The first thing you should know about "The Last Chairlift" is that John Irving is a natural storyteller. Second, don't start this novel or audiobook unless you have time--and plenty of patience. The book is more than 900 pages!

In exchange for your attention commitment, you get the story of Adam, a boy-turned-man who just wants to fit in, know who his dad is and what's ahead for him. He finds the perfect husband for his mom, Little Ray, a diehard skier who prefers snow slopes most of the year. Many years later, Adam travels to Aspen and the Hotel Jerome, where his mom says he has conceived. There he encounters ghosts past and present.

After reading about 300 pages, I switched to the audiobook. The narration helped give the characters a depth lacking in the written form. It was easier to listen to the story than to read for hours and hours. Hearing the words helped me imagine the characters and their depths.

If you can stick with the plot, Irving begins to bring the pieces together. If you read between the lines, Adam makes a statement without words. So do other characters, like his grandfather who doesn't speak, his cousin's girlfriend and his lover Jasmine. It just takes so long to get to those parts. If you make it to the end, "The Last Chairlift" will leave you wondering, and believe it or not, wanting more.