taetris 's review for:

The Hotel New Hampshire by John Irving

2.0

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This is a saga starring a family of seven. They live in the titular Hotel New Hampshire and the story follows their lives. This is not the kind of book where nothing happens - a lot of dramatic things do happen - but the plot is overshadowed by a whole lot of bullshit.

There is quite a lot of sex, which is fine, but the way it is portrayed is sometimes weird and sometimes just plain disgusting or doesn't make any sense.

Spoiler

What's with the part where Franny and John are cured of their attraction for each other by fucking until they're sore? How does that make any sense? Also the way John sleeps with prostitutes the whole time is weird, and the fact that Susie is a Lesbian seems brushed aside in the end when she marries John?

There are also other things that are weird and uncomfortable, like when a terrorist is likened to a pornographer or the scene where they confront Chipper Dale. Also the whole bear thing seemed weird and out of place.

I feel like I should be reading a lot of things into the book, but to me it seems odd and doesn't mean anything.

I must say that the characters are well drawn. There is a part where, in quick succession, we are introduced to 5 females of the same profession and I could instantly picture each of them as individual people.
Also, a part of the book is set in Vienna, and only 2-3 German words and phrases are butchered (it could have been worse).