The Fourth Hand

A Novel

By: John Irving

Narrated by: Jason Culp

#1 NATIONAL BESTSELLER • A NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOK

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.

Praise for The Fourth Hand

“A rich and deeply moving tale . . . Vintage Irving: a story of two very disparate people, and the strange and unexpected ways we grow . . . Irving’s novels are perceptive and precise reflections of the world around us.”—The Washington Post Book World

“A blend of sexual farce, journalistic satire, and tender love story . . . From what at first seems bizarre, Irving builds the best kind of love story: an improbable one. Wallingford gets more than a transplanted hand; he begins to find his soul.”—USA Today

“A riveting entertainment and certainly one of the funniest novels of the year. The authoritative control of Irving’s storytelling has never been more impressive. . . . The delighted reader is powerless to look away.”—Chicago Sun-Times

“[A] thoroughly satisfying literary experience . . . Irving’s most compassionate and redemptive [novel] to date . . . [His] mastery of characterization is unequaled in American novelists of the day.”—St. Louis Post-Dispatch

“A beautiful story about the redemptive power of love.”—The Denver Post

©2001 by Garp Enterprises (P)2001 Random House, Inc.

Strange but Fascinating

This is the first Irving book I've "read," and I enjoyed it a lot. The narrator, Jason Culp, is what sold me on listening in the first place, because I had greatly enjoyed his excellent narration of "Last Man Standing." I found "Fourth Hand" fascinating because, in a manner similar to "Even Cowgirls Get the Blues," it swirls in a vortex of sexuality without being dominated by it. I've actually known a man like the main character, so as improbable as he seems, he does exist out there. As a character, he may not have been as compelling without the gruesome mayhem aspect, but strangely, that aspect lends him credibility. I admit I fell into the trap of expecting a more profound outcome, thus almost gave it four stars instead of five. But then I realized it's character driven, rather than plot driven. As such, the characters find themselves in multiple laugh-out-loud situations. Bottom line: It's a fascinating ADULT listen, and it may very well be that my slight disappointment at the end had more to do with the fact that the story was over than the fact that it didnt end differently.

a good irving story

Is it as good as A Prayer for Owen Meany or A Widow for One Year? No, I don't think so. But it is good. It's worth reading and it's classic Irving. If you like classic John Irving, you'll enjoy the Fourth Hand.

American Male Humor

This is my favorite audio book and I have collected hundreds. This book has everything an American Male can ask for: the NFL, sex, John Irving's dry humor, etc. I strongly recommend it (for guys).

On the flipside, I don't believe females would find this book amusing.

The strangest of love stories.

I simply love John Irving's stories, they always lead you down the crooked little lanes of human existence.

I am a fan of John Irving!

Great prose even if the premise is outrageous. A unique talent for holding the reader’s attention.

WELL..... I LOVED IT

It seems that one either loves this book or hates it. For those who say they hated it and that "nothing ever happens", I suggest a lack of a sense of humor.
I just adored this story, the characters were quirky funny and I looked forward to each new chapter. So if you don't need to have your read be an exciting page turner at each moment, and if you possess a sense of humor, you'll just love this listen.

Not as good as others he has written

. . . but still worth it. Mostly because of how Irving writes. I love the innuendos and perspectives of his writing. I didn't love the main character of this story, but I didn't hate him either, which is, I suppose, exactly the type of character Irving was aiming for with Patrick Wallingford.

I really loved the story of the hand surgeon and his son and dog - and Irma.

My favorite Irving novel is still a toss-up between Cider House Rules and A Prayer for Owen Meanie.

Give John Irving a hand

Vintage John Irving. This book is the story of TV journalist Patrick Wallingford and puts on display the colorful and sympathetic characters, dazzling imagination and vibrant storylines that have become hallmarks of Irving's classic writing style. And the tale is read by a strong and expressive voice that lights the prose in neon lettering.

On the downside, The Fourth Hand does run out of gas about three-quarters through the book (a common problem with many novels), but the ride has already been so good to that point that you will easily forgive Irving for not ending on a stronger note.

good listen

John Irving's books work particularly well as audiobooks because he's such a lovely storyteller. You won't necessarily find yourself glued to your MP3 player dying to see what happens next, but with every chapter, Irving invites you in once again with his by now typical characters and plots, so he's easy to pick up and put down and pick up again. If you like Irving, you'll like this a lot, though it's not his best book ever.

Disappointing

I would guess that this could best be described as a love story. I did not find it particularly funney. There is not much of a plot. On the positive side it has lots of very interesting characters. I am not sorry I listened to it but would not recommend it to anyone who is not a fan of the author.