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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
It's my experience that all John Irving novels are essentially the same. That being said, this one is pretty good. It's the one to read.
I think I was well over half way through this book before I started to enjoy it and the characters. It was a bit of a struggle but I'm glad I saw it through to the end. Not the enjoyable classic that I was expecting.
Abandon page 300/640.
Je reconnais les qualités de l'auteur et du roman, je pense juste ne pas y être sensible du tout. Je me suis ennuyé à la lecture, principalement dû au fait que j'avais l'impression de ne pas être impliqué. Le destin des personnages ne m'importaient pas, leurs actions n'avaient qu'un intérêt relatif, l'intrigue est faible voire inexistante. Le roman jouit d'un cynisme et d'une ambiance éthérée qui n'ont pas su me ravir.
Je pense qu'au delà du roman, c'est la plume d'Irving qui ne me correspond pas et qu'il n'est peut être pas judicieux pour moi de poursuivre avec cet auteur.
Je reconnais les qualités de l'auteur et du roman, je pense juste ne pas y être sensible du tout. Je me suis ennuyé à la lecture, principalement dû au fait que j'avais l'impression de ne pas être impliqué. Le destin des personnages ne m'importaient pas, leurs actions n'avaient qu'un intérêt relatif, l'intrigue est faible voire inexistante. Le roman jouit d'un cynisme et d'une ambiance éthérée qui n'ont pas su me ravir.
Je pense qu'au delà du roman, c'est la plume d'Irving qui ne me correspond pas et qu'il n'est peut être pas judicieux pour moi de poursuivre avec cet auteur.
The most soporific book I've ever read. I napped every 5-30 pages for the first half of the book. I guess, judging by my wakefulness, that the second half was better.
Yeah, not really all that I thought it was supposed to be. I don't see how any sort of entertaining film could come of it. Not fantastic.
It’s hard to describe John Irving. I’ve only read three of his books, but they’ve all hit similarly, and in the best way. Always an oddly likable, imperfect protagonist. Bizarre moments and details that might at first feel outlandish, yet become a believable exploration of humanity. The books within the book; the Ellen Jamesians. I loved it all, especially TS Garp himself.
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
fast-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
I found all the characters to be so believable flawed as people. I never knew what was going to happen next and how much this book would upset me at so many points. Since I read the 40th anniversary edition, it started with an intro of Irving reflecting on the book and how he feels about it all these years on. That was really interesting and did make me more excited to read the book.
dark
funny
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
i've been mulling over my thoughts on this book for almost a day now and i still have no idea what to make of either it or my feelings towards it. i read the last 200 pages in a desperate, disbelieving, weepy rush because i just HAD TO KNOW how it all ended, and even though everything was tied up perfectly and neatly i still... just wasn't all that satisfied. though maybe i'm mixing up satisfaction and happiness. i don't know. maybe i should stick to not-so-harrowing books. avoid embarrassing situations like that time today when i was out in public and thought about walt garp and started welling up and people were present who saw me welling up and it was a mess. i'm a mess after reading this book. three stars verging on four because any book that makes me think this much about it after the fact must be pretty good, right? but who am i to say
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-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