Welcome to Litsy!

A xmas chunkster from my favourite author + if this were his last novel it would represent many of the themes that have dominated john irving's past work. He expresses lgbtq voices in his work with warmth,+covers the US experience over his character, Adams 80 yrs incl Vietnam, Reagan/Aids, + trump. The bk feels very personal with a focus on child/single mother relationship. Loved it but at 890p a single read only. Happy reading in 2024 everyone

At the Santa Fe International Literary Festival to see John Irving! He spoke out against the troubling reversal of rights for women and the LGBTQ community, discussed his writing method (he always writes the last line of a book first) and the impact that his favorite novel (“Moby Dick”) had on him, and read a chapter from his current book-in-progress. What a fabulous 90 minutes! I could have listened to him speak for hours more.

I have had my eye on this one for awhile, but with the mixed reviews, I didn‘t want to pay full price. The ebook is on sale this weekend. Many great ebooks are on sale this weekend. I might have picked up five today. Oops

❤️Long. But beautiful. For Irving fans took me 84 days to read.

Nope. I just can‘t anymore. I don‘t care what happens, and I don‘t really like any character. The thought of several hundred more pages of wink wink nudge nudge sex talk and how the main character (whose name I‘ve already forgotten) is such a misfit…just fills me with dread. When John Irving hits for me, he really hits. But not so with this. Is the empty chairlift some kind of metaphor?

I absolutely adored this book! 💕📚 It's not a perfect book by any means, and it's certainly not for everyone. It's very long (just about 900 pages) and it does meander on a bit. The criticism against it is fair, in my opinion! But I laughed out loud during so many parts, and cried during many others. The characters are some of the best I've ever read! And I am desperately sad that my time with them has drawn to a close!

Just when I thought Irving couldn't surprise me with any new quirkiness in this book...he gives me a chapter with this title! 😂🤣

Winter is starting to wear on me as we‘ve had so much snow in the last few months. However, reading a good dark movie type Noir.

I‘ve heard John Irving‘s The Last Chairlift isn‘t a fluff book, it‘s meaty, and might not be for everyone, but I hope at least it will challenge my mind into taking a plunge out of the snow, and into a place that‘s filled with its foibles and good storytelling.

There was a big ice storm here a few days ago...and we have been without power ever since! It's been...a bit chilly, to say the least! 🥶🥶🥶 Been huddling under blankets alot with the kitties, trying to stay warm that way! Despite all this however, I am falling steadily in love with this book! It's been a while since I've read an Irving book - was he always this funny?! I laughed out loud SO HARD this morning I almost peed the bed! 😂💕📚

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Thematically similar to the other Irvings I‘ve read, in the best way! Funny, dark, and thoughtful. Adam, the Snow Shoer, and Little Ray were so well-fleshed. If this story had wrapped after a certain pivotal moment, I‘d have given a solid five stars. It went on too long. Additionally, the screen play dialogue, though clever, could‘ve been left out. In an already lengthy book, it was just repetitive. Edit that shit down, my friend!

Bedtime reading. Good-night.

First brand new book of the brand new year! 🎉💕📚

My second Barnes and Noble gift card purchase arrived today! 💕📚💕 Instead of just waiting until I received all the gift cards and making one big order I placed separate orders as soon as each gift card arrived, like a crazy person with no patience! 😂 Though to be fair, shipping is free so it wasn't a big deal! The Last Chairlift is MASSIVE! I didn't realize what a chunkster it is! A whopping 889 pages! 😱

Yeah, yeah it could have done with a tighter edit, but who really cares? Compelling, immersive storytelling from Irving in this novel. It feels like coming home to immerse yourself in a sprawling story of a complex family. As always, Irving‘s characters have such heart. This is a novel about how family matters, and how being true to yourself matters. In the end, like Moby-Dick, it‘s actually about how everything matters.

“John Irving, one of the world‘s greatest novelists, returns with his first novel in seven years—a ghost story, a love story, and a lifetime of sexual politics.”

Several times early on in this tome I thought about bailing. It has magical realism with ghosts and is so long! However, I'm glad I stuck with it and once again Irving did not disappoint. He spins cultural sexual norms on its head, comments on the politics of the U.S. and simultaneously gives us hope. This novel is a commitment, but if you're willing to make an investment I recommend it.

So looks like I‘m in the minority but there was enough of this book like the old Irving to make me happy. Did it need some editing, sure. I was often so drawn into the characters in this book .Irving was always a champion of exploring the family we are born into & the families we make , ones that are not always conventional.The references to Reagan,a bad sign of things to come, didn‘t take AIDS seriously, ratted out his colleagues to McCarthy etc.

Cooked a lot yesterday, enjoyed the festive Thanksgiving day.I am so tired, declaring a
#blackfridayreadathon that just might turn into a #blackfridaysleepathon 😂🥱😴

Five hours in I stopped to read more reviews and concluded it‘s not going to get any better 😔 Sorry, JI, I tried.

Also, now I need a new #snowysetting for #autumnbingo2022

Peep that sexy guy right there. My favorite author!! Anyone read the tagged book yet? I love when he releases a new book; it doesn‘t happen often.

I very rarely pan a book and it makes me sad to do so with this one. It may have been a so-so had it only been half of its 900pages. Honestly, I don‘t do myself any favours by struggling to bail. I think I (quite) enjoyed from about page 200 to 500 and by then I was too far in to give up.

I was going to say it contains the usual sexual and scatological humour, but I think a lot of what was missing in this book was the humour ⬇️

What makes Irving, Irving .🙂

I was pretty excited to find John Irving's new book. 😃 Had a lovely time book shopping with my kids then sushi for lunch. 🍣 #perfectsaturday #bookstorebooty

I‘m less than 100 pages in .So busy my reading time is so limited.But I must say it‘s wonderful to be reading a book by a “real writer “.😄Loving all the ski knowledge in this new one!⛷🎿 #quotes

Yes , it‘s a good Sunday Morning! Great Irving interview.I love that the new novel has a grandma that keeps Moby Dick at hand & reads it to her grandson. https://youtu.be/NcinEm8bRh0

You are old,the author is old,& we no longer care!
I was disappointed my local indie only had copies of the new Irving either paid for or reserved,none to buy on Tuesday (release day) they had 7 at the Tempe location, unfortunately, that is the opposite direction of my moms place.🙄The next day I did find it at Barnes & Noble , at the back of the new release table ,only 4 copies total. I am a reader for life, but Garp reignited my interest JIT.⬇️

Now Available! 🥳🎉📚

Review link- https://www.boleybooks.com/2022//the-last-chairlift/

#boleybooks #thelastchairlift #johnirving #bookbeast #bookreview #bookbuds

📘Inheritance
🖊️John Irving
📽️Inside Out
🎤Imagine Dragons
🎶If I Fell (Beatles)
#manicmonday #letteri

Oh my god, this sounds amazing! And I‘m upset that I will miss it because my husband and I will be traveling out of the country that week. 😕

For those who can attend the virtual event, here‘s the sign up: https://www.simonandschuster.com/p/authorfest

And please let me know how it is!

Fingers crossed it‘s a winner from one of my favorite authors.

Whelp, it finally happened. John tested positive for COVID. Thus begins our quarantine. Luckily, I got this baby in last week. He's totally fine, by the way, and I'm still testing negative so at this point it's really best case scenario except we had several import work-related appointments this week. C'est la vie.

Tackle the TBR 🤓📚 #boleybooks #JohnIrving #thelastchairlift #bookbeast #bookjoy #netgalley #bookbuds

😳😱expected on October 18,2022. https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Last-Chairlift/John-Irving/9781501189...