Louiseog Posted April 21, 2007 Share Posted April 21, 2007 I have been Librarythinging (compulsive I know) and have realised that I have read and loved a lot of John Irving's books, especially A Prayer for Owen Meany Eleven-year-old Owen Meany, playing in a Little League baseball game in Gravesend, New Hampshire, hits a foul ball and kills his best friend's mother. Owen doesn't believe in accidents; he believes that he is God's instrument. What happens to Owen after that 1953 foul is both extraordinary and terrifying. At moments a comic, self-deluded victim, but in the end the principal tragic actor in a divine plan, Owen Meany is the most heartbreaking hero John Irving has yet created. and Cider House Rules, Set among the apple orchards of rural Maine, it is a perverse world in which Homer Wells' odyssey begins. As the oldest unadopted offspring at St Cloud's orphanage, he learns about the skills which, one way or another, help young and not-so-young women, from Wilbur Larch, the orphanage's founder, a man of rare compassion with an addiction to ether. Dr Larch loves all his orphans, especially Homer Wells. It is Homer's story we follow, from his early apprenticeship in the orphanage, to his adult life running a cider-making factory and his strange relationship with the wife of his closest friend has anyone else enjoyed his books? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pontalba Posted April 21, 2007 Share Posted April 21, 2007 Actually, I purchased two of Irving's yesterday at our monthly Library Sale. A Widow for One Year and The Hotel New Hampshire They are now "in the stack". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wrathofkublakhan Posted April 22, 2007 Share Posted April 22, 2007 Yes! I have read quite a few and liked them all. Owen Meany for sure and maybe four more...I'll have to look up some titles, now I want to read some more by him! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Polka Dot Rock Posted April 22, 2007 Share Posted April 22, 2007 I always think I should read Irving, but never know where to start. I think it's because the film adaptations can be a quite hit-and-miss, so I'm never sure what the actual novel might be like. For example, I love the film of The Cider House Rules, but I've seen part of one with Robin Williams in, and that was, erm, interesting... (Is that The World According to Garp?). Is Owen Meany usually consdiered his best? Or can anyone recommend another Irving starting point? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weave Posted April 22, 2007 Share Posted April 22, 2007 I have 'A Prayer for Owen Meany' but I have still to read it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitty_kitty Posted April 22, 2007 Share Posted April 22, 2007 I have 'A Prayer for Owen Meany' but I have still to read it. Me too it is in the boxed and in storage section of my books Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louiseog Posted April 23, 2007 Author Share Posted April 23, 2007 I started with Cider House Rules but Owen Meany is my favourite. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wrathofkublakhan Posted April 24, 2007 Share Posted April 24, 2007 I've been trying to remember. I know I read The World According to Garp first -- it was unique and a good read. A Prayer for Owen Meany was such a page-turner (not in the action/thriller sense), I wanted to know what would happen next. Some of the ideas were so odd that I was surprised and enjoyed them. After that I think I read The Hotel New Hampshire or The Cider House Rules, possibly both. It would have been during "Wrath's Dark Period" and I'd've reveled in the skewering of the world around me. I just think he's a good author that fills his books with surprises. His style feels full of candor and wit and immediately plausible no matter what odd quirks take place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrstrecool Posted April 24, 2007 Share Posted April 24, 2007 I've got The World According to Garp on my TBR pile. I haven't read any of his others, although I'm going to look out for A Prayer for Owen Meany as this seems to be one of his most popular books. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
last minute survivor Posted April 25, 2007 Share Posted April 25, 2007 I read one of John Irving's book and that is Until I Find You.. Has anyone read it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Polka Dot Rock Posted April 26, 2007 Share Posted April 26, 2007 I read one of John Irving's book and that is Until I Find You.. Is that his most recent? It sounds familiar... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
last minute survivor Posted April 27, 2007 Share Posted April 27, 2007 Is that his most recent? It sounds familiar... Don't think it is It was touching in my opinion Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronny Posted April 27, 2007 Share Posted April 27, 2007 I've only read The World According to Garp and really liked it, I always remember bits from it and how many emotions it covered, I laughed, cried and got angry throughout the book. I don't remember any other book cover such a range of emotion. I have A Prayer For Owen Meany, The Cider House Rules and Hotel New Hampshire on my TBR shelf. I think I'll read Owen Meany next as so amny have liked it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~Andrea~ Posted May 2, 2007 Share Posted May 2, 2007 Yea I've only read Garp, a few years ago now. Remember really enjoying it, but finding it sad or slighty depressing. I should probably try some of his other stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NiceguyEddie Posted July 23, 2007 Share Posted July 23, 2007 I think John Irving is my favourite author. I would have Owen Meany at the top, but I love everything he's written. A friend of mine thinks that every novel he writes is a rehash of Garp, and whilst I can see what she means (recurring themes & locations), I don't see a great deal of similarity of plots. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruth Posted July 23, 2007 Share Posted July 23, 2007 I've read The World According To Garp, and A Widow For One Year, both of which I really enjoyed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NiceguyEddie Posted July 23, 2007 Share Posted July 23, 2007 Garp Spoiler alert. After the car accident & the family are recovering, nothing is said about the youngest son dying in the car accident immediately, it's about 30 pages in, that it suddenly becomes clear. When I read it, I actually said "oh no!" out loud as it became apparent. God, John Irving is good! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Echo Posted July 23, 2007 Share Posted July 23, 2007 I've read A Prayer for Owen Meany in high school and The Cider House Rules. Of the two, I prefer The Cider House Rules by far. I loved the character of Homer and the little kids in the orphanage. Reading Owen's dialogue, however, grew tiring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NiceguyEddie Posted July 23, 2007 Share Posted July 23, 2007 Reading Owen's dialogue, however, grew tiring. You mean the capitalisation? I thought it was effective, after all he was supposed to be shouting in a high pitched voice. I wonder if the reader would forget that if his words weren't in capitals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Echo Posted July 23, 2007 Share Posted July 23, 2007 Yes, it was the capitalization that bothered me. It was effective, but I would actually get headaches from the constant "shouting" and from trying to imagine that voice in my head. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruth Posted July 24, 2007 Share Posted July 24, 2007 Spoilers... Garp Spoiler alert. After the car accident & the family are recovering, nothing is said about the youngest son dying in the car accident immediately, it's about 30 pages in, that it suddenly becomes clear. When I read it, I actually said "oh no!" out loud as it became apparent. Yes, I remember that as well. At first, I didn't realise what had happened, and when it dawned on me, it was very sad indeed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NiceguyEddie Posted July 28, 2007 Share Posted July 28, 2007 I can't think of a bad book by Irving. Until I Find You (mentioned earlier) was slated as being too long and self-indulgent. Interestingly (one of the themes was tatooing) one of the greatest tatooists mentioned was Les Skuse from Bristol - I'm not tatooed or anything, but I went to school with his grandson in Bristol. I wrote to him to tell him, as he now runs the tatoo business founded by his grand father. I assumed it unlikely he would read it or any of his clientelle for that matter , but I thought he'd like to know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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