61 pages 2 hours read

Joyce Maynard

The Bird Hotel

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2023

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Chapters 40-61Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapter 40 Summary: “Just a Traveler Passing Through”

Repairs on the hotel proceed, and Irene is getting by. She tells herself she will sell the hotel when the endless renovations are complete. She sees that Sam has stayed in the village, offering English-speaking volcano tours, and has a woman companion. In contrast, Irene still sees herself as “a traveler passing through” (170).

Chapter 41 Summary: “The Question of Family”

Maria thinks Irene must be lonely and reminds her not to forget about love.

Chapter 42 Summary: “A Folder of Letters”

Irene goes through a drawer of letters Leila left, some of them never opened. She finds a folder of letters describing Charlotte, including a picture, and a letter from Javier telling Leila not to write anymore.

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By Joyce Maynard