This book was a kindle monthly deal. I downloaded it thinking it sounded cute and quirky, but was not sure what to expect. As it happens, I wound up being blown away. I cannot say enough good things about this book, and from this day forward, it will be one of my most highly recommended books. I laughed out loud over many parts, and cried over some as well.It is really difficult to describe the plot of this book. Louis is a burn victim and recluse. Iris is a nurse who is very short, overweight, and homely. Her coworkers refer to her as the troll. She's a strong woman and a very caring and compassionate nurse. The story begins with the death of Louis's father, and he meets Iris by chance the day of the funeral. They made a connection, though neither realize it. They don't get to know each other until much later in the book, but theirs' is the real story of the book. At the same time, and unbeknownst to Iris and Louis, Gracie (Louis's mother) and Arnie (Iris's father) also make a connection, forge a friendship, and help each other to learn to move forward in life.As quirky as these characters are, they all have one main thing in common. They are all damaged. They all have baggage. They all feel alone in the world. Through laughter and tears, Louis and Iris show us that no matter how much baggage we all have, there are others out there who's baggage matches our own. Louis learns to face his fears thanks to Iris's unconditional acceptance of him. Iris finally lets her guard down and lets a more positive, playful side of herself shine through. The most beautiful thing about their relationship is that they see each other not through rose colored glasses, but exactly as they are and accept each other automatically and without question.This is one of those stories that gives you hope. It makes you think about how society treats those who are different. It reminds us that all lives have dignity and deserve to be treated as such. And it does so with a sense of humor and a smile.
This was a strange little story. A bit surreal at times from the opening when Atlas views the angel under the horse chestnut tree until the end when Louis propels himself into the world and the waiting arms of Iris. The story also has quite a bit of humor especially the characters of the neighborhood who are all just a little bit odd. The main story, though, is about Louis. A man/child who was disfigured in a fire at sixteen and has been isolated in his home for 16 years. After the death of his father he starts to feel it is time to rejoin the world but the circumstance in which that happens is unusual to say the least. The other lonely character is Iris who is in the world but living an unseen life. It is obviously Kismet that these two should come together but it takes a while for their lives to intersect through a number of fortuitous events. The stories of Louis' father's hardware store and the man in the coma were favorite parts. Maybe we all are unseen at times but the man in the window Isn't whole until he stops watching and rejoins the moments of life.
Do You like book The Man In The Window (2013)?
Book originally published in 1992; slightly changed ending [from both former U.S. and U.K. versions]. Intriguing story, but I'm not happy with the "up in the air" ending. I don't find it clever so much as frustrating that the ending is so abrupt that this reader, who had invested herself in the book (and who really, really liked the story) could not figure out what happened. Was Louis forgetting about his mother standing nearby? Was Iris's no-nonsense advice consistent with her nurse's training? Did she bring about a disaster or a redemption? If I'm going to be thinking about a book after I've read it, I want to know what the author intended, clearly. In this case, I haven't figured out what I read. There was no character's voice or resolution at the end, only a fuzzy ambiguous narrative. There was no epilogue. This is what kept my review from being five stars. I'm waffling about the four stars and may revisit.There are questions at the end of the book, which would be good starters for a book group discussion. On the positive side, I should add that most of the flashback sections involved recollections of the small-town hardware store that Louis's father Atlas owned. I especially liked the beginning of the book, of Atlas and Gracie, Louis's parents. The town's funeral home personnel were quirky and joined the other minor characters to add to the color in this story. The intensive care and ER nursing staff and their vignettes seemed terribly authentic; the author was a critical care nurse himself.
—Charlene
I love picking up inexpensive books on amazon - that's how I came upon this wonderful book! Beautifully written. Funny. Sad. Even a bit contrived at times. but the characters! How can you NOT root for Louis & Iris? How can you NOT want for them everything that's been denied them? And the rest - the parents, the neighbors, even the ER doc. All so skillfully drawn. I felt enveloped by it's warmth, touched to my very soul by the longing. And then just as quickly, laughing out loud at the way the author turns a phrase. Absolutely recommended.
—Barbara
LovelyWhat a wonderful book! Even tho it was painfully sad to imagine such a terrible thing happening to Louis, he found a way to keep on living...his own way of surviving...right up to the unexpected ending. To find a way of living through emotional and physical pain..he made his own way through the unimaginable yet had such an awesome view of his world through his window. I loved the characters and their personalities. I think if you choose to read this book, it might make you a bit more caring and a bit less judgmental. great story!!
—Donna Y Graves
