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What Members Thought
What an entirely crazy, flawed and delightful book. It's been a long time since I read Irving and he can really fit a lot of plot into a book. The Vienna scenes detailing the personal habits of every prostitute in the hotel got a little dull, but the evolution of the Berry family dynamic more than made up for them. It's a book about grief and the solace of family and love, however imperfect they may be.
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As usual, John Irving writes beautifully. The humor offsets the sterner points of the book. Who can fail to love a bear that loves to ride motorcycles, or a woman who likes to dress up as a bear? All Irving's characters are deeply flawed people who manage to survive against all odds, except, of course, when they don't survive.
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I tried John Irving once before and failed. I couldn't make it through Cider House Rules- one of the scenes was just too drawn out and distrubing for me. The Hotel New Hampshire, while it has its disturbing moments, also includes some of the most beautiful writing I hav ever encountered.
I don't know why this one was so different from me, but I fell in love with the Berrys despite their tragic flaws and found myself hoping the book would go on forever. ...more
I don't know why this one was so different from me, but I fell in love with the Berrys despite their tragic flaws and found myself hoping the book would go on forever. ...more
Jun 15, 2009
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