A panegyric to bars. “Do you mind if I say panegyric?”It has many great qualities but in the end, well up until the very end, in fact, past the end, until near the end of the epilogue, it is a long depressing tale cleverly told in the voice of a defeatist. Well written. I’ll give it that.

To JR: As I read your memoir, flashbacks of pieces of my life emerged. Your story trapped me in memories of my past. Your Yale is my Northwestern. As a writer of ads, I have learned to appreciate the writing skills of others. I can think of no one who I’ve enjoyed reading more than you. I am older than you, and I have written an unpublished novel just to satisfy an age long desire of mine. I’m working on a second. Just for me. Interestingly, I live in the same town where Jonathan Franzen went to high school, well within radio range of your cousin McGraw. Don’t ever stop writing. I need your words and writing style to encourage me.

The Tender Bar is a beautiful, well crafted and enormously affecting story with charming characters and spell-binding adventures. I have read it several times over the years and it continues to draw me in every time.

I decided to read this book since my 13 year old son is reading for school. So glad "we" picked this wonderful memoir. He and I both enjoyed. There are many references that a younger person won't totally understand but it is a GOOD READ for all ages--although better for the over 40 age. Don't pass this one up.