Reviews

Der letzte Sessellift by John Irving

jennrocca's review against another edition

I don’t want to give this book stars. On the whole, I liked it. Characters are classically John Irving, interesting and complex. There is a “ghosts” elements I did not like. I think the story could have been better without them and they just weren’t necessary. I didn’t love the sections written as a screen play though I admit they logically fit the story well.

I don’t want to give it stars because with John Irving, like Neil Gaiman for me, I finish the book acknowledging that the plot, characters, overall story, and writing were all good… but I didn’t particularly enjoy reading it. I enjoy the fact that I have read it and I can reflect on it, but actually reading it felt like a bit of a chore. This books doesn’t deserve to feel like a chore.

I might recommend it to the right person. I will definitely think about it into the future. No rating.

pia_moo7's review

emotional reflective slow-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

mscrankypants's review against another edition

dark emotional funny reflective sad slow-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

4.75

kewarra's review against another edition

challenging mysterious

4.0

carpentd's review against another edition

dark emotional slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

jbliv's review against another edition

5.0

The Last Chairlift is the best John Irving novel in a VERY LONG time, at least since A Widow for One Year, and maybe even further back. Here we have his classic mix: sex, humor, tragedy, pathos, sprawling family saga, wrestling, and movies. I went in with trepidation but emerged joyous. Well worth the ride.

ibbeldibbelleest's review against another edition

Veel te langdradig, teveel herhalingen, geen echt verhaal

remuslibrary's review against another edition

funny reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.25

farbeach's review against another edition

emotional funny mysterious reflective relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

eggbeater's review against another edition

emotional funny reflective sad slow-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

This is a 900 page book. That, in itself, makes it not for everyone, but it is perfect for me because the characters are so endearingly strange. Sometimes the plot is slow and resembles historical political commentary--definitely left leaning. Sometimes it's riveting drama, and people start dropping like Game of Thrones. The story is quite poignant and reflective, but everyone's sexual foibles had me laughing out loud like a loon. There are common John Irving themes: a straight, cisgender man and everyone he loves is part of the LGBTQ community, there's wresting, of course, and writing. And then there are the addition of the quirky ghosts and his girlfriends' reactions to them. The screenplay episodes took a minute for me to get used to, but they make sense when I realize Adam has to remain detached when recounting certain parts of his life. If you like John Irving's other books, this one won't let you down.