Big Irving fan here. Excellent review of Chairlift. I can't compare it to Avenue because I have not read that one. Another almost constant element Irving brings to his work is Viet Nam and I think it figured prominently in Chairlift, at least it seemed so to me. Meany has remained an all-time favorite of mine over the years. I seem to remember Irving saying that this would be his last "big book". I look forward to his next offering.