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White's Tavern
The harsh, jaw-dropping story of a small bar in a small, mob run Chicago suburb in 1963, where fights, frights, drugs, hard-core drinking, camaraderie, philosophical conversations, politics, and dying took place on a daily basis.
Kindle Edition
Published August 24, 2022
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6 people want to read
About the author
Jim Altfeld
2 books1 followerJim Altfeld was born in Chicago and raised in the Village of River Grove. He currently lives in Burbank, California. After graduating from Drake University in 1971 with a BA in Journalism and a minor in Philosophy & Religion, Jim went on to hone his writing skills throughout the course of his career. Now retired, Jim fulfilled the promise he made to his friend, the late Bill Ott, to complete and publish White's Tavern, a project that began in 1973. This is Jim's second book with a third in progress.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
November 14, 2022
White’s Tavern by Jim Altfeld is a shocking, exciting book guaranteed to entertain and captivate the reader. What makes this book amazing is how it’s inspired by real people associated with the author, and the tavern, which is located in Chicago. It’s an authentic read based on gritty stories, based on real events, and set in the early 1970s.
White’s Tavern is a magnet for everyone and everything. It’s where people from all backgrounds and situations appear and get involved in various scenarios, from friendships and fights to shady deals and much more.
It’s a deeply moving and jarring look into people's everyday lives, from grizzly violence and organized crime to bar brawls and people with ordinary jobs and experiences. There’s quite a bit of humor in the novel as well, which is enjoyable and entertaining.
Whether you’re a native of Chicago or unfamiliar with the city, you’ll appreciate this masterpiece of a book. Each of the storylines is engaging from start to finish. The bar holds a significant value in the lives of everyone in the book, as it centers around them. It’s where enemies are confronted, handshakes are made, and new friendships start.
Each of the characters expresses a unique personality, including colorful language and graphic scenes, which makes this series of stories more enjoyable. It’s a gripping tale of all the lessons learned from the lives of each character and how their decisions affect them and others within the tavern and in their lives.
I found this book made a serious impact. It’s a brilliant rollercoaster ride for anyone interested in gritty characters and the 1970s era. I give White’s Tavern by Jim Altfeld a solid 5 out of 5 stars for its original, exceptional content written by a talented author.
White’s Tavern is a magnet for everyone and everything. It’s where people from all backgrounds and situations appear and get involved in various scenarios, from friendships and fights to shady deals and much more.
It’s a deeply moving and jarring look into people's everyday lives, from grizzly violence and organized crime to bar brawls and people with ordinary jobs and experiences. There’s quite a bit of humor in the novel as well, which is enjoyable and entertaining.
Whether you’re a native of Chicago or unfamiliar with the city, you’ll appreciate this masterpiece of a book. Each of the storylines is engaging from start to finish. The bar holds a significant value in the lives of everyone in the book, as it centers around them. It’s where enemies are confronted, handshakes are made, and new friendships start.
Each of the characters expresses a unique personality, including colorful language and graphic scenes, which makes this series of stories more enjoyable. It’s a gripping tale of all the lessons learned from the lives of each character and how their decisions affect them and others within the tavern and in their lives.
I found this book made a serious impact. It’s a brilliant rollercoaster ride for anyone interested in gritty characters and the 1970s era. I give White’s Tavern by Jim Altfeld a solid 5 out of 5 stars for its original, exceptional content written by a talented author.
November 15, 2022
White’s Tavern by Jim Altfeld is a thrilling, thought-provoking novel composed of a series of stories related to Chicago tavern. It’s an entertaining mix of reality and fiction, describing the intriguing events between this pub's walls. The tales are vibrant and exciting: silent witnesses to bar brawls and intense fights, secret deals, friendships, and treason.
The author is familiar with this local tavern and has extensively researched its colorful and sometimes shocking history, with unique protagonists and interesting twists throughout the book. I found this book fast-paced and exciting, and it interested me from start to finish.
I enjoyed this book immensely - it is masterfully written, with a steady writing style that keeps the reader eager to read one story after another. The conversational writing is straightforward and provides a unique perspective from which readers approach the story. I felt as though I was watching a series or film based on the precise details and descriptions in the narrative.
The dialogues in the book were wildly entertaining, and I also enjoyed how part of the stories was told through newspaper articles, which gives a sense of immediacy and reality to the novel. It’s a fantastic blend of violent, nail-biting events, humanity, a sense of humor, and remarkable developments throughout the book.
White’s Tavern by Jim Altfeld is a must-read! I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars. The writer does an excellent job of conveying his knowledge about this tavern, including feelings and emotions about this nostalgic place. I highly recommend this book!
The author is familiar with this local tavern and has extensively researched its colorful and sometimes shocking history, with unique protagonists and interesting twists throughout the book. I found this book fast-paced and exciting, and it interested me from start to finish.
I enjoyed this book immensely - it is masterfully written, with a steady writing style that keeps the reader eager to read one story after another. The conversational writing is straightforward and provides a unique perspective from which readers approach the story. I felt as though I was watching a series or film based on the precise details and descriptions in the narrative.
The dialogues in the book were wildly entertaining, and I also enjoyed how part of the stories was told through newspaper articles, which gives a sense of immediacy and reality to the novel. It’s a fantastic blend of violent, nail-biting events, humanity, a sense of humor, and remarkable developments throughout the book.
White’s Tavern by Jim Altfeld is a must-read! I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars. The writer does an excellent job of conveying his knowledge about this tavern, including feelings and emotions about this nostalgic place. I highly recommend this book!
November 15, 2022
White’s Tavern by Jim Altfeld is based on the adventures in and around a small bar, which was located in Chicago in the early 1970s. The storyline begins in 1973 and depicts what happened during this time in a realistic yet intriguing manner; illicit drugs, heavy drinking, bar fights, the police, and the shady developments that all occurred within this neighborhood tavern.
This book includes a series of stories based on the people from the tavern, written in a casual, conversational style. It’s a gritty read, loaded with colorful language, brazen dialogue, and exciting characters. In between, the dialogue and tales are extracted from newspaper articles from that time, which adds more to the realistic narrative.
While many readers may have a sharp picture of this Chicago pub painted in their minds, there is so much more beneath the surface, including solid friendships, humanity, and resilience. The entire story unfolded like a television series or exciting feature film and kept me turning one page after another.
White’s Tavern by Jim Altfeld is a fast-paced novel that delves into the closely guarded secrets of locals in Chicago, from the dangers of the neighborhood to the unique friendships and experiences of the era. I give White’s Tavern by Jim Altfeld 4 out of 5 stars for its creative, realistic writing style on the cruel realities and compelling characters of this one-of-a-kind tavern and its patrons.
This book includes a series of stories based on the people from the tavern, written in a casual, conversational style. It’s a gritty read, loaded with colorful language, brazen dialogue, and exciting characters. In between, the dialogue and tales are extracted from newspaper articles from that time, which adds more to the realistic narrative.
While many readers may have a sharp picture of this Chicago pub painted in their minds, there is so much more beneath the surface, including solid friendships, humanity, and resilience. The entire story unfolded like a television series or exciting feature film and kept me turning one page after another.
White’s Tavern by Jim Altfeld is a fast-paced novel that delves into the closely guarded secrets of locals in Chicago, from the dangers of the neighborhood to the unique friendships and experiences of the era. I give White’s Tavern by Jim Altfeld 4 out of 5 stars for its creative, realistic writing style on the cruel realities and compelling characters of this one-of-a-kind tavern and its patrons.
November 15, 2022
White’s Tavern by Jim Altfeld is an amazing work of fiction, or is it? After reading it, I know there are many real-life scenarios portrayed in this book, as many are based on people who frequented the bar and played a role in many events that occurred in and around 1973.
The story is raw, gritty, and captivating. I found the narrative reeled me in, so I wanted to learn more about the characters, the facts about this place, and how everyone’s story unfolded. Not only is the story dark and intriguing, but it’s also genuine in a way that keeps things interesting, from struggles with addictions, and friendships, to political and philosophical conversations and life-changing experiences.
It’s a riveting, raw book that is both simple and intricate. Written in the first person, the text is exciting and always moving forward, with an intriguing conversational style and newspaper clippings to add a sense of authenticity to the book. The author does an excellent job of establishing a clear tone and atmosphere from the beginning, which only adds to this novel's exciting plot and unique storylines.
White’s Tavern by Jim Altfeld is an exceptional read, and I rate the book 5 out of 5 stars for its entertaining, realistic storytelling of a unique era and the event of a small pub. It’s a difficult book to put down!
The story is raw, gritty, and captivating. I found the narrative reeled me in, so I wanted to learn more about the characters, the facts about this place, and how everyone’s story unfolded. Not only is the story dark and intriguing, but it’s also genuine in a way that keeps things interesting, from struggles with addictions, and friendships, to political and philosophical conversations and life-changing experiences.
It’s a riveting, raw book that is both simple and intricate. Written in the first person, the text is exciting and always moving forward, with an intriguing conversational style and newspaper clippings to add a sense of authenticity to the book. The author does an excellent job of establishing a clear tone and atmosphere from the beginning, which only adds to this novel's exciting plot and unique storylines.
White’s Tavern by Jim Altfeld is an exceptional read, and I rate the book 5 out of 5 stars for its entertaining, realistic storytelling of a unique era and the event of a small pub. It’s a difficult book to put down!
April 15, 2025
Jim Altfeld’s White’s Tavern is an exhilarating journey through the chaotic underbelly of suburban Chicago, rich in both historical detail and emotional depth. Centered on Bill Ott, the self-styled “King of White's Tavern,” the novel explores themes of loyalty and betrayal in a narrative that unfolds in a non-linear fashion. Altfeld artfully juxtaposes Bill's dazzling charisma with the reckless decisions that lead him into a life of crime, expertly painting a picture of a man both loved and feared.
The novel's backdrop—a bar animated by brawls, philosophical musings, and the ever-present threat of drugs—creates a vivid sense of place that resonates with nostalgia and tension. Altfeld deftly captures the tumultuous dynamics of 1970s America, particularly the sociopolitical landscape spearheaded by the colorful Mayor Tarpey as he grapples with community resistance to a controversial zoning change. The supporting characters, such as the profoundly flawed John Bree, add layers of complexity and reflect Bill's struggles. What makes White's Tavern stand out is Altfeld’s mastery of storytelling, blending humor with dark drama to immerse readers in a world rife with moral ambiguity and unyielding challenges. This novel is captivating for anyone who appreciates rich character development and a gripping plot laced with historical authenticity.
April 15, 2025
White's Tavern is a raw, unfiltered dive into the chaotic world of a Chicago tavern and its eclectic cast of characters. Author Jim Altfeld crafts a vivid portrait of life in River Grove, focusing on the dynamic interactions and tumultuous events that shape the bar's atmosphere. The story revolves around Bill Ott, a captivating yet flawed protagonist whose journey through vice, violence, and family ties is as entertaining as poignant.
Altfeld’s writing is immersive, infusing dialogue with authenticity that captures the grit of the tavern scene. Readers are drawn into the world of hard-drinking patrons, shady dealings, and personal struggles, where every character, from the bar owner to the patrons, becomes a thread in a larger, tangled narrative. Through Bill, we witness a life laced with bad decisions and moments of unexpected depth.
The book is a commentary on the human condition, intertwined with suspense and dark humor. As much as it is about escapism through the haze of alcohol, it is equally about grappling with reality. Altfeld’s ability to balance these themes makes White's Tavern a compelling read and a reflective exploration of life's unpredictability in a gritty urban landscape. It is highly recommended for readers who appreciate character-driven stories filled with rich detail and emotional resonance.
Altfeld’s writing is immersive, infusing dialogue with authenticity that captures the grit of the tavern scene. Readers are drawn into the world of hard-drinking patrons, shady dealings, and personal struggles, where every character, from the bar owner to the patrons, becomes a thread in a larger, tangled narrative. Through Bill, we witness a life laced with bad decisions and moments of unexpected depth.
The book is a commentary on the human condition, intertwined with suspense and dark humor. As much as it is about escapism through the haze of alcohol, it is equally about grappling with reality. Altfeld’s ability to balance these themes makes White's Tavern a compelling read and a reflective exploration of life's unpredictability in a gritty urban landscape. It is highly recommended for readers who appreciate character-driven stories filled with rich detail and emotional resonance.
November 15, 2022
White’s Tavern by Jim Altfeld is a non-fiction story based on actual events in a tavern in suburban Chicago in the early 1970s. The story takes place in River Grove, in the mysterious White’s Tavern, which is known as a shady, gritty, but realistic place frequented by locals and people from all walks of life.
In this book, everyone shares their thoughts and ideas on various subjects throughout each of the storylines, whether it’s a bar fight, a shady business deal, or how they got arrested. Two main characters, Bill Ott and Ray Apt are childhood best friends and a regular fixture in the book.
I found the writing was simple but solid and conveyed relatable stories in a dark and sometimes funny way. Whether you’re familiar with this type of tavern, or the intensity of the stories, you’ll find yourself relating more and more to the characters as you read, feeling their emotions and personalities.
White’s Tavern by Jim Altfeld is a true gem of a book, and I rate it 4 out of 5 stars. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the variety of characters, and their unique challenges and experiences, which made this novel a fantastic read. I recommend it and look forward to more from the author.
In this book, everyone shares their thoughts and ideas on various subjects throughout each of the storylines, whether it’s a bar fight, a shady business deal, or how they got arrested. Two main characters, Bill Ott and Ray Apt are childhood best friends and a regular fixture in the book.
I found the writing was simple but solid and conveyed relatable stories in a dark and sometimes funny way. Whether you’re familiar with this type of tavern, or the intensity of the stories, you’ll find yourself relating more and more to the characters as you read, feeling their emotions and personalities.
White’s Tavern by Jim Altfeld is a true gem of a book, and I rate it 4 out of 5 stars. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the variety of characters, and their unique challenges and experiences, which made this novel a fantastic read. I recommend it and look forward to more from the author.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews