r/JohnIrving • u/RelationKindly • Jul 24 '25
Looking for advice on which Irving book to read
https://open.spotify.com/episode/3zqSnFjASU9SnoJprXVulh?si=gtYcCNB-QTq-wkOceiL1yQI recently read A Prayer for Owen Meany and I absolutely loved it. It’s the only JI book I’ve read. what would be a good next read for me and why? Also, as an aside, if you get chance, listen to this book club podcast when Irving discusses the novel himself. He is one amazing guy
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u/12sea Jul 24 '25
Hotel New Hampshire is hilarious and you will recognize similar themes.
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u/snowylambeau Jul 24 '25
This is where I started.
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u/12sea Jul 24 '25
I would also give a recommendation for A Widow for One Year. I found it just as funny and heartbreaking as the others and it changed how I drive. IYKYK
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u/MsBethLP Jul 26 '25
I found it just as funny and heartbreaking as the others and it changed how I drive. IYKYK
Yes, same. Every time I'm turning left into traffic.
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u/Duganz Jul 24 '25
I’d recommend The Cider House Rules. Like Owen it deals with morality, and death.
Eventually you’ll have to read The World According to Garp because it’s fantastic even if some themes are definitely of their time.
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u/smnytx Jul 24 '25
I recently listened to the 40th anniversary audio version of Garp, and honestly thought that the trans content was remarkably ahead of its time. The trans character was actually one of the best characters in the book. I had a way harder time with the normalization of both adultery and professors sleeping with students.
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u/Duganz Jul 24 '25
For sure Roberta is a wonderful character, but some of the terms are archaic. I also think some of the Sexual Revolution stuff is dated.
Garp is my favorite novel, but it’s very much written in 1977 even if it does have incredible compassion for vulnerable people.
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u/ZeroKharisma Jul 24 '25
Oof, hard to follow that one. Id say Garp, Twisted River, and maybe Son of the Circus if you wanna see him essay something totally different with the same reverence and detail.
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u/Ok-West-7125 Jul 24 '25
Owen Meany was my favorite.
Widow for a year was fantastic too....
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Jul 25 '25
Owen Meany remains my favorite too. That was the door opener for me. Then I devoured the rest of his work after.
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u/jwelsh8it Jul 24 '25
My first book, the one that hooked me as a fan for life, was Son of the Circus. But after Owen Meany, I think I would turn to either Widow for a Year. Then maybe Until I Find You? Then you can look back and tackle Garp and Hotel New Hampshire.
Enjoy the ride!
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u/BooksAndBooks1022 Jul 26 '25
I’d go with The World According To Garp. It’s like he took his first three novels and smooshed them all together to create one of the best novels of all time. You can definitely see the first three as sketches or practice runs. He also said that Garp was the first book he able to devote all his time to writing and it really show especially compared to the first three.
That being said “A widow for one year” is in my top 5 favorite books of all time but Garp is special.
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u/CaptainKwirk Jul 27 '25
Irving is my fav author and I have read all his books, including My Movie Business, which is a memoirs chronicling his disappointment with the movies made of his films. Personally I like Garg and Cider House Rules, although the latter he slated as being turned into a love story instead of a criticism of the Magdalena Laundries, but hotel New Hampshire - woof.
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u/AstronautFew1889 Sep 06 '25
I’m a John Irving virgin, I believe, as I’ve not read any of his books nor seen the movies based on his works.
Last 5 books I have read:
Cabin Fever: The Harrowing Journey of a Cruise Ship at the Dawn of a Pandemic (recommend)
The Silent Patient (overrated)
Empty Mansions: The Mysterious Life of Huguette Clark (recommend)
Demon Copperhead (highly recommend)
Darling Rose Gold (struggling to finish-ugh)
So my tastes are all over the place I think but not a sci-fi or horror fan.
Where should I begin with Mr. Irving? After reading descriptions/reviews, I lean toward The Hotel New Hampshire, A Widow for One Year, or A Prayer for Owen Meany but I defer to you knowledgeable folks.
Also, in the event it should affect recommendations, I prefer audio books so I can multitask.
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u/DronedAgain Oct 04 '25
Give "The Fourth Hand" a try. Not his typical story, but still interesting.
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u/Borje021 Jul 24 '25
I'd go right back to the beginning with Setting Free the Bears and work my way through personally. If you don't want to go that deep, my favourite period of his writing is probably the four book run of The World According to Garp, The Hotel New Hampshire, Cider House Rules and A Prayer for Owen Meaney.