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 … 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.
This is how John Irving’s tenth novel begins; it seems, at first, to be a comedy, perhaps a satire, almost certainly a sexual farce. Yet, in the end, The Fourth Hand is as realistic and emotionally moving as any of Mr. Irving’s previous novels – including The World According to Garp, A Prayer for Owen Meany, and A Widow for One Year – or his Oscar-winning screenplay of The Cider House Rules.
The Fourth Hand is characteristic of John Irving’s seamless storytelling and further explores some of the author’s recurring themes – loss, grief, love as redemption. But this novel also breaks new ground; it offers a penetrating look at the power of second chances.
From the Hardcover edition.
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I love John Irving’s work, but this one was really disappointing. Don’t waste your time.
John Irving is one of my favorite authors and this book was not one of his best in my opinion, it was still stamped by his insightful narrative style as were all his other books. I think that if John’s name is stamped on it, you should read it.
Really great read.
I had a hard time figuring out what I liked about the book. It did keep my interest, but at times I wondered why. I was kind of turned off by the male character’s lack of control of his sexual desires and acting on it at inappropriate times with inappropriate partners. The basis of the story kept my interest and I remained interested in that …
John Irving is amazing. I love every word he’s ever written.
Unfortunately, I have (again) fallen into the trap of attesting more than anything else to the importance of formulating the abstract on the back of the book. From reading the back of the book, you get the feeling of a book of one kind – of depth and thought, but the more pages have taken away, the higher disappointment you feel. Yes, it’s a …
I loved the book. Irving has a wonderful way with words and spin a great tale.
I love John Irving’s quirky stories. A great read. Makes you forget your own troubles.
One of the best story teller’s of our time.
Not typical John Irving, but still worth reading if you like his stuff.
Disappointing from one ofy favorite authors.
True to form, Irving weaves a tale of off kilter love. Wry and provacative
Love everything Irving wrote. This is no exception
I got about halfway and I couldn’t make myself finish it.
Another of Irvings great books.
Dragged in way too long.
I started this book and did something that I rarely do. I decided that I just didn’t like it and I was not going to waste my time. I archived it
Not everything John Irving writes is worthy of 4-5 stars, but this one is. As with the Irving novels I love, this kept me mesmerized. I finished this novel wishing I could continue knowing the characters beyond the limits of the book. This is almost as “off the wall” as The Water Method Man or Setting Free the Bears and as enjoyable a story. …
Good book, not authors best..
Quirky, but so very well written. It’s John Irving, so it’s hard to go wrong!