I loved this book for two reasons. First, it’s an excellent read. The author brings all characters to life through his particular lens of growing up around them. Second, I grew up in Manhasset, so I could see much of the book through visual memory. Being 10 years older than the author, I have vivid memories from my senior year of high school (the legal drinking age in NY back then was age 18) of going to Dickens on Friday and Saturday nights to get drunk, dance to live music, and inhale cigarette smoke. Dickens (at some point it morphed into Publicans) had a back room with a small stage and tables, so as a bar-goer I didn’t interface much with the main bar where a lot of the action in the novel takes place. I have a vivid recollection of the pink elephant wallpaper above wainscoting that graced the women’s tiny restroom. My friends and I would return to the bar during our freshman college breaks. It was here that I ran into a former boyfriend’s buddy Scott who shared with me that the reason that Mark split up was that he didn’t want to hurt me. There was no explanation, but 3 years later my Mother reported that Mark had died of leukemia, which looking back explained several odd occurrences while we were dating. Another noteworthy mention is that Manhasset, even back then, was a wealthy community, at least upper middle class, and my brother reminded me of the shabby looking house along Plandome Road where a good portion of the story takes place. Another vivid memory involves a mystery that remained with me and a friend… that is until I read the memoir. It goes like this. My girlfriend and I were walking home on a Sunday, 4 p.m.-ish, 1971 (or was it 1970?). We often took a shortcut behind Dickens parking lot(Dickens was a bookend of several attached businesses, like a strip mall). As we approached the lot which had an entrance on two ends, a whole bunch of cars pulled in, young people jumped out of their vehicles and started slinging pies all over the parking lot. My girlfriend and I ducked down in amazement, wondering how on earth they came upon all these pies. The pie slinging probably lasted about five minutes and then suddenly they all jumped in their cars and left. As my friend and I walked across the lot we were stepping over smash pies, mostly blueberry and what looked to be lemon chiffon. I believe we were the only two people that witnessed the pie fight other than the people who were slinging the pies. The answer to how those young people got all those pies lies within the pages of the book. While the movie is rather delightful, it misses the nuances of the original story. There is no mention of Steve, the owner of Dickens, who played a good sized role in the memoir. The screenwriters left out the Arizona stint which I felt contributed sizably to understanding JR during his adolescence. One doesn’t need to be from Manhasset, NY to appreciate the book, but if you do happen to be from there, it’s an added bonus.
Thank you JR for writing such an amazing book. Whilst backpacking in Norway, my hosts lent me The Tender Bar. I missed so much of the awesome Norwegian scenery because I was so engrossed in your writing. You have inspired me to transform the daily diary I kept for 6 months whilst in Scandinavia into a novel. Though my writing leaves a lot to be desired!!!
I loved this book for two reasons. First, it’s an excellent read. The author brings all characters to life through his particular lens of growing up around them. Second, I grew up in Manhasset, so I could see much of the book through visual memory.
Being 10 years older than the author, I have vivid memories from my senior year of high school (the legal drinking age in NY back then was age 18) of going to Dickens on Friday and Saturday nights to get drunk, dance to live music, and inhale cigarette smoke. Dickens (at some point it morphed into Publicans) had a back room with a small stage and tables, so as a bar-goer I didn’t interface much with the main bar where a lot of the action in the novel takes place. I have a vivid recollection of the pink elephant wallpaper above wainscoting that graced the women’s tiny restroom. My friends and I would return to the bar during our freshman college breaks. It was here that I ran into a former boyfriend’s buddy Scott who shared with me that the reason that Mark split up was that he didn’t want to hurt me. There was no explanation, but 3 years later my Mother reported that Mark had died of leukemia, which looking back explained several odd occurrences while we were dating.
Another noteworthy mention is that Manhasset, even back then, was a wealthy community, at least upper middle class, and my brother reminded me of the shabby looking house along Plandome Road where a good portion of the story takes place.
Another vivid memory involves a mystery that remained with me and a friend… that is until I read the memoir. It goes like this. My girlfriend and I were walking home on a Sunday, 4 p.m.-ish, 1971 (or was it 1970?). We often took a shortcut behind Dickens parking lot(Dickens was a bookend of several attached businesses, like a strip mall). As we approached the lot which had an entrance on two ends, a whole bunch of cars pulled in, young people jumped out of their vehicles and started slinging pies all over the parking lot. My girlfriend and I ducked down in amazement, wondering how on earth they came upon all these pies. The pie slinging probably lasted about five minutes and then suddenly they all jumped in their cars and left. As my friend and I walked across the lot we were stepping over smash pies, mostly blueberry and what looked to be lemon chiffon. I believe we were the only two people that witnessed the pie fight other than the people who were slinging the pies. The answer to how those young people got all those pies lies within the pages of the book.
While the movie is rather delightful, it misses the nuances of the original story. There is no mention of Steve, the owner of Dickens, who played a good sized role in the memoir. The screenwriters left out the Arizona stint which I felt contributed sizably to understanding JR during his adolescence.
One doesn’t need to be from Manhasset, NY to appreciate the book, but if you do happen to be from there, it’s an added bonus.
I just finished reading this book. I can't pinpoint why I loved it so much, but I couldn't put it down.
nathan alford I also just finished and I can’t believe it.
I also just finished and it was the best book I think i’ll ever read.
And it’s one of the best movies I’ve ever seen.
got this book from a neighbor who was clearing out before moving away. Glad I started reading. Many pages made me laugh out loud multiple times!
Thank you JR for writing such an amazing book. Whilst backpacking in Norway, my hosts lent me The Tender Bar. I missed so much of the awesome Norwegian scenery because I was so engrossed in your writing. You have inspired me to transform the daily diary I kept for 6 months whilst in Scandinavia into a novel. Though my writing leaves a lot to be desired!!!
haha this guy goes to the gym I work at. He's the coolest dude ever. He's just amazing. JR is the SHIT!
I love his book.
Awesome book!
thanks to you I enjoyed sport reading!!
A fabulous book and movie.
Uncle Charlie! What a guy 😍
Adorei o livro.... Brazil
loved ittt😍😍
I just saw the movie and loved it. I wonder it’s ruined the book for me?
Gunther
McGraw Milhaven - the Big 550