John Berry grows up in a family led by his father Win, an eccentric dreamer who buys a failing New Hampshire hotel and wants to turn it into a family business. The Berry children, Frank, Franny, Lilly and Egg, deal with love, loss, a pet bear and a series of strange events, from a rape that haunts Franny to a trip to Vienna where the family encounters prostitutes and radicals. The story is narrated by John with irony and black comedy.
A good pick for Irving fans and people who like sprawling, offbeat family sagas. It combines humor with tragedy and is suited to those who enjoy novels in which odd characters keep striving to be happy despite repeated misfortune.
Thought-provoking; a moderate read.
Best for readers like The Story Seeker. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 1981
- Language
- EN
