The Fourth Hand

The Fourth Hand is one of John Irving's finest novels to date. A man loses his hand. His search to become whole again soon makes him realise that it takes more than a new limb to find fulfilment. The novel begins with one of Irving's typically surreal scenarios: "Imagine a young man on his way to a less-than-thirty-second event--the loss of his left hand, long before he reached middle age." The unfortunate young man is the "irrefutably good-looking" television journalist Patrick Wallingford. While filing a report from a circus in India, Wallingford's left hand is eaten by a lion. Millions on TV watch the grisly scene. As friends and former lovers watch the disappearance of the reporter's hand, it becomes clear that:

Patrick Wallingford initiated nothing, yet he inspired sexual unrest and unnatural longing--even as he was caught in the act of feeding a lion his left hand. He was a magnet to women of all ages and types; even lying unconscious, he was a danger to the female sex

Bereft of his left hand, Wallingford ("the lion guy") finds that both his career and his already active sex life blossom. But "Dr. Nicholas M. Zajac, a hand surgeon with Schatzman, Gingeleskie, Mengerink & Associates", soon seduces him with the offer of a hand transplant. Unfortunately, "there were some strings attached to the donor hand" in the shape of its former owner's widow, Mrs Clausen from Green Bay, Wisconsin. Wallingford soon discovers that the transplant is only the beginning of his problems, as he goes in search of what transpires to be his "fourth hand". The Fourth Hand is a wonderfully funny and compulsive novel, which manages to encapsulate Irving's hallmark black humour with an incredibly tender pathos and gentle wisdom. Wallingford is a marvellous, flawed protagonist, a foolish, vain but ultimately decent man, while Zajac is one of Irving's finest comic creations. Above all, The Fourth Hand is a wonderful and lyrical love story, which is destined to become a classic. --Jerry Brotton

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A so-so book form a great writer - Rated
Just as I began this book I came down with the 'flu, which prevented me from going in search of something better. I did finish it, but found, as with others of Irving's later works, that it wasn't as satisfying as his earlier ones like Garp or Owen Meany. Irving's best works are the ones in which his obsession with sex is held in check, or at least balanced by other aspects of life. The only counterbalance for the hero's obsession with sex in this book is Dr Zajak's obsession with dog turds. Personally I found the writing about dog turds better than the writing about sex. Do I have a problem, or does Irving? One thing that makes this book readable is that, as always, Irving has done his homework meticulously. So the bits about the TV newsroom, the Green Bay Packers and all of the medical aspects of the story come across as very convincing and attention holding. I like Irving's quirky, sometimes bizarre storylines, but have the feeling that the germ of this plot might have been better developed as a more straightforward love story.

Brilliantly unusual - Rated
I love that JI can always be relied upon to come up with a variety of mind boggling storylines. This was just great; different and utterly unique, I enjoyed it very much. The way each character had their own story made this seem like several books in one. Can't comment on previous reviewers' disappointment as I am new to Irving (this being my second book after A widow for a year), but I found it hugely enjoyable.

Entertaining as always - Rated
Many reviews here say this book is disappointing, but I thoroughly enjoyed it! I love the slight wierdness of Irving's books, the strange character obsessions and circumstances they are faced with. This man is a handsome tv presenter, he loses his hand in a bizarre lion based accident, he has it replaced , and the widow of the owner of the replacement hand wants his baby.. it's brilliant and fascinating. Maybe it isn't as earnest and deep or dark as other novels of his but it is no less enjoyable or entertaining, I would recommend it.

The Fourth Hand - Rated
As an avid reader of John Irving, and usually finding much to think about in the variety and poignancy of relationships in his books, I found this one dissappointing. If you are a fan, of course you will have to read it, but for anyone new to Irving this will not show them the usual brilliance of his work.

Sadly, not up to his usual standard - Rated
I'm not sure what happened here but this is certainly not Irving in his usual flying form. Although the idea behind this book has all the hallmarks of John Irving - a bit wacky with potentially hilarious plot turns - it fails to deliver. I found the novel laboured, the characters unbelievable and even the names of the characters (which Irving usually does so brilliantly) somehow very fake-sounding. It certainly does have comic moments, more to do with the character of the hand surgeon than the main character of Wallingford, and specifically the dog hell-bent on eating its own excrement.

Overall though, this book is hard to finish. I found myself not exactly disliking Wallingford, just not believing in him or caring what happened. For those of you not familiar with Irving's work, earlier novels are a sure bet (Cider House Rules, Owen Meany, Garp) but more recent ones are also good (Widow for One Year, Son of the Circus).