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Books : Tender Bar, The |
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Binding: Audio CD
Dewey Decimal Number: 070.92
EAN: 9781401383282
Format: Abridged, Audiobook
ISBN: 1401383289
Label: Hyperion
Manufacturer: Hyperion
Number Of Items: 1
Publication Date: September 01, 2005
Publisher: Hyperion
Release Date: September 01, 2005
Sales Rank: 1069724
Studio: Hyperion
Related Items:
Editorial Review:
Product Description:
'Long before it legally served me, the bar saved me,' asserts J.R. Moehringer, and his compelling memoir The Tender Bar is the story of how and why. A Pulitzer-Prize winning writer for the Los Angeles Times, Moehringer grew up fatherless in pub-heavy Manhasset, New York, in a ramshackle house crammed with cousins and ruled by an eccentric, unkind grandfather.Desperate for a paternal figure, he turns first to his father, a DJ whom he can only access via the radio (Moehringer calls him The Voice and pictures him as 'talking smoke'). When The Voice suddenly disappears from the airwaves, Moehringer turns to his hairless Uncle Charlie, and subsequently, Uncle Charlie's place of employment--a bar called Dickens that soon takes center stage. While Moehringer may occasionally resort to an overwrought metaphor (the footsteps of his family sound like 'storm troopers on stilts'), his writing moves at a quick clip and his tale of a dysfunctional but tightly knit community is warmly told. 'While I fear that we're drawn to what abandons us, and to what seems most likely to abandon us, in the end I believe we're defined by what embraces us,' Moehringer says, and his story makes us believe it. --Brangien Davis
Amazon.com Review:
'Long before it legally served me, the bar saved me,' asserts J.R. Moehringer, and his compelling memoir The Tender Bar is the story of how and why. A Pulitzer-Prize winning writer for the Los Angeles Times, Moehringer grew up fatherless in pub-heavy Manhasset, New York, in a ramshackle house crammed with cousins and ruled by an eccentric, unkind grandfather. Desperate for a paternal figure, he turns first to his father, a DJ whom he can only access via the radio (Moehringer calls him The Voice and pictures him as 'talking smoke'). When The Voice suddenly disappears from the airwaves, Moehringer turns to his hairless Uncle Charlie, and subsequently, Uncle Charlie's place of employment--a bar called Dickens that soon takes center stage. While Moehringer may occasionally resort to an overwrought metaphor (the footsteps of his family sound like 'storm troopers on stilts'), his writing moves at a quick clip and his tale of a dysfunctional but tightly knit community is warmly told. 'While I fear that we're drawn to what abandons us, and to what seems most likely to abandon us, in the end I believe we're defined by what embraces us,' Moehringer says, and his story makes us believe it. --Brangien Davis
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating:  - Does this story need to be told?
I hesitate to criticize a memoir, because it reflects the life story of an individual and it somehow seems to invalidate all those people who found this an endearing story. What moved me enough to write a review for this book was because I was disappointed, in fact this was the first book where I lost interest halfway through. I am an avid reader and perhaps this was bound to happen at some time.
I picked up this book from the library as it was a book club recommendation. I didn't know ... Read More
Rating:  - Good read!
I don't have a lot of time on my hands to read, however I have a hard time putting this book down. Well written, strong use of descriptive language that allows the reader to picture the scene as well as the people in the book. I am curious to know if this author has another book out as I would definitely purchase it.
Rating:  - If you are a glass-half-empty type of person, then J.R. Moehringer is the man for you!
Mr. Moehringer manages to harp on every mishap in excrutiating detail, no matter how insignificant, while downplaying every positive experience in his life. And the positive experiences he does manage to discuss (such as getting accepted into and graduating from Yale, and getting the opportunity to be a reporter at the New York Times), he turns into sob stories. Or at least he tries. But I wasn't moved. Nor was I convinced that Mr. Moehringer has any type of writing talent. His book was completely ... Read More
Rating: - Touching personal tale
The best treat is a book or movie you fall in love with unexpectedly. This book did that for me.
I had no expectations for this book. I got it out of the library 3 times before reading it and didn't hear of it until 3 years after it's release. Imagine my delight to pick it up (finally) and discover a very personal, touching, charming book. The writing is so vivid and emotional, the scenes play out in your mind as your reading them. I can still picture little JR in front of Grandpa's house ... Read More
Rating:  - The Tender Bar
A great book of autobiographical fiction it has a fine narrative flow but certain cracks can be seen in the facade the longer you read.
Don't get me wrong I did like the Tender Bar it does have insightful things to say about growing up that quote about life being a series of peaks and valleys was particularly insightful and true. However many insightful things a book has to say I cannot get past my gut reaction that there are probably parts of the book where Moehringer stretched the truth. ... Read More
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