John O'Hara (1) (1905–1970)

These stories are about has-beens, wannabes, cheaters, hustlers, drunks, people that married into money or at their wits ends and putting everything they've got left into this one oportunity. They're all horrible, out of touch characters. But the dialogue is so compelling and witty that even if you're reading about a married woman and man cheating on each other, you like them and want to know where everything is going. There is a lurking brutality on every story, and you'll never know how is going to conclude.… (more)

Four stars is probably too high a rating, but I enjoyed the book. At one point, mid-novel, in my enthusiasm, I imagined myself giving it four and a half stars, but the sudden and rapid denouement made me realize that even four stars is probably too generous: it felt as though O'Hara became bored with the novel and decided "to call it a wrap." Then he added this didactic recapitulation--is it an afterword, an epilogue, a conclusion? Whatever it is, it's weird because the rest of the novel is in a single, unchaptered run, which gives it the feel of a long story (or long short story), a structuring well-matched to his treatment of the material. So this brief, concuding section seems unnecessary, abrupt, and quite out of step with the rest of the novel: he might as well have begun that section with "and the moral of the story is..."

In conclusion (smile), if you like novels about Hollywood, I think you will enjoy this one. Also if you like John O'Hara novels, I think you will enjoy this one.… (more)

The American author John O'Hara is now best known for his short stories. He was prolific; writing a number of novels and plays. In 1951 he published The Farmers Hotel which is of novella length (153 pages) and which can easily be read in one sitting. Ira Studbaker of Rock Bottom Pennsylvania has recently refurbished a hotel in the old style. The small town of 850 inhabitants can just about support a Farmers Hotel and Ira and his black friend and helper Charles are making final preparations for opening the doors on their first day of business. Ira has previously worked in the food trade and the hotel is something he has always fancied doing as a sort of pre-retirement project. It has been snowing heavily all morning and when they open the doors to a couple of rich people still dressed in expensive hunting clothes, Ira stands them drinks because they are his first customers. Ira and Charles wish to present a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere and have employed a local townswoman to do the cooking. Soon the guests Howard Pomfret and Mrs Paul are tucking into steak sandwiches.

The snow continues to fall and Howard starts to worry about getting stuck, because it soon becomes clear that Mrs Paul needs to be back home to her husband. More guests arrive driven towards the only hotel for some distance by the wretched weather: Mr Mayo in show business with the Pickwick sisters are trying to get to a theatre for an engagement. The local doctor pops in for some refreshment and then Joe Rogg bangs on the door annoyed that Howard's Buick is blocking the road in such a way the he can't get passed in his truck. He is invited in for a couple of drinks and guests, employees and a couple of locals set themselves to wile away the time waiting for the weather to improve. Joe Rogg is keen to set up some sort of gambling den, but is persuaded to sit down to dinner with the others and they provide their own entertainment, stories are told, backgrounds are sketched in and tensions between the guests develop. Its going to be a long night...........

O'Hara presents to his readers a snapshot of life in a small American town when outsiders crash in amongst the locals. Ira and Charles could not be more welcoming, but it does not take much for people to rub each other up the wrong way, even when good food and drink and a warm room are at every ones disposal. People bring their own problems and some just don't fit in even when all is done to make them welcome. The novel is really little more than an extended short story. but it is told with a certain charm, some pertinent dialogue and violence never far away. An enjoyable read three stars… (more)