THE TENDER BAR

THE TENDER BAR seems an unlikely candidate for the bestseller list. Yet Pulitzer Prize winner J.R. Moehringer's memoir tells of being a fatherless child who, nonetheless, manages to celebrate many key rites of passage in a bar. The story is touching, highly entertaining, and thoroughly captivating. Further, Adam Grupper's performance demonstrates that he has joined the upper echelon of audiobook readers. Although he generally has a low-key style, this work allows him to display his versatility. Grupper's narration captures the emotions that confront Moehringer as he comes of age and experiences life's disappointments and joys. Grupper caps his strong performance during the frantic chapter when Moehringer is about to lose his innocence, only to find himself without "protection"--a scene as memorable as the listener will ever experience. D.J.S. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine [Published: JUN/ JUL 06]