I just finished listening to the audio book "The Tender Bar". I was truly moved by this book. The story is about the author’s growing up in a family with a loving mother, a missing father, close relatives and a bar full of characters. It is full of love from a woman, a mother, an uncle, extended family and people working in the bar. Most the characters are working people and have a tough life themselves. But they are happy, honest, hopeful, sensitive, tender and most importantly loving.
The male characters working in the bar where the author grew up filled the hole of the mostly absent father. Those guys are real man, they taught and shown him how to be a strong man and how to live like a man in a man’s world. The devoted mother struggled her whole life but always gave the best to her son. Her miserable and vulnerability made him more sensitive, responsible, powerful and loving. Her vigorous will and optimism made her son a capable and successful man.
The writing and the language is full of meaning, humorous and thoughtful. You will enjoy it tremendously. The vivid description of the life of the blue collar, their endeavor, their reliance, their rigidity and their soul is very powerful. It makes you think, wonder, emotional and smile. I never really know any blue collar here in U.S. and only been to bars couple times, but after reading this book, I felt that I know their stories and was fascinated by their lives.
If you would like to find the meaning of life and love in the world, read this book.
