Steven's review
The World According to Garp
by John Irving
Steven's review
The World According to Garp by John Irving
Steven's review
rating:
bookshelves:
1001
** spoiler alert **
This is the third John Irving novel I have read and I think he is quite simply amazing. When I read his novels, even those that the critics have panned a bit, I laugh at loud and I am moved to tears and I marvel at his writing. Perhaps the thing I like most, though, is his ability to reference rather seemingly innocuous elements that seem so isolated and distinct and weave them together as part of a terribly intricate plot. Of course, that makes it very difficult to point out what the book is “about,” but as John Irving has said himself, if you are of a certain age, nobody should have to tell you what a book is “about.”
That being said, this book is about feminism, friendship, death, loss, cheating, marriage, parenthood, growing up, violence, rape, a horrible accident to a penis, toads, and of course, lust. As Jenny Fields, Garp’s mother, knows all to well, lust can be a horribly destructive force.
One of the things I liked best about the novel was a piece from Joh...more
That being said, this book is about feminism, friendship, death, loss, cheating, marriage, parenthood, growing up, violence, rape, a horrible accident to a penis, toads, and of course, lust. As Jenny Fields, Garp’s mother, knows all to well, lust can be a horribly destructive force.
One of the things I liked best about the novel was a piece from Joh...more
