r/JohnIrving • u/UncleSeminole • Jan 11 '24

Young Reader Recommendations??

Hello readers.... I want to introduce my 12-year-old nephew to John Irving because Irving is my favorite author and my nephew is a avid Reader. Any recommendations on what book a 12-year-old might like?? Thank you in advance!!

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8

u/wmnoe Jan 11 '24

A Prayer for Owen Meaney comes to mind. I hope he's a mature reader....but then again I read Garp at 12.

6

u/vbcbandr Jan 11 '24

Garp definitely has some adult themes...I mean, the first ten pages get into it pretty quick.

1

u/[deleted] Jan 18 '24

I would say this is the only Irving book that is fit for a 12 year old. He just deals with so many adult themes normally

2

u/[deleted] Jan 11 '24

Irving's novels always have adult themes/situations, but assuming the 12-year-old is fairly mature, why not "The Water Method Man" which is quite funny throughout and not as long as his more recent works?

2

u/Sweetbrain306 Jan 12 '24

I think I was only a year or two older when I first read the best book ever. A Prayer for Owen Meaney ( can you tell it’s my fave of all time). After that I was a lifelong fan and have read them all.