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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Coming across this book years after I read it reminds me how much I used to love Irving. I think I read like 4 or 5 of his books in less than 2 years (a lot for one author, for me.) and then...? I don’t know. I guess the winds of fate shifted and sent me to authors. Wouldn’t mind delving deeper into his back catalogue someday though.
Anyway, I remember the trans character was portrayed sympathetically, though I’d probably cringe at her scenes were I to read it again.
And... everything else I might remember had been supplanted by Robin Williams doing his thing in the movie.
Anyway, I remember the trans character was portrayed sympathetically, though I’d probably cringe at her scenes were I to read it again.
And... everything else I might remember had been supplanted by Robin Williams doing his thing in the movie.
This book was delightful. Irving’s writing is concise and comic, his characters fresh and familiar. He masterfully will sow some seeds — motifs, little details, seemingly “side stories” — and then have huge crescendos up to a climax where those once innocuous details crash together in an epic, tragic incident that was both out-of-nowhere but also completely inevitable. It’s a wholly original book, but like all Irving novels, you’re so engrossed that it feels more like a folk tale or your family history than spectacle.
This book was waaaaay too long. The main character literally had to die to get the book to end. And even after Garp did die, there was still another chapter detailing the lives (and deaths) of all his friends and relations.
The book was lots of fun to read in the beginning. I think if it had ended after Garp and his mom had returned from Europe I’d have rated the book 4 stars, for it was funny and shocking and weird.
Instead the book just drug on forever and became tedious. Like, John Irving was absolutely paid by the word. I’m really just glad it’s over.
The book was lots of fun to read in the beginning. I think if it had ended after Garp and his mom had returned from Europe I’d have rated the book 4 stars, for it was funny and shocking and weird.
Instead the book just drug on forever and became tedious. Like, John Irving was absolutely paid by the word. I’m really just glad it’s over.
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I love when authors build overarching worlds that thread through their novels. It's a way of reimagining the entire world, not just the world within the book and it gives repeat readers a satisfying nod of recognition. This novel nods at The 158 Pound Marriage and sets roots for The Hotel New Hampshire - plus others I'm sure I didn't catch/haven't read yet. It's a neat trick and I appreciate it.
I was less appreciative of the stories within the story. For me, these examples of the character's work are more of a distraction than a bonus. The contents of the stories don't effect the actual plot of the book, so reading them can feel like a bit of a waste of time/a bit of a page filler.
I do enjoy reading about a writer and an author's writing process. And I love books that take from the main characters birth until their death - it's like living an entire life. But the end of this book was a doozy. Garp's life if reduced to a recap of his written novels in the end. And all of the character's life stories seem to go on forever, and yet they all die so young.
The book could use a bit of an update. I didn't like the clear assumption that trans people can't be beautiful and I hate that the totally unnecessary use of the R word. I get that some things like this are left in old books to serve as teaching tools or for plot purposes or even as a historical record, but in this book these references were so minor - why not give them a quick edit (esp in the e-book). :)
I was less appreciative of the stories within the story. For me, these examples of the character's work are more of a distraction than a bonus. The contents of the stories don't effect the actual plot of the book, so reading them can feel like a bit of a waste of time/a bit of a page filler.
I do enjoy reading about a writer and an author's writing process. And I love books that take from the main characters birth until their death - it's like living an entire life. But the end of this book was a doozy. Garp's life if reduced to a recap of his written novels in the end. And all of the character's life stories seem to go on forever, and yet they all die so young.
The book could use a bit of an update. I didn't like the clear assumption that trans people can't be beautiful and I hate that the totally unnecessary use of the R word. I get that some things like this are left in old books to serve as teaching tools or for plot purposes or even as a historical record, but in this book these references were so minor - why not give them a quick edit (esp in the e-book). :)
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes