Description
In this sprawling, darkly comic novel, John Irving weaves together the interconnected lives of the eccentric Berry family—hoteliers, dreamers, and unlikely caretakers of a performing bear—as they navigate the absurdities and tragedies of existence across generations. Through the eyes of John Berry, the family's chronicler, readers encounter a cast of unforgettable characters bound by love, delusion, and the strange fate that seems to follow them from one hotel to the next. Irving masterfully balances humor with profound melancholy, exploring themes of family dysfunction, the persistence of hope against impossible odds, and the ways we construct meaning in an unpredictable world. With his signature blend of the outrageous and the deeply human, Irving crafts a novel that is simultaneously funny, heartbreaking, and utterly compelling—a testament to the resilience of those who dare to dream despite the world's relentless indifference.
Available Editions
paperback
Ballantine Books
Published Apr 1, 1999
ISBN: 9780345915634
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Details
First Published
1994
Language
eng
Content Warnings
No content warnings identified.