The Fourth Hand

Rating:
Summary: The Subtle Side of Irving
Review: I waited eagerly for the release of Irving's 10th novel, and was once again blown away by the author's amazing writing style, his ability to weave together storylines, and his fantastic character development. The Fourth Hand is one of Irving's quieter novels, but it still embodies all of the characteristics that make Irving one of our best contemporary novelists. It contains a smaller number of characters and subplots than his previous books, such as the recent Widow for One Year, the spectacular Son of the Circus, or the classics Prayer for Owen Meaney and Ciderhouse Rules, yet it is just as intriguing and well-written. I won't get into describing the plot - that would ruin it for you. What I think is most important is how this book makes you feel as you read it. Within a few chapters, I was "living" with the characters and could barely put the book down! Irving has a marvelous ability to draw the reader in with multi-faceted, well-developed characters that are easy to get involved with. You don't necessarily identify with the characters (some of them are not exactly upstanding citizens), however, Irving's magic lies in his ability to make you understand and care about his characters, regardless of their behavior. He is a true genius when it comes to character development. I was most impressed with his portrayal of a character named Doris - he tantalizes the reader by releasing snippets of information about this odd, off-center woman over time, so that the reader is as baffled by her as protagonist Patrick Wallingford is. We learn about her as Patrick does - and the suspense Irving creates is palpable! Many of Irving's trademark conventions and themes make cameo appearances in The Fourth Hand, and while some critics have disparaged Irving for incorporating fragments of themes recurrent from his previous novels, I enjoyed these little "winks" from the author. He remains true to his interests, and those familiar with his work will have fun with the little nods to Irving's prior subjects. (For instance, a brief but important part of the story takes place in India, setting for Son of the Circus. The author's interest in medical practices and ethics is revived, although in a completely different manner than was showcased in Ciderhouse Rules.) True to the author's style, characters and subplots are beautifully interwoven - what appear to be loose ends are neatly and intelligently tied together as the novel progresses. Irving's writing style is smooth, seamless and wonderfully descriptive. It really is a joy to read a novel so beautifully and thoughtfully composed. Irving is not afraid to include controversial subject matter in his novels. In The Fourth Hand, ethics are central to the storyline. Medical ethics, the ethics of journalism and journalistic integrity, and the ethics of human relationships (both parent-child and male-female) are explored. While the question of ethics is a constant underlying theme, the reader does not feel as if s/he is being force-fed Irving's personal ideas. He presents his subject matter objectively, and the characters wrestle with their own versions of "ethics" as they interpret them. Hence, the novel takes on a personal and introspective tone, and does not feel preachy or condescending (something that would have bothered me very much). Irving has the ability to rise above issues and present both sides of the coin in a way that is comfortable and curiously entertaining. This book is thought provoking and realistic. Most importantly, The Fourth Hand is about love - love of life, love of oneself (or learning to love oneself), love of family, and romantic love. While this is never stated outright, at the novel's end it becomes apparent that all of the characters are motivated by their desire to love - love their child, love their job/life situation, love a partner or potential partner. That is another gift Irving give us - you never quite realize how deep theh story reaches until the book is over. Reflecting on his novels and the many themes they incorporate is sometimes more fun that actually reading them. As with his other novels, The Fourth Hand will stay with you for days - it will keep popping up out of your subconscious. For this I will always be thankful for John Irving - he never ceases to make you think. The Fourth Hand is a well-written, compelling, thought-provoking and insightful book, as well as a real joy to read. While some have expressed disappointment with this novel, I feel that perhaps they may have had such high expectations that they failed to appreciate the quiet, subtle message of this wonderful book.

Rating:
Summary: Not one of Irving's best efforts
Review: John Irving's novels are always worth reading, and *The Fourth Hand* is no exception. Certainly, it's a fun summertime read that moves right along and is seldom (though I can't say never)boring. As always, Irving creates some memorable and bizarre body-related imagery and a few weirdly endearing characters, such as the gum-chewing makeup girl, Angie. The famous Irving dry wit manifests itself frequently, and there is enough worthwhile social commentary related to the predatory nature of the media and the overall foibles of human nature to render this book "ok."

But compared with *The Cider House Rules* *A Son of the Circus* (an underrated jewel of a novel), *A Widow For One Year*, and even *The World According to Garp*, this book seems a pallid effort, indeed. The overall premise/metaphor related to the loss of the protagonist's left hand seems labored and at times even silly; the characters on the whole seem wooden, unlikeable, and even worse, unmemorable; and the slightly sappy ending is all too predictable and Hollywood-esque. I would add that Irving's main character, the handsome newscaster Patrick Wallingford, seems oddly bland for a guy who supposedly is irresistable to all women. In fact, Patrick's seemingly effortless success at bedding any and all females seems to represent a male fantasy of sexual omniscience, the flip side of which is Irving's unflattering portrayal of just about all of his female characters as conniving and manipulative. It's hard for me to reconcile Irving's strangely flat and unappealing lead characters with the supposed ultimate message regarding how love abides and conquers all.

This is certainly not a terrible novel. In fact, I enjoyed reading it and would recommend it to anyone looking for an engrossing few hundred pages to while away a few lazy summertime hours. I suppose that like so many other people, however, I have come to expect a lof a significant writer like John Irving, and this work proved disappointingly lightweight.

Rating:
Summary: Everyone's a critic
Review: After reading so many critical pans of this novel, my usual enthusiasm for Mr. Irving's books was dampened, but not my curiousity. Thank God I read the book anyway. It seems that we all have expectations of one of our greats, and that may be to the detriment of true appreciation of this novel. I found, as usual with one of Irving's novels, I could not put this one down and I laughed out loud at several parts. Considering these facts, I have a hard time accepting many reviewers opinions of the quality of the book. Granted if you were looking for a carbon copy of some other book (Garp or Owen)you will not find it here. Instead I am intrigued by Mr. Irving's development as a writer, and ability to reinvent new characters with new challenges. Yes he has toned down the wild rides of his previous subplotting, but he still manages to make even the minor characters come alive. His points about the TV non-news seemed to me to be right on, both a part of Wallingford's awakening, and sorely needed commentary on our culture. The chapter "Up North" strikes me as a turning point in the novel, and a more satisfying summer setting could not be imagined. I am thankful that I ignored the shallowness of the throngs of critics here and read this novel. I hope others who love John Irving (and have ever been "up north") will feel the same.

Rating:
Summary: Irving must have been getting pressure from his publisher
Review: I guess John had to turn out SOMETHING.

This?

And I'm a huge Irving fan.

Or was.

I just finished reading David McCulloch's excellent biography of John Adams. If someone named John Adams rather than John Irving had submitted this, it would have been trashed after one chapter.

Rating:
Summary: Uncharacteristically Flat
Review: As a reader who anticipates each new novel by John Irving as if it were Christmas morning, The Fourth Hand hit me as an uncharacteristically flat effort. While the prose are imbued with Irving's graceful yet down to earth brilliance, the characters lack the "kaleidoscopic" depth which Irving has nailed so often in the past. While I will not go so far as to suggest that fans of Irving forego the experience of this novel, I do caution them that they may feel unfulfilled upon reaching the novel's conclusion. This work unfortunately lacks Irving's gift for manipulating the absurdity and chaos of life into an unanticipated resolution which leaves us knowing more about what it means to be alive and human in this world.

Rating:
Summary: 2 more disappointed John Irving fans
Review: I'm sorry to report that, as others have said, this book just is not up to the high standard John Irving has set. My husband and I have read just about every John Irving novel, and loved most of them. We've enjoyed all of them, up till now. We both completed this one, slogging through it in the vain hope that in the next pages or the next chapter it would finally take off and soar. It never did.

The most accurate review I've read was by Todd Leopold, July 30, CNN online, who speculated that the book was written by computer software or a John Irving machine.

Read his other books, if you have not. I absolutely LOVED "A Prayer for Owen Meaney," "Setting Free the Bears," and "Hotel New Hampshire," and "Widow for One Year."

From Vienna, smartbear

Rating:
Summary: Funny, touching, wonderful book!
Review: The first section of this book made me laugh out loud continually. For anyone interested at all in the state of present-day journalism, the book is a great satire of the profession. Also, I liked the second half of the book which took a more serious approach to the main character's life as a journalist and to his personal life. John Irving's novels are unique and I never feel that I've read anything like them before.If you're looking for one of the formula-plot books that continually fill up the best seller list, then this isn't for you. But it was the book for me!

Rating:
Summary: From from an Irving Classic
Review: Contrary to some opinions I have read of those who have reviewed The Fourth Hand, I do not contend that this book was [...], or "awful". On the other hand, it is far from a classic, especially considering what Irving *can* do.

I found that the first half of the book was, as usual with Irving's writing style, engaging and kept my interest. At times, I even found that I laughed aloud, especially at the antics of Dr. Zanjac and his poop-eating dog. The more I read, however, the more frustrated I became that I felt that Irving took a good idea and *stretched* it into a mediocre plot. Now, I must be fair and say that I cannot expect Irving to put out something as grand as Owen Meany. Nonetheless, even his writing voice somehow seemed an order of magnitude more detached and lacking in passion than I found in other novels prior to Widow for a Year (an even worse book).

Patrick Wallingford, his sexual anarchy, and his mystical experiences with his hand seemed to be Irving's attempts to capture his earlier work, without the sense of conviction for which he is famous. At times, it felt that he wrote the humorous antics in the book for their own sake, either without attaching to them greater meaning, or making them too contrived to fit the plot.

While The Fourth Hand is an utterly readable book, it is unfortunately also unmemorable. Here is hoping for something better!

Rating:
Summary: Despite some minor irritations, still a good read
Review: Although the negative portrayals of women in this book really made me want to dislike it, I couldn't help but be sucked in by this poignant, funny story. The central character is largely unlikeable, but by the end of the book, I found myself rooting for Patrick Wallingford to get his woman. This is by no means Irving at his best (for that, read Cider House Rules or The 158-Pound Marriage), but it was an enjoyalbe, engrossing read.

Rating:
Summary: Even The Master
Review: can throw in a clinker. I, of course, enjoyed it but it is nowhere near his best. Stop with the "movie business" and come back to us in 4 years with your best yet.