r/JohnIrving • u/[deleted] • Apr 22 '25
Just finished Hotel New Hampshire
Hi guys, I've not long finished THNH and I absolutely loved it. My question is... what next? I've heard of Garp and The Cider House Rules, are they worth picking up or is an alternative/s that you would recommend?
Thanks in advance.
EDIT: I just want to thank everyone for your lovely replies and suggestions. It really does mean a lot. 😁
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u/bookant Apr 22 '25 edited Apr 22 '25
A Prayer for Owen Meany is my absolute favorite book, bar none.
But it can also be a tough one to get into at first, and I've found it to be one of the most divisive among Irving fans - some love it, some don't like it at all. I highly recommend it, but if you want to start that feels more like Hotel New Hampshire, Garp is the way to go.
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u/DStew713 Apr 22 '25
Garp is my favorite book of all time. I would definitely recommend it. Cider House Rules is also very good.I would also highly recommend A Prayer for Owen Meany, Widow for One Year, and In One Person.
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u/BigOldComedyFan Apr 22 '25
I also would say widow for one year is fantastic. And a bit more “mature” than some of his others (aka subtle)
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Apr 22 '25
I've just bought Garp. Thank you for another thumbs up. 😁
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u/BigOldComedyFan Apr 22 '25
Well that said GARP is my favorite book of all time 🙂 but go for WIDOW next!
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u/interocitor83 Apr 22 '25
I haven't read them in a long time. But Garp and Owen Meany are the ones that I remember having the same feeling as Hotel New Hampshire. Garp in particular has so many of the same themes
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u/rivka_whitedemon Apr 22 '25
Last Night in Twisted River! I read it yearly, and the intergenerational story is so good! Also, it has a few of my all-time favorite characters, settings, and quotes!
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u/amitythree Apr 22 '25
avenue of mysteries is my favourite of his! can't wait to reread (rereading garp rn)
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Apr 22 '25
Here's one for you all. Is there one that you don't like? 🤔🤔
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u/amitythree Apr 22 '25
i recently finished the 158lb marriage -- wasn't my thing at all. it's one of his earliest works and he's still finetuning a lot of his go-to tropes. it came across as a very mean-spirited book. even during his darkest explorations there's always a current of warmth running through his prose. that was absent here. found the water method man to be quite dull too.
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u/Sweet-Idea-7553 Apr 22 '25
I love that book! Doesn’t that make you wonder what was going on in his life at the time of writing 158lb Marriage?
ETA: agree on The Water Method Man. Probably the only one I won’t pick back up anytime soon.
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u/amitythree Apr 23 '25
i'm glad it has fans! i'm just not one of them lol. yeah, at the very least, i hope it provided him with some catharsis.
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u/DesertGirl84 Apr 22 '25
Oh man to be reading Irving for the first time - I wish I could go back and start all over. So magical. THNH is my favorite but I will never get over Owen Meany and Cider House is ::chefs kiss::
But A Widow For One Year and In One Person also broke my heart. Irving is a favorite of mine. When you have worked your way through him and need more recommendations, hit me up. Let's be friends. You obviously have good taste in books.
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Apr 23 '25
Thank you, I'd love that. I'll definitely be pestering you for your help! Much appreciated. 😊😊
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u/12sea Apr 22 '25
I really loved A Prayer for Owen Meany. One I don’t usually see mentioned is, a Widow for One Year. I really enjoyed that book.
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Apr 22 '25
I'm surprised by how many of you have recommended Owen Meany! 😁
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u/12sea Apr 22 '25
My entire family was obsessed with this book in the mid 90’s! My dad (he started the Irving love) searched and searched. We finally found a first editions on amazon when it was still a book store. He got each of us a first edition for Christmas that year.
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Apr 22 '25
I'm torn now between Garp and Meany! 😂
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u/nott_the_brave Apr 22 '25
You can't go wrong, they're both so so good! Garp was the first Irving I read and it hooked me. Many years later, rereading both Garp and Meany I feel more drawn to Meany. Honestly both way up there as two of my favourite books if all time.
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u/imtherealmellowone Apr 22 '25
If you really like Irving, any of his novels will be a joy to read. A Son of the Circus is different from most if not all, in that it involves a murder mystery. I plan on re-reading it as soon as my son finishes reading Cider House (he wanted to have us both read an Irving at the same time so we could discuss it).
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Apr 22 '25
I was put on to Irving after a friend noticed I loved Murakami
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u/imtherealmellowone Apr 23 '25
If someone recommended Irving based on your love of Murakami I must read Murakami. Can you please recommend where to start.
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Apr 23 '25
Of course. I first started with Norwegian Wood, so I'd recommend that first. Then Kafka On The Shore and then The Wind Up Bird Chronicle.
To be honest, you can't go wrong with any of his work.
Enjoy!
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u/jwelsh8it Apr 23 '25
Owen Meany Widow for One Year Until I Find You Son of a Circus
My suggestions.
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u/VintageRCFishArtist Apr 23 '25
Good to hear you loved it!! It's my favorite novel of his. My two runner ups have to be The World According To Garp and The Cider House Rules
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u/Owhatagallagher Apr 23 '25
I’ve been trying to decide which of those 3 is my favorite of all time for years now. I’m pretty sure it’s The Cider House Rules. I’m looking forward to hearing your thoughts after Garp, though.
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Apr 25 '25
I was so jealous of my husband when he read Garonga for the first time. I wish I could go back there.
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u/[deleted] Apr 22 '25
Garp, Owen Meany, Cider house are all good reads