The Last Chairlift

In John Irving’s fifteenth novel, The Last Chairlift, readers are taken on a journey that intertwines a ghost story with a love story, all set against the backdrop of Aspen, Colorado, beginning in 1941. The narrative follows Rachel Brewster, a slalom skier whose unexpected pregnancy leads her to a new life as a ski instructor, and her son Adam, who later seeks answers about his family's unconventional past. As Adam explores the Hotel Jerome, he encounters both historical and spectral figures, reflecting Irving's enduring themes of sexual politics and alternative families.