The Hotel New Hampshire

By: John Irving

Narrated by: Kirby Heyborne

The New York Times best-selling saga of a most unusual family from the award-winning author of The World According to Garp.

“The first of my father’s illusions was that bears could survive the life lived by human beings, and the second was that human beings could survive a life led in hotels.” So says John Berry, son of a hapless dreamer, brother to a cadre of eccentric siblings, and chronicler of the lives lived, the loves experienced, the deaths met, and the myriad strange and wonderful times encountered by the family Berry. Hoteliers, pet-bear owners, friends of Freud (the animal trainer and vaudevillian, that is), and playthings of mad fate, they “dream on” in a funny, sad, outrageous, and moving novel by the remarkable author of A Prayer for Owen Meany and Last Night in Twisted River.

©1981 John Irving (P)2019 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

“A hectic, gaudy saga with the verve of a Marx Brothers movie.” (The New York Times Book Review)

“A startlingly original family saga that combines macabre humor with Dickensian sentiment.” (Time)

“Spellbinding . . . intensely human . . . a high-wire act of dazzling virtuosity.” (Cosmopolitan)

There are literary works that can bring about strong emotions…

He may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but Irving can depict characters and surroundings so realistically they take shape in your mind. Some readers form images so clearly they forget the characters are fictional and may take offense to their views and actions.
There are literary works that can bring about strong emotions that produce laughter, anxiety, and tears…and this is one of them. 💕

This one grows on you

As the story began, I didn’t find myself really relating to or enjoying any of the characters. But the drescription had all the signs of a novel I’d love so I pushed on. I believe this story feels the way the story itself goes. Much like growing up, it’s only as you mature and reflect on moments and people, that you realize the full nature and validity of them.
As this story came to a close I found myself loving each and every character and all the wild events that had brought us to where we were and boy am I glad I stuck through it in the beginning.
This story goes to and through so many different things, it’s quite beautiful how it all comes together.

finished it to finish it

Disappointed. The dialog at times was absurd. It's hard to tell if it's the fault of the author or the narrator or both. I've enjoyed other Irving books, but not this one.

it's a fine book, but no Garp

at times I felt like I was reading one if his other books, so many of the themes are repeated. he is a skilled writer so it is still a good book.

Fantastic

One of the finest pieces of modern literature I’ve ever read. Nostalgic and beautiful. A masterpiece.

Beautiful

One of my favorite books. Great reading. Hilarious, beautiful, and tragic. An incredible collection of characters.

Hmmm. Interesting

Lots of highs. A lot of dysfunction Unusual but not for John Irving Performed well.

Give me more

Thanks to the author and the narrator the book never had a dull moment such imagination

Another great book by John Irving

I'm a huge Irving fan, but I never got around to reading his first great novel. This story has his fingerprints all over it: bizarre story lines, bizarre characters, and a complicated multilayered story that is really about something different than what he actually wrote. The book is great, and the voice actor is phenomenal. He creates very identifiable and believable characterizations for each character at will, and switches between them as required. He really makes the characters come to life. A great audiobook, and a great story by a great contemporary author.

oddly engaging

at times unbelievable, but always egging me on to continue. I recommend it to others.