mlb32's review against another edition
1.0
I honestly didn't even finish this book! I really wasn't a fan, maybe I just didn't get what the author was going for but I just really disliked the characters. The characters and plot might have made more sense as you continued reading the book I just personally didn't want to finish reading it!
teres99's review against another edition
emotional
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Klassisk Irving. Älskar men långdragen
nate_meyers's review against another edition
4.0
The peak of Irving's writing career is unquestionably the decade from 1978 to 1989, in which he wrote World According to Garp, Hotel New Hampshire, Cider House Rules, and Prayer for Owen Meany. Garp, CHR, and Owen Meany are classics, creating unforgettable characters and tackling major topics of rape, abortion, and faith. Hotel New Hampshire feels like the awkward step-brother. The book avoids focusing on a major topic, while still sharing many elements with the other three books: the New England locale, time spent in Europe, war, sports, rape, and even a dressmaker's dummy. Hotel New Hampshire is an ambitious tale, a macabre fairy tale about a family of seven. The first half is marvelous, beautifully weaving together comedy and tragedy as the five siblings come of age in a hotel in New Hampshire. As the kids age, and as the setting shifts to Europe, the comedy exits stage right while 'sorrow floats.' The second half hits many of its beats, but Irving relies on too many symbols and reminds the reader of them through overuse. In addition, this half is less coherent. Despite all of this, the last chapter is beautiful and a fitting conclusion for Win Berry and his family.
anaelle2rt's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
lowfi_enjoyer's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
loragracegrace's review against another edition
5.0
Endearing, sad, hilarious, absurd, and lovingly told - very John Irving, in short. Like many of his books, this one follows a comically tragic family through the eyes of one member who comically and tragically loves them. You start with John’s parents, then move through his childhood and on into his adult life, always orbiting the latest “Hotel New Hampshire” and the importance of a good, smart bear. Strong themes of death and sex, and a wrenching but ultimately redemptive plot line on rape, so do be ready for heavy subject matter handled with equal care and humor. My fourth Irving novel, and probably my favorite.
jammasterjamie's review against another edition
4.0
Not my favourite of Irving's ouvre, but even his less than stellar books are among the best stories I've ever read. I always try to avoid spoilers in my reviews and I will continue to do so with this one, but I will say that if you have any negative triggers around wildly inappropriate sexual scenarios and / or the depiction of sexual violence that you might want to give this one a skip. I don't suffer from any of those triggers and even I had an awkward and cringey reaction to some of the things discussed in this novel, and it's definitely not a book I'm ever going to recommend to my sister because ew.
glendaleereads's review against another edition
5.0
This book does mirror the world according to garp but it was a lot different. I was suprised at a lot of the things that happened and the way certain situations turned out, especially between the narrator John and his sister Franny. i was def not expecting THAT. But as always Irving hooked me with this book has he has done with so many others, its always refreshing to read one of his novels because your always going to find something unique and characters you can't help but fall in love with.
fractalium's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The first half of the book is quite slow, but that is needed to properly describe the characters. The character development is great, the story is comedic, sad, inspirational and tragic, just like life itself.