Hey there,
You should see the movie then! Robin Williams stars in The World According To Garp. One of my all-time favourites.

I love John Irving! The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime is a wonderful book, and all the more interesting in that the main character is Autistic. My dad (who has Asperger's Syndrome) read the book and identified with all of it very closely. Fascinating and thought-provoking story.

Irving has always held me in his grips - for better or worse. I have loved the repeating themes: wrestling, bears, motorcycles, Vienna...but mostly the deeper themes of fragility, power, vunerablilty, and compassion. He has the ability to create a story which draws the reader to empatize with a range of characters and feelings and perspectives - all are worthy and lovable in some complex and unexpected way. The readers' horizons and hearts are broadened.

Garp will always be the one that I recommend to the uninitiated, but don't miss the 158-pound Marriage or Hotel New Hampshire (we had cats named Franny and Percy).

As for "The Curious Incident...", I listened to it in audiobook format - and was totally captivated. The narration was perfect. I think it gave me nore than I would have got from reading it.

Sandy,
I share that connection you have with Irvings work. He comes from a line of doctors...I think he writes like he is performing precise major surgery. Very meticulous and exposed...like open heart surgery would be...Only he makes you belly laugh in the middle. A Prayer for Owen Meany is my favorite. I love all of his work, even his bio. I think Alice Hoffman has a very similar writing style.
Thanks for the opportunity to remember him.

Found your blog via the ABC ring and had to jump in here - Garp is one of my all time favorite books and believe me, you can reread it with great pleasure later on in life, as with all of John Irving's books. He's one of my favorite authors. I hope you find the Curious Incident interesting - my son has Aspergers Syndrome like the boy in the book and it is a very honest account of the condition. I thoroughly recommend the book, which is a lovely read apart from anything else.

I haven't read that book in so many years! It was a great read! Now I will have to hunt it off my shelf and re-read it again!

I loved that book! But I read it sooooo long ago (in my teens), and now you have made me want to read it again. I am sure I would have a different perspective than I did when I was a teenager.

I'm going to add this to my list -- great conversation, Sandy!

I love love love all of Irving's first several novels, which have all been mentioned here. But his last few have been SO. terrible. What happened? He just needs to stop. Stop now. Let us savor the gems, ESP. Prayer for Owen Meany which is probably my favorite book. But Widow for One Year? Horrible. Blech. I'll only go back and reread the early ones at this point.

Curious Incident was really cool. I thought the author did a great job with that narrator.

I like John Irving's books too. Cider House Rules and the Hotel New Hampshire are my favorites, but I'm fond of Garp too. I've also read The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time and liked it. I work in a rehab hospital that also houses a school for autistic children like the boy in the book.

I loved Garp. I first read it years ago, when I was a teenager. I re-read it after I saw the film and I loved it even more.

Thanks for reminding me of it, I think it's time to revisit it.

I read Garp when I was in HS and loved it (the movie is good too w/ Robin Williams as Garp- I think. I also liked the Cider House Rules but didn't see the movie). My oldest daughter (22) brought home the Curious Incident.. and I also read it as did my other 2 reading age daughters (14 and 20) and we all liked it. We'll save it for the 5yo for much later!

Sandy, I love this book. When I first read it I was in middle school, and it was one of the first adult novels I read that exemplified life and how it's not a straight path journey, in a very real and true voice. Love, hurt, pain, forgiveness and healing. It has a very vivid place inside of me, and now I think I'm due for a re-read.

Also, if you enjoy John Irving, you really should read A Prayer for Owen Meany.

So. Good.

Hey Sandy, my post is for you today!
Li

One of the best books ever. Have fun with the Curious Incident book--isn't the kid something?
xoxoxo

I've read the "Curious incident" book--it was great.

Oh, I read Garp eons ago and loved it. When I was in high school, a stray cat found our house and I named him Garp. He's long gone. . . disappeared as mysteriously as he arrived.

I can't wait to see how you like the Curious Incident. . . -- I loved it. That was a more recent read for me, so hopefully I will have a more detailed memory of it, though I don't have the book any longer. I just had to lend it out so others could enjoy it.

What I love about John Irving is that his characters are so REAL. "A Prayer for Owen Meany" is one of my favorite books, hands down ... along with "The Cider House Rules" and Garp. I can read them again and again and never tire of the story or the characters, and always find something new.

Sandy, this is one of my all time favourite books and I was deeply influenced by the compassion exhibited by so many of the characters. What a lesson of tolerance it was. I'm so glad you loved it.

Wow, I haven't thought of "The World According to Garp" in so long! I read it in college and enjoyed it immensely, but never go to any other Irving books because of something I suppose.

It always struck me that Irving seemed to be saying that Garp's view of the world was naive (which is why all that bad stuff happened) but honorable. Like if we were all more like Garp, we would be happier.

(sigh) But I definitely have to look for my copy of that book now. I'm itching to reread it.

It does seem as if Irving is a bit too explicit at times. Sometimes I walk away thinking that Irving must have had some kind of traumatic sexual incident that has colored his whole view of love and sex. But getting through that stuff always leads to some kind of ultimate understanding. I do think that reading his novels brings on this (false of course) undertstanding of the world. I get it! If only for a while! The human condition is fragile and Irving seems to portray it best!
I think my next will be the Hotel New Hampshire!
I'm loving all of your comments!

I have a love/hate relationship with Irving. I tend to find him offensive and overly explicit while I'm reading his novels...and then once I'm finished I realize what a thought provoking author he is. I swear him off after each book and then can't help picking up another one soon after.

I've also read "the Dog in the Night-Time". It is fantastic. It is written from such a unique perspective and gives such insight into asberger's syndrome. I hope you like it as well.

I loved Garp. I thought it was rich on so many levels. Right up there with A Prayer for Owen Meany. (I know that's his most famous one - but with good reason) One of the things I love about Irving is that he seems to always has his pen on the pulse of what's really, truly, deep down bothering us. With Garp, it was the gradual blurring of traditional family and gender lines.

I've yet to read Garp, but my all time fav. Irving, and one of my top 5 books ever is A Prayer for Owen Meany - talk about staying with you! Haunting story and characters.

I used to read a lot of Irving. Hmm. Wonder why I don't now?? Think I'll have to remedy that. I remember loving the book and enjoying the movie, but not much beyond that!

I had SORT of a sky picture yesterday. I thought of you when I was taking the picture, because there was really no way to tell the sky from the snow.

I've never read Irving...I'll have to remedy that.

So many books! How can I possibly get through them in one lifetime?

I loved reading John Irving myself. The World According to Garp was one of my favorites, but I also liked "The 158 Pound Marriage", which was different. I do have to say "The Cider House Rules" and Garp are two of my favorite John Irving books.

I read Garp years and years ago and loved it. The movie was well done, too, I think.

When I was at school, Irving was looking for summer help to assist him in Vermont. I mentioned to Pete how cool it would be to work for him. Pete said, "Absolutely not." Ah, missed opportunities! My favorite is still Ciderhouse Rules.

Hope you're feeling better as spring nears the corner!