I can't not read a John Irving novel. His books remain constant with those 18th and 19th century books that are sprawling places to live within. The Last Chairlift remains firmly in this mold. You can dip into and out of this book and feel as though you're meeting up with old friends along the way.
The script sections did not hit for me, as a scriptwriter. They are not bad by any measure, they just don't feel necessary in this context. A script is a blueprint for creating a work of art. And, sure, the scripts here have that look and feel and are very much more heightened than if they were a true script. But they just don't fit within the context of this novel. (I also don't dig diaries, journals, lengthy newspaper articles, &c. within novels so this might be more of a me thing).
In the end, this was enjoyable. A novel about a man --trying.
*Thanks, NetGalley, for a free copy of this book in exchange for my fair and honest opinion.

I was so excited for this read. But, I found it so very long. I tried to keep going but I couldn’t finish it.

I think there's definitely an audience for this lengthy coming-of-age character driven story. But sadly, it wasn't me. I also think this book could have used a healthy dose of editing. It was too long.

The writing was lyrical and meandering. It was a pleasure reading and listening to this book as the prose was inviting and atmospheric. It pulled me into the life of a young teenage boy grappling his way around relationships, sex and family relationships in the mid-20th century.

I think readers who gravitate towards male coming-of-age stories with an emphasis on sex will like this much more than I did. I would encourage folks to read other reviews.

I received an ARC from Penguin Random House Canada and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately this was a DNF for me. It was too long and dragged on and on. Got about half way and I just wasn’t into it. Maybe one day, when I retire and half nothing else to read I’ll pick it up and give it another try. Too bad because this was my first John Irving book… next time I’ll pick a shorter one.

ARC received in exchange for an honest review.

Far too much of a slog, I couldn't connect with the plot or characters. It suffered a lot from the length and it could have been a lot shorter.

I was so excited for this read - it's John Irving! But, I have to be honest, I tried very hard to find any momentum that would keep my interest in this slow, deep, journey of the character(s), but I just couldn't. I don't like to not finish a book, but this is the case with The Last Chairlift.

4.5 stars updated 6/13/23

When I read the first pages 6 months ago, I wasn’t able to complete a review and returned it to the publisher. So many books in between! Just so you know that when I picked it up again, I was pleased to see how much of the book I remembered, visual images so strong based on the words of John.

Yes, there is an abundance of very interesting family dynamics, people bonded together not necessarily by blood but by emotion, bonds that last a lifetime and beyond. Every dynamic based on a deep bond or sadly, the lack of it. Irving covers social injustice, the not sanctioned relationships of government or church, the unbelievable aspects of reality vs suspicion that you, the reader, could have been duped somehow and in his bizarre combinations, he keeps you hooked.

If you are an Irving fan, you will not be disappointed, you will be prepared for his frequent meanderings on the characters’ past experiences. And you will wonder how these ends will all be tied together with his further glimpse into human behaviour.

Lives interact and unfold, this book is a commitment that a new fan might be shaking their head, re-read the last few pages and wish they hadn’t poured a refill. Keep your wits about you and this story, that covers decades, could add Adam and Em, the little snowshoer, Ray and Molly to your most favourite characters…ever.

For more thoughts on this book, see my blog https://morethanlettersonalinetoday.blogspot.com/2023/06/the-last-chairlift-book-review.html

3.5 stars rounded down until I update 12/22/22
First off, I did not complete this book (yet). I made it to pg. 524 of this 912 page tome. As the ARC was archived, I am on the list at my local library in order to complete it, which I definitely plan to do.

In true Irving fashion, the reader is thrust into a wild and crazy ride with Adam, the little snowshoer, Little Ray, and a host of other hard to explain and hard to forget characters. It is absurd enough to satisfy the Irving fan with many references of political beliefs at the time (Reagan wanted prayer in the classroom but avoided discussion of the number of Americans who died of AIDS). Wonderful descriptions of skiing, and the focus on excellence on the slopes, interspersed with a lot of detail about wrestling.

Due to the length of the book, Irving’s commitment to the bizarre, and his persistent lens on family relationships, this book will not suit the reader looking for a story to skim. But I will go back to it, because Irving is always worth the work.

I really tried. I have fond memories of a couple of John Irving books in my youth so was eager to read his latest. It is a beast of a book (912 pages!) and it simply could not hold my attention. Not a lot is happening and it's . . . weird. And I just couldn't roll with it. It didn't help that he came in hot with some low-key fatphobia and abelism. I thought it might eventually get challenged but I didn't make it that far. I read an article with some intriguing spoilers and that kept me in from pages 50 to 100 but in the end it wasn't enough for me to keep going. DNF at 15%.

(I'm giving it three stars here because it's been three stars for me so far.)

I absolutely adore everything about this book! It took me longer than I care to admit to read it in little bite-sized portions whenever I could but every time I read even a page, it was a joy. I would wholeheartedly recommend it, especially for fans of Irving's most popular titles.

DNF at 48%.

My personal rule is to give books DNF’s no rating, or a 1 star rating (if I can’t / don’t want to finish it, how could it have a higher rating?).

This is John Irving at his John Irving-est.

This book includes all of his most used tropes (young boy with single mother and eccentric grandparent / aunts who raise him, a step parent comes on the scene… beloved cousin). It’s well written enough, it’s just so boring. It’s themes and plots he’s done before, and when he did them the last few times it was a lot better. It felt very self indulgent, and like his editors just kind of said “whatever, it will sell whether we edit it or not, so just send it to print”.

I really like a lot of his earlier work, and LOVE a Prayer for Owen Meany, so this was definitely a disappointment.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an electronic copy to read in exchange for an honest review.

Oh this was everything I could have ever wanted from an Irving novel. It is a long rambling story, with flawed and loving characters. The entire book is very character based moving through the life of Adam. We meet his mother, Little Ray, the loves of his life, the people he cares the most for. Each person is so real and vulnerable. This is definitely a cast of characters that will stay with you for a long time.

Overall, this was an interesting novel. It is not typically something I would read but I was intrigued by the amount of excitement around the release of this novel. I like that even though this book takes place over many decades, the book showcases acceptance. Many of the main characters are LGBTQ+ and most of the people they encounter are accepting of their gender/sexual identification. I found Ray's relationship with Adam really weird as she shares a bed with her son well into adulthood and makes out with him once. I don't know what else to say other than give the book a try, you may or may not like it.

This is a very (very) deep dive into the world of John Irving. The characters and events have a familiar feel to them. The book is well written but is much longer than I felt necessary. Much of the details felt extraneous to the storyline and bogged me down as a reader. Irving fans will enjoy this opus but new readers have better options to choose from such as: A Prayer for Owen Meaney or The Cider House Rules to name two excellent options.

Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately I could not finish this book. I was intrigued at first but then it became clear that if there was a discernable plot, it would be moving at an incremental pace and I lost interest. This is a book for those are interested in very in-depth character studies. I am not that reader.

If you like exploring unusual relationships in great detail, this book has its charms. Very long and self-satisfied. A disappointment from this author.

The Last Chairlift by John Irving.
Oh my I jumped for joy when I was approved for an ARC of this book.
I have to start by saying that Mr. Irving is my favourite author (I love you Owen Meany).
I took my time and relished the reading of this beautiful, funny, weird book. I won’t try to tell you what it’s about. You MUST read it - even though it is a loong book.
I can only tell you that I enjoyed just about every minute with Adam. I laughed out loud at some of the things that Nora said. And the principal emeritus, the uncles and other characters just captivated me. But none more than Elliot Barlow. Such a loyal and lovable person and mentor to Adam.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for an ARC

For lovers of John Irving like me, another novel by him is a gift indeed.

The protagonist/narrator is Adam Brewster. He is born to a single mother, Little Ray, who refuses to tell him the identity of his biological father other than that he was young and small; she chose him because she wanted a child with no strings attached. A ski instructor, Little Ray is away from home for half the year so Adam lives with his grandparents. The novel tells his life story, to the age of 80, and that of his family, with a focus on love, sex, and death. Throughout his life, he is surrounded by strong, independent, and eccentric women who shape his life: his grandmother who reads Moby-Dick and Dottie, a live-in nurse; his mother and her partners, the trail groomer and the little snowshoer; and his cousin Nora and her lover who communicates only through pantomime. Not surprisingly in an Irving novel, Adam becomes a writer.

Two sections of the novel, Adam’s two visits to Aspen, Colorado, are written in screenplay format. In his quest to find his father, Adam travels to Colorado because he learns that he was conceived in Aspen’s Hotel Jerome in 1941. What transpires in Aspen has a profound impact on Adam: “Screenplays are written in the present tense, as if what you see is happening for the first time. That’s why what happened to me in Aspen is a movie; it’s always happening, again and again, for the first time.” Unfortunately, I didn’t enjoy reading the screenplay format. The inclusion of characters who are ghosts also did not appeal.

Also as typical in an Irving book, the narrator is more an observer than an active participant; in some ways, Adam seems the least important character. For instance, what stands out for me is the fact that we learn very little about Adam’s writing. He narrates the stories of the significant people in his life and chronicles the changes in American society over the course of his life. He comments on events like the war in Vietnam but zeroes in on sex and gender politics. Homophobia and transphobia are depicted, and there is scathing criticism of the Catholic Church’s hypocrisy regarding sex and President Reagan’s failure to address the AIDS crisis. The U.S. is described as “a country of sexual intolerance.” I especially appreciated the comments about Trump - tracing his MAGA slogan back to Reagan and predicting his future: “’Trump is just another criminal – he’s going to end up in jail . . . Losers never stop whining . . . all Trump will end up doing is whining.’”

As expected, Irving once again champions sexual tolerance and acceptance of alternative families. At a young age, Adam is told, “’There’s more than one way to love people’” and “’if you truly love someone, you have to love everything about them. Even the things that hurt.’” Those in non-traditional families are consistently loving, loyal, and supportive, while those in conventional marriages often are the most unpleasant people. Adam’s two aunts, for example, are undoubtedly among the villains – their intolerance of any differences makes them totally despicable. That one of them is the mother to Henrik, an intolerant, gun-loving Republican politician, is not surprising.

This is very much a novel of character. All the main characters emerge as complex and flawed so, even if quirky, they feel genuine. Little Ray, for instance, is domineering and some of her behaviour is cringe-inducing, but her love and support for her son are unwavering. Her willingness to shoot a young man in the knee to prevent him from being sent to fight in Vietnam cannot but inspire the reader to give consideration to what motivates her.

Death features prominently in the book. People die of natural causes, accidents, murder, and suicide. Some deaths are expected and some are shocking. Some people return as ghosts, though others do not; some people see these ghosts, and others do not. There seem to be no rules governing ghosts. Though death always seems to be lurking, the main message seems to be that “’Death is only a launching into the region of the strange Untried.’”

As expected from Irving, there is also humour. Adam’s sexual encounters with inappropriate women are hilarious. And I will never forget Nora’s discussion of the hyphen in Melville’s Moby-Dick! Some of the scenes are a little over-the-top: a mute, old man suffering from dementia and wearing only a diaper being struck by lightning seems “noir” – but I guess that’s appropriate considering the discussion of noir fiction and films.

Readers familiar with Irving will find much that is found in his other 14 novels. At almost 900 pages, it undoubtedly requires someone willing to go the distance. At times, it seems scattered, but then the author may be trying to emphasize what is repeated more than once: in writing “you can’t leave out anything important. Lies of omission count as lies” and “Unrevised, real life is just a mess.”

I recommend this as a perfect book for the long winter nights ahead.

"The Last Chairlift" is a divisive novel due to its length, but it offers plenty of material for an engaging read. The story follows Adam Brewster through much of his life as he grapples with his complex relationship with his mother. While the novel has some slow moments, particularly the inclusion of a full screenplay, it is still a masterfully written work and a valuable addition to Irving's body of literature.

I would actually give this book a 3.5 out of 5. Was it a perfect novel- No!. It was fun to read, though. Quirky characters are throughout this novel, and some of the stuff going on between some of these characters, are questionable. But for some unknown reason, I rather liked this book. I didn't even hate any of these people, except for Adam's Aunts. They were awful, judgemental women. Their husbands were kind of strange too.

We have a ghost story, a love story, and the odd relationship Adam has with his mother, Little Ray. He doesn't know who his father is, and his Mom won't tell him.

His mom marrys one of Adams teachers, Elliot Barlow( the snow shoer) He is shorter than Little Ray. And on their wedding night, Adam catches his Mom in bed with a woman, that Adam knows, and not with her new husband!

This book is 900 pages, I didn't think I would finish it, but I couldn't help myself. It's messy in spots, sad, hopeful and it's all about Life!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read this story. I am really glad that I did.

An incredible read! If you are a fan of John Irving, The Last Chairlift will not disappoint. The characters are unforgettable and lovable. John mysteriously weaves story lines, backstory and current events so intricately, while keeping the narrative moving forward. I loved Em, Molly and Adam. A character driven novel. What is it about? That is a good question. It is about everything, on a character's timeline. Loved this book!