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The Last Chairlift

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( 9,980 ratings, 1,897 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
In The Last Chairlift by John Irving, readers are introduced to a compelling story of family and self-discovery. Following the life of a young boy after his single mother, a skier, returns from a championship in Aspen, the narrative explores themes of identity and belonging. The novel weaves through decades, exploring the complexities of familial relationships and personal growth against richly depicted backdrops.
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Format: Hardback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're drawn to intricate storytelling with a blend of humour and heart, woven through generations of unforgettable characters. Set against the backdrop of snowy slopes, it offers a mix of family drama and personal quests, capturing the complexity of human relationships with John Irving's signature depth and wit.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

One of the world’s greatest novelists returns with his first novel in seven years β€” a ghost story, a love story, and a lifetime of sexual politics.
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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

John Irving, one of the world's greatest novelists, returns with his first novel in seven years β€” a ghost story, a love story, and a lifetime of sexual politics.

In Aspen, Colorado, in 1941, Rachel Brewster is a slalom skier at the National Downhill and Slalom Championships. Little Ray, as she is called, finishes nowhere near the podium, but she manages to get pregnant. Back home, in New England, Little Ray becomes a ski instructor.

Her son, Adam, grows up in a family that defies conventions and evades questions concerning the eventful past. Years later, looking for answers, Adam will go to Aspen. In the Hotel Jerome, where he was conceived, Adam will meet some ghosts; in The Last Chairlift, they aren’t the first or the last ghosts he sees.

John Irving has written some of the most acclaimed books of our time β€” among them, The World According to Garp and The Cider House Rules. A visionary voice on the subject of sexual tolerance, Irving is a bard of alternative families. In The Last Chairlift, readers will once more be in his thrall.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The Last Chairlift by John Irving is receiving a mixed reception from readers. Many praise the novel for its rich storytelling and the depth of its characters. However, some find the storyline meandering and overly lengthy. Critics often highlight Irving’s trademark blend of humour and pathos, noting it remains faithful to the themes prevalent in his earlier works.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781471179082

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Ltd

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 18 October 2022

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Scribner UK

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 58.0mm

Width: 153.0mm

Height: 234.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 912

About the Author

John Irving was born in Exeter, New Hampshire, in 1942. His first novel, Setting Free the Bears, was published in 1968, when he was twenty-six. He competed as a wrestler for twenty years, and coached wrestling until he was forty-seven. He is a member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in Stillwater, Oklahoma. In 1980, Mr. Irving won a National Book Award for his novel The World According to Garp. In 2000, he won the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay for The Cider House Rules. In 2013, he won a Lambda Literary Award for his novel In One Person. Internationally renowned, his novels have been translated into almost forty languages. His all-time bestselling novel, in every language, is A Prayer for Owen Meany. A dual citizen of the United States and Canada, John Irving lives in Toronto.

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