Seeking the father figure he lacks, J.R. gravitates toward his Uncle Charlie, who owns a pub called Dickens . Charlie is a highly literate, straight-talking bartender who creates a unique curriculum for the boy, which J.R. calls "Man Science" . This "science" includes:
Charlie never lets J.R. win and always tells him the truth , including the hard reality that his father is a "deadbeat." The Tender Bar
The story begins in the 1970s when young J.R. and his single mother, Dorothy, move back into her father’s chaotic house due to financial struggles. J.R.’s father is a vanished New York City disc jockey known only as “The Voice,” whom J.R. listens to desperately on the radio, hoping for a connection that never truly arrives. Life at Dickens Bar Seeking the father figure he lacks, J
Charlie’s bar is stacked with books, and he encourages J.R.’s passion for literature, pushing him to become a writer. calls "Man Science"