John Irving
The bestselling novelist is a strong believer in good manners, a semibeliever in religion, and unequivocal in his opinions about abortion. Author John Irving always plays by the rules -- his own.
Even John Irving's mother has come to expect the lurid elements of her son's work. "Christ! Another dildo?" she exclaimed when presented with an excerpt from the writer's novel-in-progress, A Widow for One Year. "I tried to explain to her that there were differences among dildos, and that a dildo from a previous novel and a current novel are not the same," Irving said on the West Coast leg of a recent tour introducing his book (as yet without a publisher) and the upcoming film productions of The Cider House Rules and A Son of the Circus.
Irving eschews Ernest Hemingway's approach: Write what you know. This conviction has left him free to explore life beyond the pale: In The World According to Garp, a group of women cut out their tongues in empathy for a rape victim; in The Hotel New Hampshire, a brother and sister enjoy an incestuous relationship; and the pint-sized Christ figure in A Prayer for Owen Meany saws off his best friend's trigger finger to make him ineligible to fight in Vietnam.
The 55-year-old New England native is opinionated and passionate about his métiers -- writing and wrestling -- and he uses each to explore the world of rules, manners, and civility, and the consequences of breaking social codes.
Q: You view censorship as an oppressive, puritanical practice. Considering the violence in your books, you clearly have a stake in this issue.
A: You can't say you're going to ban something in the name of good taste, because then you have directed someone to play the role of good-taste police. We permit bad taste in this country. In fact, we even encourage it -- and reward it in all manner of ways.
Moreover, it's magical thinking to imagine that the reason unspeakable things are being perpetrated by younger and younger people is that they've fallen under the influence of seductive, lascivious, prurient, and violent material in books, films, television.
It seems to me that a great deal of this type of censorship has to do with absolving parents of responsibility -- parents who just plop their kids in front of the television and leave them there hour upon hour.
If you feel so strongly about what's on television, don't have one. If you feel strongly about people having abortions, don't have one. But we are a country that likes to be punitive. We want to restrict. It is a kind of religious fervor run amuck.
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This helped me a lot with my English project and I love John Irving!!
It just now took me two and a half days of constant reading to finish my first John Irving novel, "A Prayer for Owen Meany"; it blew me away. Irving is so very smart, funny, and insightful. This book was published in 1989 and here it is 2007, WHAT TOOK ME SO LONG?
I've just read a few internet reviews and they seemed to show Irvings true character. Now I'll have to read all his writings because he's such a treasure.
I read John Irving's novel A Prayer for Owen Meany as a teenager. I found the language that was used in the book disgusting. It makes the book seem trashy and if the author thinks that everyone talks like that, they are wrong.
language
Liz-- Not to be querulous, but if you were to believe that most people write (or speak) like *you*, you would probably be incorrect as well. That's the beauty of novels-- of fiction-- entering *another* person's world and getting out of your own...
Owen Meany is an unbelievable novel.(read it 5 times- cried every time)Try teaching high school students-they DO use that kind of language. John Irving is by far my favorite author. He pulls the reader into the story and makes the characters real. I am building my collection of his books- have 10 so far.
John you are my favorite author of all time way to go
I almost finished with Until I Find You and it's incredible. He has some fantastic characters and he poses some interesting moral questions.
I have just finished A PRAYER FOR OWEN MEANY and also cannot believe it took me so long! And since I was born in 1942, everything is so very familiar. An enthralling story, and my favourite of all John Irving's books that I have read.
I've read everything Mr. Irving has written that's been published. He is America's best writer, bar none. His realism hits all of us a little too hard, but it's the unvarnished truth. I started, like many of us, with GARP, which I've read at least 5 times. I felt a vicarious bit of familiarity when I read, as a native Pittsburgher, that he wrestled for Pitt. His insight and character development are what attract me most. My favorite...THE CIDER HOUSE RULES. His theme to "be of use", stunning in it's simplicity, should be obvious to most people, but,nowadays,so necessary to impart. And I agree with Janine's comment...today's children DO talk like that. Curious how Mr. Irving has tapped into that language so effectively. My question...WHEN IS THE NEXT BOOK COMING?
I think that a Widow for One Year is Irving's most underrated book. All Irving fans should read it.
Back in my college years, 20 years ago, I studied Literature, which included a short course on Irving.This was at the time that Garp has just come out. My question is this; and I should KNOW this, but I've forgotten: What is the "meaning" of Irving's use of bears in his earlier works?? Is this an intentional device of his or not?
we so need to listen to John Irving; manners and the safe return of the wrestler metaphor AND to everything Owen Meany is teaching us.
Me he quedado asombrado de lo mal traducido que está en texto original.
I would give anything for a complete hard-cover collection of Mr. Irving's works. Except my cat, my computer, my extension ladder, my lime-green Nikes. And whatever is left of the Merlot. I'll be needing those things tomorrow.
John irving your righting sucks, but this sight helped me.
Just finished Garp 'again' and am a huge fan of Owen Meany too! I love all his books cause they take the reader to places that we have not thought of before or would not say outloud.
He is definitely a repeat offender in my books!
I love John Irving. I am reading Unitl I Find You right now and it is amazing. Almost as good as a Prayer for Owen Meany. I named ny second son Owen the book effected me so much. I always try to read slow and savor his books. I always feel like you do after you lose a friend when the novels ends. Mr. Irving writes characters like no other. You become so attached and involved in what happens to them that you don't ever want them to go away. I heard the author speak once in Colorado. The man is very smart and articulate. A true artist and writer!!! He writes with a vulnerability few possess and are able to express. Without a doubt my favorite author of all time.
Responding to Liz's comment of July 5, 2007:
You should read The World According to Garp.
I have read Cider House rules & Owen Meany & thoroughly enjoyed both. What others do you recommend? Have also just discovered William Trevor - author even better than Mr Irving.
I just finished my first Irving book, The World According to Garp. Mr. Irving is so like his character of T S Garp as far as the way that he seems to draw from his personal experience, then weave stories far more fantastic (and well phrased) than the real thing ever was or could have been. I'll be reading more!
By righting, do you mean some philosophical view that Irving has where one would "right" certain wrongs they encounter, or are you more of the "I don't know how to spell writing, so I will criticize people who do."?
What are the books you have written?
Brent - You are RIGHT! As Homer Wells might say...and you can WRITE! Which is better yet...Thank you for your enlightened response to de Ignoramus - I was tempted to go(off)in a different direction altogether.
I deeply appreciate your positions, which are not dissimilar to mine. Here's an interesting observation of mine. I live on a sailboat, currently in Mexico. Consequently, I know many other people who live on sailboats and who have done real serious crusing. Almost unanimously, they despise George Bush and republican conservatives and their policies. Can you explain this?
For Valerie:
I would recommend Irving's "Son Of The Circus". As always, you'll be drawn into a world you probably didn't know existed. Most novelists are proficient at character development, but no other creates the kinds of literary worlds that Irving does. You'll go away humming the scenery.
I just finished Until I Find You, my very first John Irving novel and I can't wait to read more. I saw John Irving at Radio City Music Hall with JK Rowling and Stephen King and really liked his reading of Owen Meany. I will read that one next.
what is it about john Irving and Bears??
For 20+years I've loved John Irving. First Garp, then Hotel New Hampshire, then Setting Free the Bears.... (And if you don't understand about the bears, maybe you should move on.) I've waited to inhale each new novel - Ciderhouse, Owen Meany, Widow for One Year, Fourth Hand, and I think THE BEST "Until I Find You." It still makes my heart happy to think about each story, and how my "life- perspective" is sweeter for having read it. His writing is so on-point about life's patterns and all its mundane or hysterical absurdities, joys and sorrows, and the hardships and what growing up seemed like when I was doing it. I will always love John Irving.
Ive been a fan of John Irving for many years. Just saw the movie version of Hotel New Hampshire and how shallow it is (because of time restraints, I think) and wonder if anyone else thinks this is deserving of a mini series, considering the fact that there are less restrictions now on what subjects can, and should, be addressed. The movie made it a quirky family, the book was about a quirky family that reflected a lot of common social stigmas from homosexuality to political unrest to -------etc!
It appears that your spelling sucks, de angelo.
John Irving is wonderful. I think Garp is my favorite, although I think Widow For One Year, Owen Meany, Hotel New Hampshire, cider House, and Until I Find You are magic.
i agree with de angelo. this sight helps. his writing, not too great
john irving is a loser that writes books for living....
I loved Irving's books with a passion when I was younger. 'read them all up to & including Owen Meany, then something happened and I stopped reading them for a long time. 'think I'd ODed on his eccentric characters.
Reading some of these comments has given me JI flashbacks and I'm going to go out and buy the circus one and give him another try.
My favourite author over the last couple of years has been Patrick O'Brian.
I have a different view from John on abortion but that wouldn't stop me enjoying his writing. The sadness of stories of orphans lives is real; sadness seems to be unavoidable in this life in my experience, but I wouldn't want to bail out early and miss the main event. How this life seems at any time depends on the context. I don't know Newt Gingrich but I wouldn't want to call him a moron before I understood the context he's looking thru.
THE WORLD ACCORDING TO GARP, A PRAYER FOR OWEN MEANY AND NOW UNTIL I FIND YOU ARE MY FAVORITE JOHN IRVING BOOKS. THE CHARACTERS STAY WITH ME AND I MISS THEM AFTER I FINISH THE BOOKS.
I also have read everything Irving has written and I am a huge fan. He has mastered the art of creating characters. Cider House, Garp, and Hotel NH are my favs. Melony is one of my favorite characters I thought she was for sure a "hero".
If you love John Irving's novels, I think you should try reading David Munroe. His characters are real, sympathetic and humorous. You can sample his writing at www.davidmunroe.com.
I have loved John Irvings books for a long, long time. Movies don't tend to do them justice, really. I agree with the others who say they miss the characters when the book is over--like the loss of a friend.
Irving is certainly a great American writer, I am a huge fan but let's not get giddy. Owen Meany Was his last great novel, Son of the Circus is un- readable, Fourth Hand was solid good entertaining, Widow the first third was brilliant, Until I Found you was excellent but suffered from sections that were just boring. I will continue ot read and re read everything he has written but let's not cannonize just yet.
I just finished "A Widow for One Year". I do not read much since I sobered up. The problem I found with Widow was the treatment of the characters of Eddie and Ruth ~ as youngsters in 1958 they are treated sympathetically but as they age they are treated less sympathetically probably because they grow up but (comic/Eddie)(caustic/Ruth) jarred me ~ until Ruth has her "life changing event" which I hoped Irving would delve into more deeply. You know, what she finally felt and thought and how she looked on her former life and her mistakes and the misfortune of the murder ~ her pain... maybe some giving back ~ With poor Eddie ~ I started out loving the kid and then just felt sorry for him. I felt Marion and Ted were the best characters. Marion's gut wrenching actions were explored and the degree of trauma she felt was very real to me. Irving writes a beautiful tapestry. I wish I could write like that. This book kinda give you a formula which is quite interesting and even teachy sometimes. Good Stuff. I'll read more now!
this book was very boring and i didnt like it
I envy Irving fans who have just discovered him; enjoy the book stack while it lasts. I keep popping into B&N looking for a new fix. Could Random House, PLEASE, throw us a crumb...is JI working on something? By the way, my family was in Fernandina, FL a couple of years ago walking along a pier when a charismatic, fit, gray-haired gentleman asked my 12 yr. son to board his yacht, climb down into the water, and clean his dingy. Panic-stricken, I rushed to thwart the kidnapping, which the man immediately countered with an invite to tour the yacht. The man would not remove his sunglasses or give his name even though he and his wife were very hospitable. Even tipped the boy $20. Thinking I had figured him out, I told him he reminded me of my favorite writer. He seemed to gulp and asked, "Who?" I answered, "Who has never heard of 'The World...Garp'?" and he responded, "Well, who has never heard of Harrison Ford?" I thought, what a weird response! Wonder if that guy could have been Clancy? I don't know...this man was very charming and looked like a wrestler!
