Helpful Score: 2
This is NOT one of Irving's better novels. I have read many and have enjoyed them all, until this one. The premiss was intriguing, but the execution is just not up to his usual greatness. If you'd like to read Irving, don't start with this one! And if you like Irving, you probably don't want to take time to read this one either.
Helpful Score: 1
What a terrible book.
Helpful Score: 1
This book started with a touch of quirky humor but over time changed into a serious love story. I liked how Patrick learns about true love and compassion as he tries to win Doris' heart. I also found the insight into television news coverage informative.
Helpful Score: 1
I loved this book! It was very different in a refreshing way! Just an unusual but intriguing story! Made me want to read more by John Irving!
Helpful Score: 1
An interesting love story, about the world's first hand transplant and the woman who loves the hand, its giver, and its receiver.
Helpful Score: 1
Typical John Irving, depth,with humor bordering on bizaar. In spite of their weirdness, characters become real and most were likable. It was an interesting, enjoyable read.
Helpful Score: 1
A good John Irving book; bittersweet, funny, a love story and a fantasy.
Helpful Score: 1
Not bad. Held my interest. About reporter that loses his hand on the job and the story surrounding his new hand.
Helpful Score: 1
10 CD set - unabridged. Lots of great listening time. Interesting and unusual combination of storylines from aspects of 25 news channel journalism, hand surgery, and the search for personal happiness. Well written and well read. Highly recommended.
Helpful Score: 1
Another terrific and unusual story from Mr. Irving!
Helpful Score: 1
Strange but definetly a one-of-a-kind plot. Obsession vs love.
Helpful Score: 1
Different but intriguing. Lead to great discussion with book group.
Helpful Score: 1
This was perhaps the most bizarre and ridiculous book I have ever heard in my life! I drive a truck and listen to books on tape all the time. I have been entertained, hurt, bored, discussed and enraged many times. But I don't believe that I have ever heard anything that even remotely matches the ridiculousness of this one.
Helpful Score: 1
Reminds me of Irving's earlier writings, like "Owen Meany." Fantastic, quirky story with interesting characters. Hard to put down. Much better than "Until I Find You" and the circus story. Some themes come around again (continued in "Twisted River) like an old friend. Thank you, John Irving, for making me laugh out loud when I read.
Helpful Score: 1
John Irving is a great writer to me because of all the idiosyncrasies he brings together in his books. There is never a resolution that is expected or get to the finish the way you expected. This was a re read for me and it was as good as ever.
Helpful Score: 1
Of all John Irving's books I liked this the least, simply because I found the characters hard to connect to. The story is original, and the writing is great, but the character development leaves something to be desired.
Helpful Score: 1
Wacky and wonderful, sometimes too slow, this books drew me in and I actually cared about the main character by the end.
Helpful Score: 1
How can one not enjoy Irving? This book is about a hand transplant - a kind of complicated tale that surrounds a deeper pursuit in a man's life.
I love John Irving, but this wasn't his best book ever. I did enjoy it, just not as much as many of his others.
another crazy one from john irving!
Okay, I am a John Irving fan. This book is based on a really odd premise of a hand transplant where the donor's wife insists on visitations rights...
As typical for Irving, very readable and filled with unusual characters.
FROM THE PUBLISHER
The Fourth Hand asks an interesting question: "How can anyone identify a dream of the future?" The answer: "Destiny is not imaginable, except in dreams or to those in love."
While reporting a story from India, a New York television journalist has his left hand eaten by a lion; millions of TV viewers witness the accident. In Boston, a renowned hand surgeon awaits the opportunity to perform the nation's first hand transplant; meanwhile, in the distracting aftermath of an acrimonious divorce, the surgeon is seduced by his housekeeper. A married woman in Wisconsin wants to give the one-handed reporter her husband's left hand - that is, after her husband dies. But the husband is alive, relatively young, and healthy.
As typical for Irving, very readable and filled with unusual characters.
FROM THE PUBLISHER
The Fourth Hand asks an interesting question: "How can anyone identify a dream of the future?" The answer: "Destiny is not imaginable, except in dreams or to those in love."
While reporting a story from India, a New York television journalist has his left hand eaten by a lion; millions of TV viewers witness the accident. In Boston, a renowned hand surgeon awaits the opportunity to perform the nation's first hand transplant; meanwhile, in the distracting aftermath of an acrimonious divorce, the surgeon is seduced by his housekeeper. A married woman in Wisconsin wants to give the one-handed reporter her husband's left hand - that is, after her husband dies. But the husband is alive, relatively young, and healthy.
John Irving takes you from laffs to tears. I loved it!
I didn't think I was going to like this book when I first started reading it, but it continually grew on me until I couldn't put it down.
Leah G.
Leah G.
This was a book that my book club read, and it was very different. Definitely thought provoking though.
As with all of John Irving's novels, I never know if I should laugh or cry...incidents that would be hilarious if not so tragic. I can never tell if Irving's novels are a comedic tragedy or a tragic comedy...whichever they are, they are always intriguing. This book is no exception.
This one is a love story by John Irving.
Odd, interesting, not likely to happen, makes you think, you will laugh, wonder and go "what?".
Moves at a great pace, interesting characters and what a story.
Moves at a great pace, interesting characters and what a story.
Classic John Irving -- right up there with Owen Meany & Cider House Rules
What a bizarre story! So typical of John Irving's style! I liked two of his other books, but not this one so much. Wish I had read the reviews first, then I would not have bothered. Still an experience, though! D.
Bizarre and funny story (highly improbable as is Irving's style).
Could not finish.
While reporting a story from India, New York journalist Patrick Wallingford inadvertently becomes his own headline when his left hand is eaten by a lion. In Boston, a renowned surgeon eagerly awaits the opportunity to perform the nation's first hand transplant. But what if the donor's widow demands visitation rights with the hand? In answering this unexpected question, John Irving has written a novel that is by turns brilliantly comic and emotionally moving, offering a penetrating look at the power of second chances and the will to change.
While reporting a story from India, New York journalist Patrick Wallingford inadvertently becomes his own headline when a lion eats his left hand.
Funny, tender and thought-provoking. A NY journalist inadvertently become his own headline when his left hand is eaten by a lion. After having the nation's first hand transplant, the reporter discovers that perhaps the hand has a mind of its own. I enjoyed this book thoroughly!
I haven't read a lot of John Irving, though I loved The World According to Garp. This book held me interested -- something that's been hard to do lately and I thoroughly enjoyed it!
another great/odd one by John Irving!
You know John Irving. I don't need to say any more.
While reporting a story from India, New York journalist Patrick Wallingford inadvertently becomes his own headline when his left hand is eaten by a lion. This is a love story, believe it or not, by John Irving! Has his usual impossible to explain twists and turns ...
While expecting a story from India, New York journalist Patrick Wallingford inadvertently becomes his own headline when his left hand is eaten by a lion. In Boston, a renowned surgeon eagerly awaits the opportunity to perform the nation's first hand transplant. But what if the doner's widow demands visitation rights with the hand...
Really strange novel about a hand transplant and about second chances.
Quirky but interesting read.
funny, typical John Irving.
