John Irving

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cider house rules answered some fierce questions i had on abortion. i am forever in his debt.

>>By bev   (Saturday, 25 Jan 2003 12:58)



I thought that you might be interested in taking a whack at my just-published novel, The Rough English Equivalent (http://home.bellsouth.net/p/PWP-Rough),that’s just been released by iUniverse. I owe a serious debt of gratitude to Mr. Irving with respect to style, execution and characterizations in this work, and I hope you'll enjoy what I've done as a variation on some familiar Irving themes…

Best

Stan Hayes

>>By Stan   (Saturday, 25 Jan 2003 12:58)



I recently did an indepth project over Irving, his works, his life, and his career. It's incredible what he's able to pack into one novel. btw: i'm going to check out your book, Stan. If you write anything like Irving, i'm sure you'll be a success.
~Krysten

>>By Krysten   (Saturday, 28 Jun 2003 01:44)



Cider House , Owen Meany and Garp are his best works but they all have glorious moments.

I thought 4th Hand was not great , it did not have the mood of other works , and I did not get into the characters or the story.

Would like to hear peoples views. tomcat50za@yahoo.com

>>By Tom Tesar   (Sunday, 13 Jul 2003 11:08)



Dear Krysten,
I am thinking of doing a study of Irving and was wondering where I could get some good sources on his life and writings, alone from his works. Thanks

>>By dolan22   (Thursday, 25 Sep 2003 06:31)



WOW! Hotel New Hampshire- What a wonderfull bizarre novel. Absolutely brilliant but I wonder sometimes if Irving is not just a little insane.
I have loved all of his books and his hardcovers have a place of pride on my bookshelves!!!

>>By Celtgal   (Saturday, 8 May 2004 02:36)



I posted this msg last year, shortly before center-punching a Volvo with my motorcycle. During the year-plus of convalescence, I started a blog on the novel, and began writing the first of two follow-on books. For a look at what readers are saying, check out http://shotpeened.blogspot.com/

Best

Hotshoe (AKA Stan Hayes)

>>By Stan (Saturday, 25 Jan 2003 12:58)
I thought that you might be interested in taking a whack at my just-published novel, The Rough English Equivalent (http://home.bellsouth.net/p/PWP-Rough),that’s just been released by iUniverse. I owe a serious debt of gratitude to Mr. Irving with respect to style, execution and characterizations in this work, and I hope you'll enjoy what I've done as a variation on some familiar Irving themes…

Best

Stan Hayes

>>By Stan (Saturday, 25 Jan 2003 12:58)

>>By Hotshoe   (Sunday, 10 Oct 2004 15:31)



Irving, Irving, Irving is just amazing. The first book i read was "Garp", and it realy killed me. Blew my mind.

>>By raine77   (Wednesday, 23 Aug 2006 05:31)



A Prayer For Owen Meany is one of the best books I've ever read. Right now I'm reading The Fourth Hand and it's good, but it ain't Owen Meany.

But has anyone read his new one yet? Apparently critics hated it.

>>By Flagg   (Thursday, 24 Aug 2006 00:59)



Along with other readers of "Owen Meany", i discern a debt by John Irving to John Knowles' novel "A Separate Peace". Both books are set at Exeter, during a war. Both books have a fairly conventional narrator telling the story of an eccentric friend who is handicapped in some way. There are other parallels as well. Do any other readers agree there's a debt? And if there is a debt, was it conscious? Or a case of cryptamnesia?

>>By schoolboy   (Thursday, 4 Jan 2007 18:15)



"Owen Meany"?! There is a Welsh comedian who calls himself "Owen Money". A pun of course, not his real name!

>>By nonyeb   (Friday, 5 Jan 2007 03:33)



Very Exciting this, the first person to comment on "Until I find You." I read it about 2 months ago

Owen Meany is a great book! His best!

I read Cider House Rules and Hotel New Hampshire when I was about 12 or 13 and they were very exciting (all those juicy sex scenes....kind of) and it was heartening to see that there are strange people out there-but I read Owen when I was 20, after reading the 158-pound mairrage and the water method man and garp. Owen was special. I don't think I will ever get that CAPS voice out of my head....and this was maybe before it was considered yelling on the internet? I read A Widow for One Year---I think it also might be one of his better ones....as it was a little more subtle-but you can see the research there for-
anyways-until I find you-

a big book-
containing the usual key ideas:
pubescent sexual male created by several more mature very sexual females with "issues"

and another key idea-memory
its been a long time since I read the 158 lb. and garp and cider but I am guessing there will be a memory theme(if even slight) threaded throughout.....

did I enjoy it?
yep

was I inspired?
no

but does it remain relatively distinct in my memory?
yes

>>By iwishiwereabondgirl   (Monday, 8 Jan 2007 10:41)



You are right, Owen is special. One of the most memorable characters in any work of fiction, and one of the deepest, most immersive stories.

'YOUR MOTHER HAS THE BEST BREASTS OF ALL THE MOTHERS!'

Garp and Cider House Rules are the ones I really intend to read.

So the new one didn't inspire you? What was missing?
I heard that critics said it was patronising to ethnic minorities or something.

>>By Flagg   (Monday, 8 Jan 2007 13:23)



Would love to hear what others think of John Irving's writing after Owen Meany. In particular, how his style and subject(s) have changed.

>>By Nanneylander   (Saturday, 10 Oct 2009 09:42)



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