Book Review: The Fourth Hand by John Irving

Type:
Humor, romance (described by USA Today as “a blend of sexual farce, journalistic satire, and tender love story”)

About: 
A charming and womanizing reporter loses his hand to a lion. A surgeon attempts a transplant and although it’s not successful, he finds the one woman who might make him complete. (Yes, I went there.)

Why did I read it: I love John Irving. The Cider House Rules is one of my all-time favorite books. I picked this one up for 50 cents at Goodwill.

Read it if :
-You like intelligent humor and imperfect love stories.
-You have an interest in what goes on “behind-the-scenes” at television news operations.

Don’t read it if:
-You are uncomfortable with sex scenes. They aren’t graphic or gratuitous, but our main character “gets around.”
-You are easily frustrated by a meandering storyline.

Cool: Takes place in the late 1990s and hits on some news stories like JFK Jr.’s death and the media frenzy surrounding it. As one who works with the media daily, I appreciated the inside look and insightful criticism.

Number of busy bees: 3.5 out of 5

Better Reviews:
New York Times

Book Reporter

CNN