The Hotel New Hampshire

By: John Irving

Narrated by: Kirby Heyborne

The New York Times bestselling saga of a most unusual family from the award-winning author of The World According to Garp.

“The first of my father’s illusions was that bears could survive the life lived by human beings, and the second was that human beings could survive a life led in hotels.”

So says John Berry, son of a hapless dreamer, brother to a cadre of eccentric siblings, and chronicler of the lives lived, the loves experienced, the deaths met, and the myriad strange and wonderful times encountered by the family Berry. Hoteliers, pet-bear owners, friends of Freud (the animal trainer and vaudevillian, that is), and playthings of mad fate, they “dream on” in a funny, sad, outrageous, and moving novel by the remarkable author of A Prayer for Owen Meany and Last Night in Twisted River.

Critic reviews

“A hectic, gaudy saga with the verve of a Marx Brothers movie.”—The New York Times Book Review

“A startlingly original family saga that combines macabre humor with Dickensian sentiment.”—Time

“Rejoice! John Irving has written another book according to your world. . . . You must read this book.”—Los Angeles Times

“Spellbinding . . . intensely human . . . a high-wire act of dazzling virtuosity.”—Cosmopolitan

There are literary works that can bring about strong emotions…

He may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but Irving can depict characters and surroundings so realistically they take shape in your mind. Some readers form images so clearly they forget the characters are fictional and may take offense to their views and actions.
There are literary works that can bring about strong emotions that produce laughter, anxiety, and tears…and this is one of them. 💕

The deep weave of the story

I didn't dislike anything about this book. it's John Irving and he's terrific. The only book of his that disappointed me was chairlift, which as he knows, is too long.

Great narration.Underwhelming Story.

Of course I saw the world according to Gar long ago before I even read the book. I thought I’d try. Maybe it was outrageous once. I can’t remember. I’m a boomer so we broke the mole on a whole lot of things. The story is about an outrageous family - no spoiler alert there. And it was pleasant, but I wasn’t captivated. I didn’t find it captivating, moving, inspiring and timeless (I recommend Bryce Courtenay novels for that) it was pleasant.

This one grows on you

As the story began, I didn’t find myself really relating to or enjoying any of the characters. But the drescription had all the signs of a novel I’d love so I pushed on. I believe this story feels the way the story itself goes. Much like growing up, it’s only as you mature and reflect on moments and people, that you realize the full nature and validity of them.
As this story came to a close I found myself loving each and every character and all the wild events that had brought us to where we were and boy am I glad I stuck through it in the beginning.
This story goes to and through so many different things, it’s quite beautiful how it all comes together.

Beautiful

One of my favorite books. Great reading. Hilarious, beautiful, and tragic. An incredible collection of characters.