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The Fourth Hand

by John Irving (Goodreads Author)

3.16 · rating details · 10,349 ratings · 514 reviews

"The Fourth Hand asks an interesting question: "How can anyone identify a dream of the future?" The answer: "Destiny is not imaginable, except in dreams or to those in love."" "While reporting a story from India, a New York television journalist has his left hand eaten by a lion; millions of TV viewers witness the accident. In Boston, a r...more

Mass Market Paperback, 368 pages

Published April 29th 2003 by Fawcett (first published January 1st 2001)

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Lists with This Book

The World According to Garp by John Irving

Best of John Irving

7th out of 13 books — 129 voters

The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat & Other Clinical Tales by Oliver Sacks

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon

Medicine and Literature

100th out of 536 books — 368 voters

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Community Reviews

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May 29, 2010

J rated it

Shelves: american-fiction

This story, with all its unlikely characters and the attendant twists and turns, has John Irving's mark all over it. John Irving is with out a doubt, my favorite living American writer. It therefore comes as no surprise that I would find this book enjoyable.

For me, the characters are believable and their stories come together to reveal the intricacies that tie them all to one another. Patrick Wallingford is a sympathetic enough character in that his initial shallowness makes him...moreThis story, with all its unlikely characters and the attendant twists and turns, has John Irving's mark all over it. John Irving is with out a doubt, my favorite living American writer. It therefore comes as no surprise that I would find this book enjoyable.

For me, the characters are believable and their stories come together to reveal the intricacies that tie them all to one another. Patrick Wallingford is a sympathetic enough character in that his initial shallowness makes him someone whom I would like to see get his comeuppances. However, the accident which he had a hand in (pardon the pun) proves to be a point of embarkation where he realizes that such a devastating loss leads to immeasurable rewards.

I found the back story about the 'faux' news network to be particularly apropos because Irving was able to project an absurd sense of reality to an otherwise inane albeit acceptable genre of entertainment in American culture today; news. Mary Shannahan's character was someone who I loved to hate - not so much because of her gender but because of her ceaseless, raw ambition which defies everything her television personality puts forward. It is a matter of image versus substance - the entire theme of this book - who we are as opposed to who we want people to believe that we are.

For anyone who feels jaded by what comes across as news nowadays, this is definitely a book for you. For those who fail to see the irony in news which really isn't; this may not be the book for you. Such critics of this story who point to the unbelievability of such a story as, "The Fourth Hand," are likely to pan it because, "The Fourth Hand" fails to follow a prescribed script more akin to what can be routinely found on any given cable news channel. Ignore the naysayers and read the book. It is good and stands on its own.

As an aside, I'll definitely be picking up, "The English Patient," and "Stewart Little" - the two books Irving mentioned in this story. I enjoy picking up on the ongoing side bar commentary he seems to offer to anyone who is paying enough attention to what he has to say - aside from the obvious story line in his other books. His delivery is subtle and unmistakably John Irving. I suppose this why I enjoy his writing so much.(less)

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May 18, 2007

Zack Brown rated it

I just finished reading John Irving’s The Fourth Hand. While it is worth noting that I have previously read both The World According to Garp and A Prayer for Owen Meany, found each to be better than The Fourth Hand, and recommend that you read both, The Fourth Hand is especially significant today--two days after the Virginia Tech shooting.

The Fourth Hand is a story that follows a cad of a television field reporter who loses his left hand to an Indian circus lion while on an assignme...moreI just finished reading John Irving’s The Fourth Hand. While it is worth noting that I have previously read both The World According to Garp and A Prayer for Owen Meany, found each to be better than The Fourth Hand, and recommend that you read both, The Fourth Hand is especially significant today--two days after the Virginia Tech shooting.

The Fourth Hand is a story that follows a cad of a television field reporter who loses his left hand to an Indian circus lion while on an assignment. The reporter, Patrick Wallingford, later falls in love with the widow of his hand transplant donor. The book has fewer layers than Garp or A Prayer for Owen Meany, and is without the adroit literary architecture present in most of Irving’s work. However, its commentary on the era of sensationalist ‘all-news-networks’ and their exploitation of national tragedies is particularly pertinent this week.

The following is from a Facebook group, posted by a news outlet on Monday:

"Hi everyone. My name is Karen Park. I am working with Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS) in New York City. We are looking for (korean) people from VT who knew Mr. Cho personally, had a class with him, was his roommate in previous years, etc…

We would also like to know if anybody has any photographs or video clips of him or with him. We are interested in only showing his face and so we will blot out the faces of other people in the photographs.

Lastly, if anyone is willing to do a brief on-camera interview with one of our correspondents in Virginia or a telephone interview, please call us immediately..."

On Monday night, Brian Williams did the NBC Nightly News broadcast from the Hokie campus in Blacksburg. Tucker Carlson, MSNBC’s chief political pundit, was also there. Hoards of reporters have descended on Blacksburg, looking for the “he kept to himself” sound bytes and B-roll of the hysterical, sobbing friends of victims; ESPN is reporting on the canceled Hokie spring game and how the ‘innocence’ of college sports will bring us back together. Even the all-sports-news network struck gold:

“you realize there are 32 people who aren't walking down to the football game."
In The Fourth Hand, Wallingford is at the anchor desk the week of JFK Jr’s plane crash over Martha’s Vineyard. He curses both the local news and all-news networks for taking telephoto shots of the victims’ friends and family, and the networks’ proclivity to stretch a tragic story into a multi-week feeding frenzy. Wallingford would chastise Brian Williams for his reporting with all the gravitas and feigned verisimilitude of having been in the classroom with the victims, and the way the press will scrutinize the writings of Cho Seung-Hui and opine that someone should have seen it coming.

The Fourth Hand is about a man who loses his hand and finds his soul. Needless to say, it is a work of fiction. Our aggressive all-news culture will ride the Virginia Tech story like they did Imus and Duke and Anna Nicole Smith; they will be relentless. There are 28,000 students at Virginia Tech and, by the end of this week, each will have been solicited for an on-camera interview, photographs of Cho Seung-Hui and more information about the thirty-two victims.

On the fourth or fifth day of non-stop reporting following Kennedy’s plane crash, Wallingford sits in the anchor’s chair watching—with millions of viewers worldwide—a network montage of Kennedy Jr.’s life. The montage ends—with the image of John-John saluting his father’s funeral procession—and the camera is back on Wallingford. In lieu of his usual signoff (“Goodnight, Doris. Goodnight, my little Otto.”) Wallingford says, “Let’s hope that’s the end of it.”
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Dec 04, 2007

Stephanie "Jedigal" rated it

· review of another edition

John Irving's characters are often quirky to say the least. Normally they draw one in. Irving's typical forays into the minds of the odd but believable individuals who populate his stories are usually irresistably intriguing. I have often had a difficult time putting an Irving novel down.

This novel for some reason does not work. The characters did not interest me, and I neither liked nor disliked most of them. The plot drags on. I often considered putting the book down for good, and...more

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Apr 14, 2009

David Wrubel rated it

Shelves: fiction-general

I will admit to being a huge fan of Irving's, and though this is not one of his best known works at all, it is sneaky good and its themes seem to keep popping up when you least expect it.

The Plot: In India, an American journalist accidentally has his left hand is eaten by a lion. Sounds contrived, but it works. And back in the States, a famous surgeon is chomping at the bit for the chance to perform the nation's first hand transplant. And he does, with great success.

Here ...more

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Jan 25, 2011

Alex Telander rated it

Shelves: books-read-in-2002

John Irving has to be one of the most gifted writers, creating unique characters that can never be forgotten, and he does it once again with The Fourth Hand.

Our main character is Patrick Wallingford, a very unusual person and certifiably doomed in that Irving way. And while Irving’s past books may have roared from start to finish, The Fourth Hand does the same right up to the last fifty pages or so, where it slows to a crawl, and everyone conveniently lives happily ever after.

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Jan 11, 2010

Boris rated it

Recommends it for: people who like reading love stories

Recommended to Boris by: my dad

First of all, the genre of the novel is sort of like a drama but also a love story. The novel is about the main character, and how he travelled to India and got his hand bitten off by a lion. He is awaiting a hand transplant,but the donor's wife had wanted visitation rights with the hand. From there on, a love story develops between the two. The protaganist is Patrick Wallingford, a t.v journalist, he was the one that got his hand bitten off. Patrick's ex- wife and supporting character is named ...more

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Nov 17, 2009

Michael rated it

Shelves: literature, 2000s

While at work on the massive tome that became Until I Find You, John Irving took a break to work on the comedic and relatively short novel, The Fourth Hand. Irving began it hoping it would be his first comedy since The Water-Method Man.

The Fourth Hand is quite funny, especially in the earlier chapters, but it ends up growing out of its original intentions; by the end, you're not reading a comedy. It's not a sad book, but it is bittersweet in a way that will be familiar to John Ir...moreWhile at work on the massive tome that became Until I Find You, John Irving took a break to work on the comedic and relatively short novel, The Fourth Hand. Irving began it hoping it would be his first comedy since The Water-Method Man.

The Fourth Hand is quite funny, especially in the earlier chapters, but it ends up growing out of its original intentions; by the end, you're not reading a comedy. It's not a sad book, but it is bittersweet in a way that will be familiar to John Irving fans.

Patrick Wallingford is a television correspondent for a television network known as the "disaster channel." While filming a segment about a bizarre and tragic accident at a circus, Patrick's hand is devoured by a lion. Following the event, which is shown endlessly on television, he becomes known as "the lion guy," and becomes much more famous than he ever was before, ending up a news anchor. But Patrick is a shallow, womanizing little shit, and is good looking enough to get away with it.

A man from Wisconsin agrees to donate his hand to Patrick in the case of his death. Then, through a bizarre accident, the man dies. Patrick inherits the man's hand, and falls in love with the man's wife (who doesn't love him). This unrequited love causes Patrick to begin reevaluating his own life.

Personally, I've never known any guys who have this easy of a time getting poontang. It seems like every time Patrick turns around, some hottie is dropping her panties. I'm not sure whether a feminist reading of this book would find John Irving in contempt or not. But, it seems to me that we're SUPPOSED to see Patrick as a prick for most of the novel . . . so is all of this womanizing acceptable? Personally, I wasn't blown away by any of the female characters here, not even the woman he falls for, and my favorite was the gum-chewing ho who did Patrick's makeup. I mention all of this because I was mildly distracted throughout by the treatment of women, and how shallow it often felt. So, if that's something that often gets you up in arms, you probably won't enjoy this book as much as you would many of Irving's other works.

This is definitely worth reading for any Irving fan. If you haven't read anything yet by him, I wouldn't start here: track down a copy of The World According to Garp or A Prayer For Owen Meany. This book is good because it's John Irving weaving a fun and bizarre tapestry like he always does. You know how Iron & Wine songs are always good because they always sound like Iron & Wine? Same principal here. The extra incentive here is the fact that this book is more continuously funny than usual, and this might be Irving's only novel where he doesn't try and tell the entire story of the main character's life. The whole story focuses on five or so years for the main characters. So, read it if you're moved to do so. Or don't. Yeah, I never know how to end these reviews. I could end it with a tacky joke about giving a HAND to John Irving, but that would be lame, wouldn't it?
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Jan 01, 2011

Joan Winnek rated it

· review of another edition

I quite enjoyed this slimmer (by comparison to his others) book. I picked it up because I've had a terrible cold and couldn't handle anything long or difficult. At the beginning the novel is funny as Irving creates a vivid and absurd scene of the lion attack. Patrick, the victim and main character, is a pretty boy playboy, about as superficial as one can be, and passive. The focus on the surgeon who transplants a new hand from a dead man is also witty. Over time, after receiving the hand transpl...more

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Jan 17, 2011

Sandy rated it

The Fourth Hand, John Irivings 2004 bestseller, is the story of a talking head who works for a TV version of the National Enquirer. What is sordid, outrageous, and not really worthy of our attention is the stuff of the network for which Patrick Wallingford reports.

His own maiming while by a lion in India while he is reporting a story about the circus industry makes him the subject of his own network's reporting. He becomes The Lion Guy, One-Hand.

He also becomes the subje...moreThe Fourth Hand, John Irivings 2004 bestseller, is the story of a talking head who works for a TV version of the National Enquirer. What is sordid, outrageous, and not really worthy of our attention is the stuff of the network for which Patrick Wallingford reports.

His own maiming while by a lion in India while he is reporting a story about the circus industry makes him the subject of his own network's reporting. He becomes The Lion Guy, One-Hand.

He also becomes the subject of a medical experiment in hand transplantation that places him in the company of one Doris Clausen, whose recently decease husband's hand becomes Wallingford's third hand for a little while.

The encounter with Mrs. Clausen effects Wallingford in ways he could not have imagined at that point in his fast-paced, high-profile, completely insubstantial point in his life. Wallingford, a shallow, thoughtless womanizer (a good looking guy who does not seduce but is seduced over and over again), realizes, thanks to Mrs. Clausen, that he wants more than anything to be happy. The only way to be happy is to be genuine.

Getting to that point requires changing himself. The Fourth Hand is Wallingford's journey from Mrs. Clausen and back to her again. Along the way, Wallingford stops asking for permission to make his life and be happy and takes the chances that make claiming happiness possible.

Happiness is possible even in the unlikeliest of circumstances if you make up your mind that happiness is possible--even in the unlikeliest of circumstances. Even for real people who have messed up their lives beyond belief and demonstrated their worst qualities in outrageous ways. If you want it, happiness is yours.

While the events in Wallingford's life seem to be maddeningly random, there nevertheless seems to a plan that drives his life amid the plane crashes and other catastrophes that shape the course of his life. Does he move through a pattern laid out before him without any control over the outcome, or does the deep desire for a genuine experience of happiness impel him forward in ways he never completely understands? Is there a goodness inside him that claims him, or does he claim it?

It might not matter.

________

This is the first book I read on my Kindle, which I purchased online Christmas after I saw the one my daughter received for Christmas. I was taken by how clear and beautiful the screen is. I was taken, too, by the beautiful screen savers that take form all by themselves.

The Kindle makes me think of the living pictures in the Harry Potter movies. In a delightful way, the text on a Kindle seems to be alive--perhaps because the Kindle makes it easy to connect with others reading the same book or to jump out of the book and into the online world for a while. I don't know. But the Kindle doesn't let me forget that the universe is alive, vibrant and vibrating; nothing is still or changeless. This idea and the potential it suggests--that texts are living things that engage us and change us if we let them--reminds me of why I love to read and love to teach reading. (less)

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Aug 21, 2011

Glendalee rated it

Shelves: literature-fiction

I read a lot of the reviews by some goodread readers where they said this book lacked a real plot. Of course I disagree with that opinion as you can see by the 5 stars that I gave this book. This was a very unique novel from any other book or previous Irving book I have read.

The story is about a womanizing journalist named Patrick Wallingford who gets his left hand eaten by a lion while covering a story in India. Out of the millions of people who see this happen on T.V, it is one wome...moreI read a lot of the reviews by some goodread readers where they said this book lacked a real plot. Of course I disagree with that opinion as you can see by the 5 stars that I gave this book. This was a very unique novel from any other book or previous Irving book I have read.

The story is about a womanizing journalist named Patrick Wallingford who gets his left hand eaten by a lion while covering a story in India. Out of the millions of people who see this happen on T.V, it is one women named Doris who wants her husband Otto to become a donor for Patrick because she feels really sorry for him. Otto isn't to thrilled about the idea but does it anyway not because his wife forces him to but because he can't resist her. When Doris uses her "seductive" tone of voice on him, Otto succumbs to anything she desires because he is so aroused; so he becomes a donor. Otto ends up dying by mistake when he shoots himself while drunk. Patrick now has a new left hand under one condition, Otto's widower Doris wants visitation rights with the left hand because it is the only thing of Otto that she has left. Before the surgery Doris "rapes" Patrick (who can blame her hes a handsome devil) because she was trying for a baby with Otto for so many years but they were unsuccessful. So she becomes pregnant with Pats baby. After the hand transplant, Doris spends as much time as she desires with Patrick (or better said with his left hand). Womanizer Patrick ends up falling in love with this odd woman who is now carrying his child. Though Doris is carrying Pat's child she no longer sleeps with him again, she got what she wanted which was a baby and time with her husbands left hand. Unsurprisingly Patrick's body ends up rejecting the hand after almost a year, also unsurprisingly Doris looses interest in him after her late husbands left hand is removed. Though Patrick has a string of flings behind him, and commitment issues, he wants to be a part of Doris and his child's life but she doesn't begin a relationship between thems.

The novel then goes on about Patrick's journey in trying to win Doris love and trying to be a part of his sons life; while trying to get fired from his journalism job because he realizes its not a job he wants to be a part of because of the fake people who work there...and all the women he has slept with there. I won't spoil the ending and tell you what ends up happening between Patrick and Doris. But I will say the ending was unexpected yet satisfying like all of Irving endings.

I think this novel was less dark and tragic than the other previous Irving novels I've read. It still had a lot of comedy in there. It was more hilarious than sad. There were some funny ex lovers and current lovers of Patrick that made this novel so hilarious and hard to put down. Despite Patrick womanizing ways, I like every girl in this book was also in love with him. He had his flaws but overall he was a nice and honest man, who ended up growing at the end of this novel. I didn't like the fact that he was so easily persuaded into doing things though. He has a vulnerability in him that makes him give in easily to people. He has the personality you wouldn't expect of someone so handsome.

Overall, I enjoyed this novel. I think it had a great and unique story line, but what else can you expect from Irving?. I think the critics here on goodreads for this book were to harsh, making it seem so terrible when it really wasn't. I think if your looking for a unique funny love story, you'll find it in this book. Irving will reel you in! Trust me!.
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Jan 11, 2011

Fred rated it

I'm a devoted fan of John Irving's books and have read six other of this earlier novels. There's something about his characters and his worldview that resonates with me, and it's that fact that kept me interested in this novel even when it became less interesting than I hoped. Or maybe that's not quite right. The story remained of interest, but the outcome of the characters' fates began to feel less compelling. The redemption of the main character felt increasingly certain (which may have been d...more

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Apr 10, 2008

Rea rated it

· review of another edition

For the standard that is John Irving, this book was so disappointing. I don't think he had much of a story and was depending on his characteristic literary traits to hold the story together, but unfortunately it backfired and instead of sustaining a mediocre story, turned all the things I loved about him into clichés and far-stretched half baked ideas. Do not judge Irving by this book, he is so much better than this!

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Oct 16, 2009

Matt Dorsey rated it

"Absurd just for the sake of it." That was my opinion of this book after my wife (who'd just finished reading it) asked what I thought a hundred pages in. But then the book's central relationship develops and it became apparent that all this absurdity did indeed have a purpose: the ways in which humans manage their grief are absurd and unruly. Indeed, the core of this novel is a meditation on grief. Often it's touching, sometimes cutting, definitely unique.

The problem, ...more

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Aug 04, 2011

Jayne Charles rated it

The blurb on the back of the book informed me that the main character has his hand bitten off by a lion. This being a John Irving novel, my first happy thought was that at least such a person would struggle to wrestle... Thus I decided to read this one, though it did turn out to have many of the features of Irving novels that have irritated me in the past - preoccupation with American Football (though it might even have been baseball, that's how little I understood of it), at least one bedroom s...more

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Jun 16, 2010

Angela rated it

I'm glad that I didn't realize who John Irving was before I read this book--if I were expecting another Owen Meany, I would've been sorely disappointed. Do not, however, take that to mean that I didn't enjoy this novel.

I do love the sardonic tone that our omniscient narrator takes throughout the book--he points out quirks and hypocrisies with what amounts to an accepting shrug of the shoulder, illustrating and forgiving human imperfection without even realizing that he is doing it...more

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Jul 10, 2011

Susan Emmet rated it

Was hungry for Irving at the beach and found The Fourth Hand at the used book place attached to Lisa's Legit Burritos in Gardiner. The novel tracks Patrick Wallingford whose hand is eaten by a lion while he's reporting in India while working for a questionable tabloid company. He gets a transplant from the widow of a man who died; she insists on visitation rights. The story follows Patrick, the widow, Dr. Zajac (the surgeon who reconnects the hand and also with his son), and Stuart Little, the...more

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Oct 07, 2010

Rat rated it

· review of another edition

Recommended to Rat by: My OH

Shelves: fiction

What I learned from this book? - John Irving can take a weird premise and stretch it out to a small novel...

... and that's not an entirely bad thing. The plot, whilst a little surreal, was nevertheless engaging and held my interest.

I found the first portion of the book to be darkly humourous, even when - or perhaps especially when - dabbling in difficult situations and events. The latter portions have a different feel - having a more serious, slower pace. And I think that...more

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Jan 19, 2012

Wright Forbucks rated it

I wish I could write half as well as John Irving, and upfront I'd have to admit if this book was written by a self-published author I'd give it 5 stars. But, for the great John Irving, I use a different rating standard. I believe, this is not John Irving's finest work.
Any John Irving book contains numerous paragraphs that are worth the price of the entire book, and The Fourth Hand is no exception, but I feel this novel is not as compelling as some the author's other works.
I love the...more

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Mar 18, 2011

Allison rated it

It pains me, LITERALLY PAINS ME, to give a John Irving novel anything less than 4 stars. He is among my favorite living authors, and I typically wholeheartedly enjoy the stories he tells and the vivid characters he creates. But this one... well, it just fell flat for me. I could not relate to or care about any of the characters, the storyline was rather blah, and while I truly truly love him, Irving's writing STYLE and "voice" aren't visual music for me the way Nicole Krauss or Mari...more

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Dec 15, 2010

Mgipple rated it

Irving is a pretty good writer, I just wish he wasn't so melancholy. This book starts out as a comedy, moving at a pretty rapid pace. The protagonist is a unique character, and it's funny to read about how he goes through life. Then, the story slows down and turns into a love story with some characters I didn't really like. It becomes a lot more reflective, and a little weird. Partly due to the main character, the book almost revolves around sexual encounters, and the narrative always seems to b...more

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Jan 09, 2012

Stefanie Price rated it

· review of another edition

As always, Irving is readable and here he spins a rather unique yarn, inspired by a real life story of a man undergoing hand replacement surgery, which led Irving and his wife to speculation on the backstory of the individual involved...how did the loss of the hand come about, who is this person...does it work?

Although the story is compelling, and the characters interesting, the lack of warmth to them makes it a little difficult to really engage or care about their lives. I won't r...more

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Jul 10, 2011

Lauren rated it

When I first read the synopsis, I was skeptical that I would enjoy this story. However, I was pleasantly surprised! The first 50+ pages provide the depth and color of the main characters but manage to keep you interested. Once you get into the meat of the story, it is conclusively a page turner. I found myself excited to get back to it and looking forward to seeing what came next. This is the first John Irving book I've ready but will definitely add him to my author list!

Don't be put ...more

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Jul 28, 2008

Katiana rated it

Bizarre, but surprisingly touching. Descriptions that just stick with you long after you read it.

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Oct 03, 2009

Lexi rated it

Recommends it for: People who like John Irving and realistic fiction

Recommended to Lexi by: Neil

The only other John Irving book I've read completely was The World According to Garp, which I loved. This book I liked a lot, it was much easier to read than Garp but the story itself was not quite as great.. However it was still good- very entertaining. I liked the characters a lot, especially the doctor. There is a lot of sex in this book, which was somewhat awkward as I was reading it while subbing and I always worry someone will read over my shoulder.

The book is about a man who lo...more

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May 30, 2008

Mike rated it

· review of another edition

This is a really enjoyable and quick novel, despite all the shitty reviews it got.

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Jun 01, 2010

Michele rated it

I've read a couple of John Irving's books in the past. I came across an interview with him recently which I found interesting, and he's a local author so I felt inspired to set a goal of reading all his books. I found this one in a used book store. It was a tough start for me because the main character is so unlikeable and the book started off in these sort of choppy chapters. But, that was the point. As the main character becomes less superficial, the writing becomes more complex. I ended up...more

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Mar 02, 2010

Linda rated it

John Irving again has a rather goulish event that sparks the premise for the book a journalist doing a story at a circus gets his hand ripped off and eaten on camera by lions. A transplanted hand donated by a man whose wife is a bit obsessed by the story does not take, but the widow screws the journalist to have a baby with at least part of her ex-husband Patrick, the journalist, falls in love with Doris, the wife and they have a baby Otto, Jr. after her dead husband. Very quirky story and a gre...more

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Mar 21, 2010

Betsy rated it

People can change if the right person comes into their life. I was prepared to have little sympathy for Patrick whose character does change over a period of time. Patrick's Doctor was bold and interesting. The dog was a necessary touch but could have gone with out the gross habit of the dog. Be prepared for strange always with the author Irving. There was a lot of business that could have been stepped up.
John Irving lives up to his talent of having a regular story come to life through ...more

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Aug 11, 2008

Piper rated it

Each John Irving book I read continued to just get worse and worse.

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Jan 09, 2010

Kate rated it

I keep reading John Irving books wanting to like them, but just end up annoyed. The entire premise of this story was ridiculous in the first place: the idea that the family of an organ (or in this case, hand) donor have any right to "visitation" with the body part is preposterous. In addition, this author just really DOES NOT GET women. Even when he chooses a woman as his main character, the women in his stories just do not act or react the way a woman would. They act more like a m...more

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About John Irving

John Irving published his first novel, Setting Free the Bears, in 1968. The World According to Garp, which won the National Book Award in 1980, was John Irving’s fourth novel and his first international bestseller; it also became a George Roy Hill film. Tony Richardson wrote and directed the adaptation for the screen of The Hotel New Hampshire (1984). Irving’s novels are now translated into thir...moreJohn Irving published his first novel, Setting Free the Bears, in 1968. The World According to Garp, which won the National Book Award in 1980, was John Irving’s fourth novel and his first international bestseller; it also became a George Roy Hill film. Tony Richardson wrote and directed the adaptation for the screen of The Hotel New Hampshire (1984). Irving’s novels are now translated into thirty-five foreign languages, and he has had nine international bestsellers. Worldwide, the Irving novel most often called “an American classic” is A Prayer for Owen Meany (1989)—the portrayal of an enduring friendship at that time when the Vietnam War had its most divisive effect on the United States.

In 1992, Mr. Irving was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in Stillwater, Oklahoma. (He competed as a wrestler for twenty years, until he was thirty-four, and coached the sport until he was forty-seven.) In 2000, Irving won the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay for The Cider House Rules—a Lasse Hallström film with seven Academy Award nominations. Tod Williams wrote and directed The Door in the Floor—the 2004 film adapted from Mr. Irving’s ninth novel, A Widow for One Year.

In One Person is John Irving’s thirteenth novel, which will be published by Simon & Schuster in May 2012. A compelling novel of desire, secrecy, and sexual identity, In One Person is a story of unfulfilled love — tormented, funny, and affecting — and an impassioned embrace of our sexual differences. Billy, the bisexual narrator and main character of In One Person, tells the tragicomic story (lasting more than half a century) of his life as a “sexual suspect,” a phrase first used by John Irving in 1978 — in his landmark novel of “terminal cases,” The World According to Garp.

His most political novel since The Cider House Rules and A Prayer for Owen Meany, John Irving’s In One Person is a poignant tribute to Billy’s friends and lovers — a theatrical cast of characters who defy category and convention. Not least, In One Person is an intimate and unforgettable portrait of the solitariness of a bisexual man who is dedicated to making himself “worthwhile.”

Born John Wallace Blunt, Jr., in Exeter, New Hampshire, in 1942, Mr. Irving’s name was changed to John Winslow Irving in 1948, when his mother remarried. (His mother’s maiden name was Winslow.) Mr. Irving named his first son, Colin, after his stepfather, Colin F.N. Irving, who taught in the History Department at Phillips Exeter Academy, where John Irving graduated in 1961; he was captain of the wrestling team at Exeter, and also wrestled at the University of Pittsburgh. Mr. Irving later attended the Institute for European Studies in Vienna, Austria. He has a B.A. from the University of New Hampshire and a M.F.A. from the Writers’ Workshop at the University of Iowa, where his mentor was Kurt Vonnegut.

Before the success of The World According to Garp enabled John Irving to become a full-time writer, he had several college teaching positions—not only at his alma mater in Iowa City, where he taught for three years, but also at Mt. Holyoke College and Brandeis University.

In the ‘80s, Mr. Irving lived in New York City and on eastern Long Island; since 1990, he has lived in Toronto and in southern Vermont. He has three sons—Colin, Brendan, and Everett—and four grandchildren. John Irving is married to Janet Turnbull Irving—formerly a Canadian publisher, who is now Mr. Irving’s literary agent in the U.S. His agent in Canada, and for the U.K., is Dean Cooke—at the Cooke Agency in Toronto. Mr. Irving is represented internationally by Nicki Kennedy at I.L.A. in London; his film agent is Robert Bookman at C.A.A. in Los Angeles.

In 2001, Mr. Irving was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Letters. John Irving’s 70th birthday is March 2, 2012.(less)

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