1.16k reviews for:

The World According to Garp

John Irving

4.03 AVERAGE

moontower's review against another edition

4.0

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Popsugar reading challenge. 11h 8 min.

zaggirl7's review against another edition

4.5

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

alliekcav's review against another edition

3.75

challenging dark emotional funny reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

wrenreads2025's review against another edition

4.0

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When I read this book, it took me way too long to see that it was a satire of feminism. Minus 10 points for me.

vawcp6's review against another edition

3.5

emotional reflective slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

eyeoncanon's review against another edition

4.5

challenging dark funny medium-paced

frasersimons's review against another edition

5.0

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I was worried Irving wasn’t for me when Owen Meany felt a little too prescriptive and message-y, but happily, my fond memories of the movie version (and of the late Robin Williams), held up quite well. Very enjoyable, in part because of the post modern playfulness and commentary on writing, (pop) culture and its co-opting, feminism, and awkward adolescence. Despite being overt characters, this felt far more smooth going down than the “realism” attempted in Meany.

A wild ride, a dissection (or maybe vivisection?), of coming-of-age - I really doubt there’s a better effort (for my taste) from Irving. Everyone feels human, fallible, and the world chaotic and believable, yet feels like distinctly like a novel. Wonderful stuff.

vananne7's review against another edition

5.0

challenging emotional funny reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

kstericker's review against another edition

4.5

emotional funny reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

quietmachine's review against another edition

DID NOT FINISH: 7%

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WTF