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3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
sad
slow-paced
I struggled with this. To be fair I'm not a fan of memoirs unless it's someone I find inspiring. Occasional things I liked but for the most part I found it depressing. Only reason I finished is because it was a Book Club read. Putting it in my 3 stars. Neither loved nor hated.
I wasn't gripped and I'm releasing myself of the responsibility to do so after the book club is done.
Dear J. R. Moehringer, this is one of the best memoirs I've ever read. I finished it in tears. Kudos!
The characters in the bar were excellent, and Mr. Moehringer did a great job sketching them - the book was very-well written. My problem was that I did not like JR all that much - perhaps it's a sign of my age that I kept waiting for him to "grow up," and that we never really saw him do that. It made all the non-bar portions of the book slow down.
Well-written memoir that captures bygone bar culture to a T. Having been a witness to bar culture as a young girl I have a different take on it than does Moehringer who paints a pretty romantic, nostalgic vision though he does balance it with the reality that he could not sustain that lifestyle without detriment to himself.
Recommended for book groups, there is a lot to talk about. Ideal for book groups that have a mix of men and women because this is a book that would benefit from a discussion from both viewpoints.
Recommended for book groups, there is a lot to talk about. Ideal for book groups that have a mix of men and women because this is a book that would benefit from a discussion from both viewpoints.
The Tender Bar
J.R. Moehringer
I tried, and I tried, and I tried. I’ve had this book on loan for months, and I officially just DNF’d it. I think this book did very well as a movie, but I couldn’t get into the memoir.
No rating because DNF.
J.R. Moehringer
I tried, and I tried, and I tried. I’ve had this book on loan for months, and I officially just DNF’d it. I think this book did very well as a movie, but I couldn’t get into the memoir.
No rating because DNF.
This memoir reads like fiction, which I loved as I'm not typically a fan of memoir. The author's struggle with his father was relatable and authentic, and each character at the bar brought depth to the story. I found the author's relationship with his mother particularly poignant, and his journey to make her proud while also staying true to himself was explored thoughtfully. Beautiful prose, a lovely combination of humor and sincerity, and dynamic characters made this one of the best books I've read in quite some time. I was sad to hear the movie was complete garbage compared to the book!
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced