Review of "The Last Chairlift" by John Irving by Shirley Weidner 7-6-22

I received a free advanced copy of this book from the publisher. This is my honest review.

I have read "Cider House Rules" and a "Prayer for Owen Meany" and am somewhat familiar with John Irving’s writing. Those books, I thoroughly enjoyed. He expresses enormous kindness while writing about his unusual characters.

"The Last Chairlift" did not meet my expectations. I was overly loquacious and preposterous at the same time. I only got through 48% of the book, but could not finish it. I believe it was overly illogical, irrational, and invalid for what I must presume he was trying to depict. Perhaps publishers believe that all readers are looking for some kind of woke, ideology perpetuating the validity of the LGBTQ+ lifestyle. I felt that his characters were peculiar and inexplicable, as a whole. This was a family who had SO many absurd experiences within the family and the friends they associated with!

I suppose that my review will not be published because I did not finish reading the book? However, I could not keep interested. Hence the low rating…

I received a free e-arc of this book through Netgalley.
I've been a fan of John Irving since at least college so I was excited to see he had a new book out. This book is quite the behometh around 900 pages so I was glad to read the e-book version.
This book is mostly told from the POV of Adam from when he's a youngster to when he's in his 70s. He tells us about his mom, Rachel, or "Little Ray" as everyone calls her who is petite, but fun-loving. Everyone loves her. There is a large cast of characters from a diaper-wearing grandpa to a mute, pantomining lesbian named Em, to aunts and uncles and other family members. There are a lot of secrets in this family, but there is also a huge amount of love and community. I wished it was shorter at times, but it tells a full story.

Not my favorite John Irving piece. It meanders a bit too much, even though I enjoy that style in his other books. While it centers around skiing, there was nothing to get me interested in skiing. I likely would not read on.

I was so excited to receive an ARC of John Irvings "last" novel to be released in October. He's always been one of my most admired writers. There's still lots to be admired here but its bogged down in way too many extraneous ramblings. I came to know the first person narrator - Adam - well and enjoyed his character greatly. But he meanders so very much that I found myself skimming great swaths of the book - namely his detailed accounts of other books and movies. I felt truly engaged with the story only when when it occurred at the Hotel Jerome, written in screenplay format.

Any book by Irving is sure to be a winner and this is no exception. Full of quirky characters and a story that meanders, Irving brings you along for the ride. Just as he did in Garp, one of my favorites, this is certainly reminiscent of that title. A sure winner to put in my customers' hands!

Another fun book from John Irving -- I've been reading them since Garp (yes I am old) -- and I've always loved his strange characters and odd families who come together in imaginative ways to teach me something new. The Last Chairlift was no exception.

This is surely find a large audience given the author. It's dang long, but a worthy read. I haven't loved all of the Irving novels I've read (a few, yes), but I've liked all of them. This is a strong novel for me. This is a safe bet for Irving fans, and I suspect a nice discovery for some new readers of his work.

I really appreciate the free ARC for review!!

John Irving is the master storyteller with unimaginable details. Loved the story, hated the characters, but maybe that was the intention, and although a long read, a fast read. There were some moments reminiscent of Garp and definitely Irving's style.

Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC. I was looking forward to this latest book by John Irving. I first became a fan of his writing when I read “In One Person”. I then read other of his books and loved them. However, I found “The Last Chairlift” very disjointed and stream of consciousness. I couldn’t finish this novel.

John Irving once said, “he’d be happy if he never had to drive a car again”. I can relate.
….The ex-wrestler — recently turned 80 — likes to walk. Me too.
….He cares about social issues. I care as well.
….John Irving is 6 feet 9 inches. I’m 5 feet 2 inches.
See? Lots in common!

Let’s be clear — I love John Irving. I experience his integrity with serious topics — and enjoy his unique luminous storytelling.

I like the tender purity that Irving shines over bizarre situations —and his idiosyncratic characters.
Irving’s imagination and witty funny-bones are grounded in social, political, and psychological values.
His passion for writing about intolerance towards others who don’t fit society ideals of the sexual norm, reminds me that human kindness still needs much protection. Same for children — Irving’s love for children and their needs for protection is enormously real.

Through Irving’s storytelling…..I tend to re-examine the chaos and unpredictabilities of life a little deeper.
I enjoyed being swept along in “The Last Chairlift” as equally as I have past books by Irving.
I took three weeks to read it…..(purposely) …..I didn’t want to rush the experience…..allowing time to contemplate the issues and fall in love with the new cast of extraordinary characters.
I made some new ‘small-size’ friends, to boot.
I appreciate the tribute and acceptance to small people.
I’m not exactly a ‘golly-green-giant’ size person myself.
Short people definitely get the raw deal in grocery stores. “A little help here, I say to the produce man….can you reach those radishes for me please?”.

….Adam Brewster…..(an only child - we don’t learn who his biological father is until late in the book)…grows up in a non-traditional family. From early childhood crushes, (Adam idolized his older cousin Nora: he loves her silly as a child —but Nora, older and a lesbian was in love with Emily- who went by the name Em). As Adam comes into his teen years —- we meet a variety of girls that Adam hooks up with…..
…the scaled nipple girlfriend, Sally Rose, Caroline, a plump girl, a wildflower, girls with physical deformities, paraplegic, a girl on crutches, the Twitcher, the bleeder, the writer…. Girls a little behind their age socially and sexually and girls who were a little bit ahead of their time socially and sexually…and more…

MORE importantly —is Adam’s relationship with Mr. Barlow. Elliot Barlow (Snowshoer) was the ‘Little’ English Teacher at Exeter High School where Adam went to school. Adam’s mom married Elliot hoping he would be great protection for Adam.
Turns out - Elliot — was a transgender — goes through the chsnge with surgeries later in this novel.
SHE turned out to be the best stepfather that Adam, or any lucky kid could ever dream of.

….Nana, (Adam’s Grandma), reads ‘Moby Dick’ to Adam for three years. They have a wonderful relationship.
….Ha…I ‘now’ have a new interest in ‘Moby Dick’ by Herman Melville. I learn a lot about Moby Dick and have an appreciation I didn’t have at all until now.

….Aunt Abigail and Aunt Martha are older sisters to Rachel, (‘Little Ray)….Adam’s mom. We come to — [kinda] —think of them as the mean sisters. Even Nana (we readers aren’t blind), know Nana loves her youngest daughter, Rachel best. (named after ‘The Rachel’ - ship in ‘Moby Dick’).

Little Ray is a slalom skier. For six months each year….she leaves little Adam with Nana to raise him while she works at a Ski resort teaching - mostly children to ski.

Molly, (Rachel’s girlfriend/wife), Nora, Em, (Nora’s girlfriend/wife), Henrik, (Nora’s younger brother),
Granddaddy Lew, etc. are other characters we will get cozy familiar with too.

Let’s face it — it’s not easy for me (a daily reader/ amateur reviewer)….to write a review for a book this size — hope some of you are forgiving.
What I do know — can say with a full heart — is I’m glad I read this book. I’m happy to still be thinking about.

I’ve heard less positive remarks …..
things like …”I use to like John Irving, until his later books got stale or bloated - or - whatever”….
BUT… that’s not me. I like every minute of spending time with John Irving’s creations…..
It’s been said many times before that John Irving …..works backwards from his endings….to where he knows the story should begin.
Having read many of his books I always have anticipation about his beginning and endings…..(especially the endings)…
And I must say….he KNOCKED the ending out of the park with the most PERFECT beautiful ending in “The Last Chairlift”.
I read several of the last few pages several times. (teary beautiful).

So….5 FULL stars from me
BUT…..
I’m also aware — ‘select readers’ will love it passionately as I did.
[I’d love to chat with those readers].
Unfortunately— it’s my hunch that most of my friends won’t want to bother with this 900 page book — and/or not everyone will be so enchanted.
Me….
….I loved the characters, the relationships, the diversity, social issues, the tragedies, the absurdities, the successes, the questions and mysteries than remain.

A few excerpts: (I saved more than DOZENS….but will only post a few):

“Were wheelchairs not allowed in the afterlife? I will never learn the rules for ghosts”.

“Elliot Barlow — being the English teacher he was —continued to be an influence in Adam’s life.
He told Adam that he wasn’t sure melancholy was good for the soul — ‘once you’ve seen ghosts, you’ve seen sufficient melancholy’, Elliot told Adam.
Adam was trying to figure out what those ghosts that he saw were trying to teach him.
He knew he came from a family of secrets (or lies by omission) so Adam figured he would wait the ghosts and his mother out”.

“I saw the rising sun strike the left side of my mom‘s face, but her face was the same grayish white as the hoarfrost on the seats and the safety bar of the chairlift; I put my arm around her shoulders and the snowshoer’s, but it was hard to look at them”.
“The chairlift was a four-seater, and we were three small people. I sat close between my mom and Mr. Barlow, holding them tight”.
“The chair started moving, without warning. It was a quiet ride, going down. You feel exposed on a chairlift going down a mountain; some people feel queasy. But I just held tight to my loved ones. The ride couldn’t have been long enough for me—I had so much to say to them. ‘You’re my one and only, too—you know that, don’t you? I asked my mom’. You really are ‘the only hero’”…..

“What do we want most when we’re children, and crave more when we’re old?
Consistency is what counts most. We want the people we love to be consistent, to stay the same—don’t we?”

I was genuinely excited to pick up John Irving's latest. While Irving's stories are always unconventional, this one just doesn't seem to hit the spot. The characters are terribly one-dimensional and not very sympathetic. Despite the time frame, the homophobia seems over the top, the flaunting of lesbian relationships (using butch stereotypes) unlikely, and the mother-son relationship bordering on incest, just thrown in to provide shock value. And what is the fixation with "small"? Little Ray, the narrator's mother(and presumably the driving force behind the story is just not that interesting. Her breathiness, giggling, and love of all things related to Austrian skiing does not make her compelling in the least. And then there are the ghosts. Well, I guess we all have our ghosts, don't we? Irving's portrayal of New England ski towns and boarding schools is much more familiar ground for him, and more enjoyable for the reader. I wish I could be more enthusiastic, but I'm just not feeling it. I suppose it will be a must-read for many, but beyond the author's well-deserved reputation, there's not much to recommend it.

John Irving scores another winner with his latest book. He has written some of the best books that I have ever read and knows how to develop the characters and storyline.
This book starts off with "Little Ray" Rachel who is a skier and gets pregnant with her son Adam. Years later he is looking for answers and goes back to Colorado where he was conceived in order to find out answers from his past. He discovers ghosts and so much more than he set out for..
Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this fantastic book which will sure please his fans and so many more.

In 1941 in Aspen, Colorado, Rachel Brewster is a slalom skier at the National Downhill and Slalom Championships.

Her nickname is Little Ray. She doesn’t place in the event. When she gets pregnant, Little Ray goes home to New England. After giving birth to a son, Adam, she becomes a ski instructor. She dropped out of college.

Adam’s family won’t tell him about his father. Years later, looking for answers, Adam goes to the Hotel Jerome in Aspen where he meets some ghosts. They aren’t the first or the last ghosts he will see. Adam is a novelist and screenwriter.



This seems like it will be a good novel, but this is only the first chapter.