Apr 15, 2009 in closing time, joe queenans new memoir, the author was none too pleased with his high school girlfriend when she told him that she had big plans for her life, and that none of them. Now, like many bibliophiles, he fears for the books that once saved him. Closing time by joe queenan overdrive rakuten overdrive. Closing time is a memoir that reads like a novel of a tough childhood, growing up with an alcoholic father who beat his children often and hard, who could not hold on to a job, and who made a number of questionable decisions, some told hilariously like the time he decided to drive his delivery. Anyone who has had to deal with an alcoholic in the family can relate to the authors lovehate relationship with his father. In closing time, joe queenans new memoir, the author was none too pleased with his high school girlfriend when she told him that she had big plans for her life, and that none of them. A deeply funny and affecting memoir about a great escape from a child. This week, he spoke with adam rose about the memoir, and you can read an excerpt from the opening chapter below. An affecting memoir from one of americas most provocative humoristsover the past two decades, joe queenan has established himself as a scourge of everything that is halfbaked, halfwitted, and halfhearted in american culture. I cannot remember a single time when i was reading fewer than fifteen booksi am talking about books i am actively reading, books. Humorist joe queenan turns a serious eye to his childhood in his new memoir, closing time. In closing time, he writes with his usual caustic finesse. A national columnist and prolific writer, queenan closing time. Joe queenan is the author of seven books and a regular contributor to the new.
Apr 18, 2009 joe queenan turns hard times into humor nprs scott simon talks with humor writer joe queenan about closing time, queenan s memoir of growing up in a philadelphia housing project with an abusive. Joe queenans acerbic riffs on movies, sports, books, politics, and many of the least forgivable phenomena of pop culture have made him one of the most popular humorists and commentators of. There is that desolate moment when the pub closes, announced by last call or the ringing of a bell. Apr 26, 2009 whether you think of joe queenan as refreshingly blunt or too mean for his own good, his 10th book is likely to intensify your opinion. He became a man of letters, but even after he achieved his dream to make a living by ridiculing people he was still haunted by a lifelong enemyhis father. There is that desolate moment when the pub closes, announced by last call or the.
See all books authored by joe queenan, including one for the books, and closing time. As a philadelphian who lived much like queenan during that time, i can attest to his accuracy of living in the margins and feeling not quite good enough. You can learn everything you want by a publication. Nov 30, 2012 throughout his career, the humorist joe queenan has gleefully skewered pop culture, baby boomers, sports fans and much else.
Closing time is not refreshing, nor is it delightful. Over the past two decades, joe queenan has established himself as a scourge of everything that is halfbaked, halfwitted, and halfhearted in american culture. April 18, 2009 nprs scott simon talks with humor writer joe queenan about closing time, queenans memoir of growing up in a philadelphia housing project with an abusive father and. In closing time, queenan turns his sights on a more serious and a more. Closing time is filled with moments of intense pathos and rollicking humor. In closing time, queenan turns his sights on a more serious and a more personal topic. Joe queenan born november 3, 1950 is a prolific american freelance satirist and critic. From first page to last, closing time is a book about living with a drunken, violently abusive father, a man who routinely beats his son and. A memoir paperback march 30, 2010 by joe queenan author. Even other bibliophiles will likely consider his reading habits to be on the lunatic fringe. In closing time, queenan turns his sights on a more.
He grew up poor in the projects, where his alcoholic father was better at beating his children than holding down a steady job. A deeply funny and affecting memoir about a great escape from a childhood of poverty. Synopsis by turns hilarious and heartbreaking, closing time recounts joe queenans irish catholic upbringing in a family dominated by his erratic father, a violent yet oddly charming emotional terrorist whose alcoholism fuels a limitless torrent of selfpity, railing, destruction, and latenight chats with the lord himself. In closing time, queenan turns his sights on a more serious and personal topic. A memoir by joe queenan 2009, hardcover at the best online prices at ebay. Closing time closing time audiobook, by joe queenan. In closing time, queenan turns his sights on a more serious and. A native of philadelphia, pennsylvania, queenan has written. Just send us an email and well put the best up on the site. Joe queenans acerbic riffs on movies, sports, books, politics, and many of the least forgivable phenomena of pop culture have made him one of the most popular humorists and commentators of our time. Jul 22, 2019 a deeply funny and affecting memoir about a great escape from a childhood of povertyjoe queenans acerbic riffs on movies, sports, books, politics, and many of the least forgivable phenomena of pop culture have made him one of the most popular humorists and commentators of our time.
Unfortunately, the memoir turns out to be another bit of his trademark meanspirited vengeance on his old mans battered ghost. In one for the books, queenan examines the entire culture of reading and what books really mean in peoples lives today. In his latest, one for the books, he recounts a lifetime of reading. Further forming his persona were various parttime jobs, including the midnight shift at a bubblegum mill. In closing time queenan turns his sights on a more serious and personal topic. This is an accurate account of the experiences of many people in lower and working class philadelphia during the 1950s and 60s. Closing time by joe queenan meet your next favorite book. However, formatting rules can vary widely between applications and fields of interest or study. In closing time, joe queenan shared how he became a voracious reader to escape a joyless childhood. Queenan wrote about growing up poor in philadelphia and suffering at the hands of his violent father. His bestselling memoir closing time was a 2009 new york times notable book. Closing time the free library of philadelphia overdrive.
Scrambling out of the proletariat, queenan discovered art, music and paris. Joe queenan s acerbic riffs on movies, sports, books, politics, and many of the least forgivable phenomena of pop culture have made him one of the most popular humorists and commentators of our time. Joe queenans lumpy, unsentimental and ultimately very sad memoir traces the roots of his adult anger back to his childhood and his ugly, violent relationship with his alcoholic father. Apr 01, 2009 joe queenan s acerbic riffs on movies, sports, books, politics, and many of the least forgivable phenomena of pop culture have made him one of the most popular humorists and commentators of our time. Josephs university in philadelphia, more than twothirds of the way through this book, queenans eventual. Mar 30, 2010 joe queenan has written a slew of bestsellers about american culture,in this selfserving book, no slight joe queenan ever suffered goes unturned, over and over. Closing time, a memoir of a curmudgeon by joe queenan the. Joe queenan is a prolific freelance satirist and critic. He writes about his abusive, alcoholic father and growing up poor in irish catholic philadelphia. Satirist joe queenan finds a lot of things funny, but not his childhood.
A memoir hardcover april 16, 2009 by joe queenan author. Jun 05, 2009 joe queenans lumpy, unsentimental and ultimately very sad memoir traces the roots of his adult anger back to his childhood and his ugly, violent relationship with his alcoholic father. A story about salvation and escape, closing time has at its heart the makings of a classic american autobiography. Skillfully navigating the full range of human emotions, joe queenan has delivered an account, artful and heartfelt, of what it means to be a good father and a good son.
Joe queenan books list of books by author joe queenan. Joe queenan turns hard times into humor nprs scott simon talks with humor writer joe queenan about closing time, queenans memoir of growing up in. An affecting memoir from one of americas most provocative humorists over the past two decades, joe queenan has established himself as a scourge of everything that is halfbaked, halfwitted, and halfhearted in american culture. The waggish bluecollar philly scribe queenan country. A deeply funny and affecting memoir about a great escape from a childhood of povertyjoe queenans acerbic riffs on movies, sports, books, politics, and many of the least forgivable phenomena of pop culture have made him one of the most popular humorists and commentators of our time. Over the past two decades, joe queenan has established himself as a scourge of.