemingway, he too had his roots in journalism.
Moehringer perfectly captures the free flow, stream-of-conscience, and wit of bar banter in his writing style as he records the patrons’ exchanges on relationships, sports, politics, and great literature. One of my favorite scenes is when J.R. walks into his beloved neighborhood bar for the first time as legal drinking age. He must decide on his “drink.” Will it be vodka, gin, whisky, scotch, bourbon? His decision is more than what will sit in the glass in front of him -it will tell people who he is and set the tone for night to come. While the existential contemplations and discussions that occur in the bar may, for some, seem incongruous to the setting, these are the parts of the book that rang the most true to me.
Ultimately, the book is more than just about a bar. It follows the path of a boy as he shapes himself into a man. And, in the absence of a traditional father figure, how he forms his identity dissecting the qualities and characteristics of the men around him. Moehringer lives and describes his youth as an observer. While this detachment may serve him well as a journalist, it hampers his evolution into adulthood. It’s not until the end, when he returns to his hometown of Manhasset in the aftermath of 9/11 and gets a clear look beyond the smoke-filled barroom of his childhood, that we see his growth as a person and as a writer.
Moehringer does a lot of falling off bar stools, literally and figuratively, but he makes it to "last call" standing straight up and leaving behind a cast of personalities that you may recognize and will always remember.
Typically, I’m not a reader of non-fiction and biographies. I like to say there is “too much real world in my real world.” I read to escape. However, as an English Major and bartender for 20 years, THE TENDER BAR called to me. Moehringer’s memoir reads like a novel much like Steinbach’s TRAVELS WITH CHARLIE and Hemingway’s A MOVEABLE FEAST and, like Steinbeck and Hemingway, he too had his roots in journalism.
Moehringer perfectly captures the free flow, stream-of-conscience, and wit of bar banter in his writing style as he records the patrons’ exchanges on relationships, sports, politics, and great literature. One of my favorite scenes is when J.R. walks into his beloved neighborhood bar for the first time as legal drinking age. He must decide on his “drink.” Will it be vodka, gin, whisky, scotch, bourbon? His decision is more than what will sit in the glass in front of him -it will tell people who he is and set the tone for night to come. While the existential contemplations and discussions that occur in the bar may, for some, seem incongruous to the setting, these are the parts of the book that rang the most true to me.
Ultimately, the book is more than just about a bar. It follows the path of a boy as he shapes himself into a man. And, in the absence of a traditional father figure, how he forms his identity dissecting the qualities and characteristics of the men around him. Moehringer lives and describes his youth as an observer. While this detachment may serve him well as a journalist, it hampers his evolution into adulthood. It’s not until the end, when he returns to his hometown of Manhasset in the aftermath of 9/11 and gets a clear look beyond the smoke-filled barroom of his childhood, that we see his growth as a person and as a writer.
Moehringer does a lot of falling off bar stools, literally and figuratively, but he makes it to "last call" standing straight up and leaving behind a cast of personalities that you may recognize and will always remember.
I wanted to read this book before seeing the movie (which was filmed in a friend’s neighborhood and who also recommended the book).
This may be the most beautiful memoir I’ve ever read. The way the author gives live and personality to a bar as a common meeting place for souls hungry for connection is so well done, I don’t know that I’ve ever read anything like it. I can only give it 5 stars, but I want to give it 10.
This may be the most beautiful memoir I’ve ever read. The way the author gives live and personality to a bar as a common meeting place for souls hungry for connection is so well done, I don’t know that I’ve ever read anything like it. I can only give it 5 stars, but I want to give it 10.