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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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It took me a looooonnnnngggg time to get into this book. I started it and stopped it several times before I finally got into it.
And once I did, I really liked it. This is the first John Irving I've successfully finished. I could not deal with The Prayer for Owen Meany (though maybe it's the same thing, that if I kept picking it up, I would eventually like it).
Anyway, despite the craziness, the weirdness, and yes, even the incest, I loved this book. ...more
And once I did, I really liked it. This is the first John Irving I've successfully finished. I could not deal with The Prayer for Owen Meany (though maybe it's the same thing, that if I kept picking it up, I would eventually like it).
Anyway, despite the craziness, the weirdness, and yes, even the incest, I loved this book. ...more
Jun 26, 2013
Ginger
marked it as to-read
Oct 21, 2018
Marcia
added it
Jun 04, 2022
Juliana Philippa
marked it as to-read
