Drinking with Men

De: Rosie Schaap

Narrado por: Rosie Schaap

Rosie Schaap has always loved bars: the wood and brass and jukeboxes, the knowing bartenders, and especially the sometimes surprising but always comforting company of regulars. Starting with her misspent youth in the bar car of a regional railroad, where at age 15 she told commuters’ fortunes in exchange for beer, and continuing today as she slings cocktails at a neighborhood joint in Brooklyn, Schaap has learned her way around both sides of a bar and come to realize how powerful the fellowship among bar patrons can be.

In Drinking with Men, Schaap shares her unending quest for the perfect local haunt that takes her from a dive outside L.A. to a Dublin pub full of poets, and from small-town New England taverns to a character-filled bar in Tribeca. Drinking alongside artists and expats, ironworkers and soccer fanatics, she finds that these places offer a safe haven, a respite, and a place to feel most like herself.

In rich, colorful prose, Schaap brings to life these seedy, warm, and wonderful rooms. Drinking with Men is a love letter to the bars, pubs, and taverns that have been Schaap’s refuge, and a celebration of the uniquely civilizing source of community that is bar culture at its best.

©2013 Rosie Schaap (P)2013 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Narration was lacking

The narrator's volume was too variable and she kept dropping down at the end of sentences. So, we couldn't hear the end of every third sentence. The voice also did not match the personality of the protagonist. The stories themselves were not as interesting as I had hoped.

A Book About Life

Would you consider the audio edition of Drinking with Men to be better than the print version?

I loved hearing Roie's voice as I listened to this book. It felt as though we were in a cozy snug at the back of some Irish joint, sharing stoies and whiskey

Any additional comments?

This book is so beautifully written, and although it's about life in bars, it's also about life in general. Tears came to my eyes on more than a few occasions as I read Drinking with Men, and I got my fair share of chuckles from it, too.

When I reached the end, I not only felt as though I knew Rosie Schaap really well, I felt as though I loved her, too, just like I love many of the people I've hung out with at bars over the years--for their insights, for their honesty, and because they've been kindred spirits.

This is a book that I'll re-read over and over again. Sort of a bar-goers Bible if you will.

EYE OPENING, REFRESHING,AND HONEST

Ive always thought that there should be more books like this one on bar culture. For those who have never had the experience of being a regular at a pub or bar, this book does a pretty good job of relating that unique,fascinating and very misunderstood world. Bar culture is probably not at all what you think it is and this book will change the pre-conceived notions of what you imagine that world is all about.

If you consider yourself a people person or a serious investigative people watcher (an amateur sociologist) like myself then you owe it to yourself to peruse bars of all kinds. There is of course the great stigma that only alcoholics or singles looking for love or lust hang out in bars but thats not true. Most Bars are a place for those of a community to meet and socialize. Just like people, -bars come with their own very distinct personality that is created by the owners,patrons,location and theme of the bar,lounge or pub. Obviously if you live in a major city or a university town there will be a much greater diversity in the pubs or bars available....OPPS I think I just started to write a book instead of a review lol.

This book is an autobiography of the author and her integral relationships with various bars and their patrons over the years. I found the book fairly well written, narrated and interesting. I highly recommend this book to those who have not had this experience. Who knows once your pre-conceived notions are crushed, you may find yourself enmeshed in the social center that is your local pub.

Rosie is your guide to being a bar regular

I loved this audio book. Rosie tells her life story in the framework of the bars she has been a regular in. It's a great device, telling us about her favorite bars, introducing us to her cities and towns and bar culture. The book was light and entertaining, but also interesting and obviously much of the material is deeply felt by the author. But I also liked how it was kind of like telling stories over drinks with a friend. Rosie presents many individual stories and anecdotes (my favorite is the one about the bikers and her knitted hat) which are woven together in the greater context of her life story and the bars she frequents. Definitely a fun listen and not overly long.