The Last Fine Time

Written about a family-owned bar in Buffalo, I especially wanted to read this book as I loved THE RURAL LIFE by Verlyn Klinkenborg and wanted to see another example of his writing. Also, I am fascinated by close families and interaction of the various generations as to how they influenced each other and did not. The other aspect that I valued about this book was that the business the family ran was really a community gathering place much like an English pub once was (and no doubt, still is in some parts of the UK). Few of these types of places still exist where people can drop in and see the same faces, having been replaced by more commercial ventures where to sit there you constantly have to be laying out money. I appreciated the discussion of how the owner of the bar was such a "catch" as a young man as he was involved with the family business and the portrayal of an innocent form of courtship before The Pill changed everything in the early 60's. As a look back on small town America, I really enjoyed this book as well as Mr Klinkenborg's writing style.

A wonderful writing of the history of Buffalo, NY with vivid characters. The author takes you back to a simpler time, then moves forward to the recent past. He entwines the history of the city with the lives of the people. A very engaging and interesting book.

Well-written history of the Buffalo's Polish East Side in the early to mid-20th century. Author's style makes one want to read and re-read. Many interesting factoids and realia.

KIlickenborg is a great nature writer but this book about rust belt Buffalo has moments of greatness, but other chapters of tedium. His writing flourishes can be intimidating. Have your dictionary ready. If you grew up in the east side of (Polish) Buffalo you will love the hundreds and hundreds of place references throughout W NY That alone will endear you. The story of a tavern owner and his extended Polish family is typical. (I heard that its really his inlaws) Its uneven but probalby the best book ever written about Buffalo, NY

A uniquely described history of an era and the pride of those living within Buffalo.

Nowhere have I read a better, more poetic, or more accurate description of a Western New York snowfall than in the opening pages of The Last Fine Time. Although the book gets somewhat bogged down in the generations, like a car gets bogged down slogging through a few feet of freshly fallen snow, and the ending becomes a sad metaphor for the downfall of a city once called (before Paris) the City of Light, this opening is a brilliant handful of pages worth the price of the whole book.

Wow! This guy can write. It brought me back...To the youth of my father on the south side go Buffalo.

A beautiful documentary of Buffalo past. His ability to bring back the past with names of streets businesses, products, locations awesome in scope. Warning... Keep a thesaurus next to you. His usage of the English language just amazing. John aurora Ohio