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3.33 AVERAGE
3.33 AVERAGE
funny
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
So I didn't actually read the whole thing. In this collection of memoirs, short stories, and essays, I skipped out on some of the essay and memoirs. I tried reading some of them, but they just didn't interest me at all.
John Irving is one of my favorite authors. I absolutely adore his novels. This collection is mostly amateurish by comparison. Irving's own notes after the stories mention that for the most part, he agrees. There were only a few stories that I actually liked. I liked "The Pension Grillparzer," but I actually think I enjoyed it more in its appearance in [b: The World According To Garp|7069|The World According to Garp|John Irving|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1447234581s/7069.jpg|1028204]. As a story that Garp writes, it fits really well. I've always liked when Irving's characters write in his stories.
"Interior Space" felt pretty distinctly Irving-esque I guess, but without the full length of a novel to back it up, I didn't feel the same attachment to the characters that I felt in any of his books. It was a solid 3 stars by itself, but it being my second-favorite story in the bunch (and my first-favorite being actually pulled from Garp), the whole collection is a bi disappointing. I'll still pick up more Irving novels, but this short story collection doesn't do it for me.
John Irving is one of my favorite authors. I absolutely adore his novels. This collection is mostly amateurish by comparison. Irving's own notes after the stories mention that for the most part, he agrees. There were only a few stories that I actually liked. I liked "The Pension Grillparzer," but I actually think I enjoyed it more in its appearance in [b: The World According To Garp|7069|The World According to Garp|John Irving|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1447234581s/7069.jpg|1028204]. As a story that Garp writes, it fits really well. I've always liked when Irving's characters write in his stories.
"Interior Space" felt pretty distinctly Irving-esque I guess, but without the full length of a novel to back it up, I didn't feel the same attachment to the characters that I felt in any of his books. It was a solid 3 stars by itself, but it being my second-favorite story in the bunch (and my first-favorite being actually pulled from Garp), the whole collection is a bi disappointing. I'll still pick up more Irving novels, but this short story collection doesn't do it for me.
adventurous
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
So, I didn't realize this was a memoir. I figured it was fiction. Not bad, once I got over the "hmmm, this isn't what I meant to read" stage. It works because so much of Irving's writing feels like autobiography. I liked the old time small town NH stories and the quirks that informed the writing Irving was to do in the future. Overall really enjoyable book.
I haven't read one of John Irving's novels since Garp first came out in paperback, and I have to wonder why, because I certainly enjoyed Garp. I liked the audiobook of these stories and essays very much. I chose him because book 26 in my challenge was Author Who Shares Your Initials, and the pickings were slim. Plus the audiobook was included at no cost on Audible. Now I think I'll move on to The Ciderhouse Rules. I don't have another 43 years to get back to this fine writer.
This book had its up and down. Some of the stuff (fiction/dickens ect. in the second part of the book) wasn't so good. Irving does know how to tell a story and I enjoyed hearing about his wrestling and such.
DNF, couldn't get interested, even though the rioting is good.
adventurous
funny
informative
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Meh...I can’t figure out if I didn’t like this collection because I’m not a short story reader or if I just can’t connect with Irving’s style lately.