Why Is The Last Chairlift A Must-Read Book?

2025-11-13 21:03:08
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3 Answers

Story Finder Data Analyst
John Irving's 'The Last Chairlift' is this sprawling, messy, beautiful thing that feels like getting lost in a snowstorm—in the best way possible. It’s got that signature Irving blend of wrestling, quirky families, and New England gloom, but with this weirdly tender undercurrent about love and identity. The way he writes about the protagonist’s relationship with their stepfather, this former ski instructor, is just... achingly human. There’s a scene where they ride the titular chairlift together, and the dialogue is so sparse but heavy with unspoken things. It’s not a perfect book—some subplots meander—but that’s almost part of its charm? Like life, it doesn’t tie up neatly, but the moments that hit really land.

What stuck with me, though, is how it tackles queerness. It’s not some grand coming-out narrative; it’s just there, woven into the fabric of these characters’ lives. The casual way Irving handles it feels radical for a writer of his generation. Plus, the ski resort setting becomes this metaphor for precariousness—how we all cling to these rickety lifts, hoping they’ll carry us somewhere better. Made me want to call my own weird family afterward.
2025-11-15 05:51:11
11
Gideon
Gideon
Favorite read: The Last Descent
Bookworm Chef
'The Last Chairlift' is Irving at his most unapologetically Irving. You either vibe with his rhythm or you don’t, but here’s why it’s worth trying: the book’s quiet rebellion against tidy endings. Life doesn’t have third-act resolutions, and neither does this. The protagonist’s journey with their gender identity unfolds with such organic awkwardness—no epiphanies, just incremental realizations between ski lessons and family dinners.

Also, the side characters! A lesbian couple running a doomed B&B, a wrestling coach with a Shakespeare obsession—they’re not quirks for quirk’s sake. They feel lived-in, like people you’d nod to at a diner. And that ending? No spoilers, but it left me staring at my ceiling for an hour. Not because it’s shocking, but because it’s true. Like the last run of the day when the light’s fading and you know you probably shouldn’ve gone down that black diamond, but damn, it was worth it.
2025-11-16 12:57:14
8
Owen
Owen
Favorite read: Into Thin Air
Bibliophile Teacher
If you’ve ever felt like an outsider in your own life, 'The Last Chairlift' will punch you right in the heart. Irving’s prose is like that gruff but kind coach who yells at you to do better while secretly packing extra mittens in your bag. The novel’s structure is wild—it jumps timelines, mixes genres (there’s even a ghost story tucked in there), and yet somehow it works. I dog-eared so many pages where the writing just sings, like when the main character describes their mother’s laugh as 'a door creaking open after decades.'

And the humor! Dark, absurd, perfectly timed. One chapter ends with a funeral where someone accidentally skis into the grave, and it shouldn’t be funny, but Irving makes it hysterical and poignant simultaneously. What makes it a must-read, though, is how it captures that specific ache of trying to reconcile who you are with where you came from. The ski slopes aren’t just backdrop; they’re this liminal space where characters either face their fears or wipe out spectacularly.
2025-11-17 14:24:41
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What is The Last Chairlift by John Irving about?

3 Answers2025-11-13 06:13:14
John Irving's 'The Last Chairlift' is this sprawling, deeply emotional novel that feels like a love letter to family, identity, and the messy beauty of life. It follows Adam, a writer reflecting on his unconventional upbringing with his mother, a former ski instructor, and the cast of eccentric characters who shaped him. The story jumps between timelines, weaving in themes of sexuality, loss, and the weight of secrets—classic Irving stuff, really. There’s skiing, of course (it wouldn’t be Irving without a niche obsession), but it’s more about the chairlift as a metaphor for life’s ups and downs. What hooked me was how raw and tender it feels. Adam’s relationships—with his mother, his lovers, even ghosts—are painted with this aching honesty. Irving doesn’t shy away from the absurd or the tragic, and that balance makes it unforgettable. It’s not just a book; it’s an experience, like watching a storm roll over a mountain—equal parts thrilling and melancholic.
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