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John Irving at his best!
The story of Billy, the bisexual narrator and main character who realized early on that he was "prone to crushes on the wrong people" regardless of gender. The story spans more than half a century of his life as a "sexual suspect". It speaks to the "mutability of sexuality" and how your perception of sexuality shapes your life. This book forced introspection arguing that there is no "normal" only socially constructed behaviors, dress and appearance. Gender boundaries and ...more
The story of Billy, the bisexual narrator and main character who realized early on that he was "prone to crushes on the wrong people" regardless of gender. The story spans more than half a century of his life as a "sexual suspect". It speaks to the "mutability of sexuality" and how your perception of sexuality shapes your life. This book forced introspection arguing that there is no "normal" only socially constructed behaviors, dress and appearance. Gender boundaries and ...more
Notable for its bravery in tackling issues of sexual preference. I couldn't help comparing the character of Billy (a young boy growing up in 1950s Vermont who is attracted to both men, women, and trans women) with John Irving himself and wondering how deep the similarities go. It was a fun book (until it got to the AIDS part) and I found the New England prep school chapters riveting.
The cons: I find John Irving has a way of drawing out his characters until they become grotesque (or inconsequenti ...more
The cons: I find John Irving has a way of drawing out his characters until they become grotesque (or inconsequenti ...more
The novel has a breadth and depth spanning four generations and the subtle and not so subtle shifts in attitudes towards sexuality and gender. Typical Irving themes are present: wrestling, cross-dressing, New England boarding schools, complex mother/son relationships and a cast of eccentrics.
The main critique I have is Irving seems to be trying way too hard to get his tolerance point across. The narrative lagged if it drifted towards the preachy. The eccentric characters more than made up for th ...more
The main critique I have is Irving seems to be trying way too hard to get his tolerance point across. The narrative lagged if it drifted towards the preachy. The eccentric characters more than made up for th ...more
I do not know of a writer, living or dead, who better humanizes the quirky, the misunderstood, the "different"than John Irving. Here, through his bisexual protagonist, Billy, he tenderly explores the way American attitudes towards sexuality have...and have not....evolved in the last half of the century.
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Irving always selects a difficult topic and adds insight while at the same time dispenses his own brand of humor. This time it's alternative sexual orientation ans how it was handled from the 1980's to 2007.
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May 26, 2012
Daisy
marked it as to-read
Nov 19, 2012
Jamie
marked it as need-to-get
Jan 01, 2013
Curlysue
marked it as to-read
Mar 02, 2013
Laura
marked it as not-for-me
May 25, 2013
Stacey
marked it as to-read
Jul 29, 2013
KC
marked it as to-read
Jan 27, 2015
Mirja
marked it as to-read
Aug 13, 2016
Rachel
marked it as to-read
Apr 23, 2018
Terri
marked it as wish-list
May 30, 2023
Keeley
marked it as to-read
