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Andrea4
The Half Moon: A Novel | Mary Beth Keane
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Pickpick

I enjoyed this intimate look at the “peak of the storm“ of a couple's marriage set within the backdrop of an actual winter storm. It definitely has the atmosphere of time stopping a chance to pause and reflect, which they do with multiple flashbacks. I didnt mind the shifting in POV especially because the narrators changed for the audio. I liked and understood most of the subplots but maybe not Tripp's?

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rachaich
The Half Moon: A Novel | Mary Beth Keane
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Pickpick

Okay, I liked this book overall. I liked the chopping and changing between Jess and Mal, and how it biased whom I had empathy or sympathy with. But the subplots were odd. I'm not sure they were really necessary?
Good ending too.

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theokiereader
The Half Moon: A Novel | Mary Beth Keane
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I missed a full Bingo by about 75 pages. 😬 There's always this month!

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Jilly6183
The Half Moon: A Novel | Mary Beth Keane
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Pickpick

This story was so relatable to me. Like Jess, I'm a lawyer in my early 40s. We even have the same maiden name! And though my issue wasn't necessarily infertility, my husband and I wanted kids but it didn't happen for us for other reasons, and we both had to process that and grieve the what could have beens in our own way and time, and that puts a strain on a marriage. Keane writes beautiful novels with such realistically flawed characters.

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Octoberwoman
The Tender Bar: A Memoir | J. R. Moehringer
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I‘m posting one book a day from my massive collection. No description, no reason for why I want to read it (some I‘ve had so long I don‘t even remember why!). Feel free to join in!

#ABookADay2024

SilversReviews This was good. 7mo
5 likes1 comment
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cariashley
The Half Moon: A Novel | Mary Beth Keane
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Pickpick

Oof, this is a tough review to write as it‘s very close to home. Keane writes about the world I grew up in and it‘s almost eerie how familiar it is. My dad has been a Queens bar owner my whole life and she really nabs the challenges of the restaurant industry, down to its shady dealings and side hustles. Even more personally, she captures the desolation of IVF and its impact on relationships in a way I haven‘t read before. Highly recommend. #botm

Christine Thank you for sharing that. Though I didn‘t have that personal connection to it, I really loved this one too. 11mo
BarbaraBB That must have been a hard read for you. I am happy it was a pick ❤️ 11mo
52 likes2 comments
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Itchyfeetreader
The Half Moon: A Novel | Mary Beth Keane
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Pickpick

So torn! I found the writing here compelling but for the first half of the book was just epically frustrated by Jess and Malcolm - a married couple who didn‘t seem to communicate at all - then I realised despite myself I had been drawn in and raced to the end ! Book 4 for #outstandingoctober @Andrew65

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Suet624
The Tender Bar: A Memoir | J. R. Moehringer
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Pickpick

This book sat on my shelf for ages. I had the mistaken impression it was a man's grim journey of alcoholism. I could not have been more wrong. This memoir cover his father's abandonment, his mother's courage, his family - a cast of odd and scary characters - and Uncle Charley, a bartender at a very special bar, who takes him under his wing at a very young age and introduces him to men who care for him over the years. (continued...)

Suet624 Throughout his journey at Yale, the NY Times, a woman he can't get out of his system, we learn so much about the people who populate the bar as he continues to return as a touchstone. These folks are written about with great love. I've read the book he ghostwrote for Andre Agassi and I have thought about that one for ages. He also ghostwrote several others, including Harry's memoir, Spare. The Tender Bar will stay with me. 1y
keithmalek I LOVE this book and have read it a couple times throughout the years. I also loved Agassi's book, and didn't know until now that it was ghost-written by Moehringer. Also, when I heard that they adapted it into a film, I was quite skeptical that it would be any good. I was wrong. You should watch it. 1y
shortsarahrose I didn‘t know this was a book! I watched the film when it came out and thought it was quite good. 1y
See All 14 Comments
Suet624 @keithmalek He also ghostwrote Shoe Dog for the Nike founder. It's funny when I watch the U.S. Open I always think of Agassi's book. Moehringer does such a great job of describing what a body feels like after a match. I want to see the movie but I'm trying to do so without dealing with Amazon. I don't give them any money. I'm glad you liked Tender Bar as much as I did. 1y
Suet624 @shortsarahrose Honestly, from what I read of the comparison of the two - movie vs. book - it seems like they leave out some of the more interesting characters from the bar. If you ever have time, you might want to try the book. I'm trying to figure out how to get access to the film. :) 1y
keithmalek @Suet624 It makes sense that he wrote Shoe Dog. Ben Affleck directed the film adaptation (which is called Air), and also played the uncle in The Tender Bar. 1y
Leftcoastzen One of my all time favorites! Love this book! 1y
Suet624 @keithmalek Oh, I didn't realize there was a movie from that book too.
1y
Suet624 @Leftcoastzen I think you commented on this book which made me grab it at a book sale. Thanks for that! 1y
Leftcoastzen The movie is very good too, but can‘t be as deep as the book of course . 1y
keithmalek @Suet624 I admire your adamantine position on Amazon. Do you mind if I use the word "adamantine?" 1y
Suet624 @keithmalek I certainly don‘t mind you using that word but I had to look up the definition. 🤦🏻‍♀️🥴. And yes, it fits. I will never give them a penny. 1y
keithmalek @Suet624 I had to look it up, too. I was trying to sound like the uncle from The Tender Bar.😅 1y
Suet624 @keithmalek haha, that‘s hysterical. I had totally missed that. Thanks for filling me in. 1y
64 likes1 stack add14 comments
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Soubhiville
The Half Moon: A Novel | Mary Beth Keane
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Open to those who signed up for #book2book with @AllDebooks

Comment below if you‘d like to take this one home. If multiple folks are interested I‘ll draw a random number. I‘m in the US.

@CSeydel @Bookish_Gal @LiteraryinLawrence @Chrissyreadit @Clwojick @Cuilin @bcncookbookclub @Tineke @julieclair @Catsandbooks @TheAromaofBooks @BookwormAHN @Lizpixie @KateReadsYA @TheBookHippie @dabbe

Bookish_Gal Yes please!! 1y
julieclair Yes, please! 1y
31 likes2 comments
review
JenReadsAlot
The Half Moon: A Novel | Mary Beth Keane
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Pickpick

I enjoyed this, but her book Ask Again, Yes was much better.