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The Fourth Hand

By John Irving

(38)

| Mass Market Paperback | 9780345463159

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Book Description

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 Continue

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 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 and the will to change.


From the Trade Paperback edition.

Critics

  • The hand of fate

    The Fourth Hand John Irving 416pp, Bloomsbury, £16.99 Some years ago, I was living in Italy near Gore Vidal, working on a novel in which two characters discussed the existential theology of Kierkegaard over a passage of 20 or so pages. Feeling uncert ... (read full critics)

    guardian.co.uk published on Sat, 25 Sep 2010

  • The mane attraction

    The Fourth Hand John Irving Bloomsbury £16.99, pp416 The most disarming part of Patrick Wallingford's first meeting with the love of his life is the order in which she removes her clothes. That she is the donor of what will be Wallingford's new left ... (read full critics)

    guardian.co.uk published on Sat, 25 Sep 2010

2 Reviews

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  • In usual quirky style of Irving. Few words wasted. An enjoyable book.

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    D said on Apr 13, 2010 about the Unbound edition | Add your feedback

  • My thoughts

    This book started with a touch of quirky humor but over time changed into a serious love story. I liked how Patrick learns about true love and compassion as he tries to win Doris' heart. I also found the insight into television news coverage informative.

    Is this helpful?

    krin5292 said on Apr 22, 2008 about the Paperback edition | Add your feedback

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