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The World According to Garp

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'The World According to Garp' by John Irving is a novel that follows the life of T.S. Garp, exploring his journey through happy moments followed by tragedies, making readers both sympathize and despise the character. The book delves into complex themes such as feminism, single parenting, marital affairs, and societal issues, all while showcasing Irving's unique storytelling style that blends humor, compassion, and eccentricity.

Irving's narrative weaves a rich tapestry of quirky characters, extreme situations, and bizarre incidents that range from laugh-out-loud funny to incredibly sad. The protagonist, T.S. Garp, is a writer whose life mirrors the wacky stories he creates. The novel is a mix of humor, tragedy, and classic storytelling, offering readers a glimpse into a world that is both eccentric and deeply human.

Characters:

The characters are quirky and complex, including Garp, his mother Jenny, and supporting figures that reflect various societal themes.

Writing/Prose:

The writing is characterized by a mix of humor and tragedy, with intricate storytelling and strong character development.

Plot/Storyline:

The narrative centers on T.S. Garp's life, highlighting his unique upbringing and experiences, while addressing themes of sexuality and gender roles.

Setting:

The setting reflects a late 20th-century America, heavily influenced by cultural and feminist movements.

Pacing:

The novel has a varied pacing, with engaging beginnings but some dragging middle sections, picking up towards the conclusion.
John Irving, a highly imaginative storyteller whose fictional values and narrative techniques have invited comparison with Charles Dickens and other popular nineteenth-century novelists, was born in E...

Notes:

TS Garp is the son of Jenny Fields, a single mother and nurse who doesn't desire a relationship with a man.
Jenny Fields conceived Garp with a mentally injured soldier, whom she used to become a mother without commitment.
The first part of the book centers on Jenny's unique parenting style and Garp's adolescence, which many readers found engaging.
Garp struggles with themes of lust, identity, and his relationship with his famous mother throughout the narrative.
Jenny writes an autobiography titled 'A Sexual Suspect,' which becomes a bestseller and a feminist manifesto, overshadowing Garp's own writing career.
Garp marries his childhood crush, Helen, and raises their children, worrying about their safety throughout the novel.
Irving explores various themes including feminism, male identity, and the complexities of relationships, while maintaining a darkly comedic tone.
Characters in the book often encounter tragic and bizarre situations, highlighting life's unpredictability and absurdity.
Roberta Muldoon, a transgender character, provides a unique perspective on gender identity and relationships, enriching the story's depth.
The book ends with the theme of mortality, conveying the message that everyone engages with life's absurdities, leading to the reflective conclusion, 'we are all terminal cases.'

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Triggers include rape, violence, sexual content, infidelity, and themes of loss and mental health.

Has Romance?

The book contains significant romantic elements, exploring various relationships and their complexities.

From The Publisher:

"He is more than popular. He is a Populist, determined to keep alive the Dickensian tradition that revels in colorful set pieces…and teaches moral lessons."-The New York Times

The opening sentence of John Irving's breakout novel, The World According to Garp, signals the start of sexual violence, which becomes increasingly political. "Garp's mother, Jenny Fields, was arrested in Boston in 1942 for wounding a man in a movie theater." Jenny is an unmarried nurse; she becomes a single mom and a feminist leader, beloved but polarizing. Her son, Garp, is less beloved, but no less polarizing.

From the tragicomic tone of its first sentence to its mordantly funny last line-"we are all terminal cases"-The World According to Garp maintains a breakneck pace. The subject of sexual hatred-of intolerance of sexual minorities and differences-runs the gamut of "lunacy and sorrow." Winner of the National Book Award, Garp is a comedy with forebodings of doom. In more than thirty languages, in more than forty countries-with more than ten million copies in print-Garp is the precursor of John Irving's later protest novels.

Ratings (47)

Incredible (11)
Loved It (18)
Liked It (7)
It Was OK (9)
Hated It (2)

Reader Stats (71):

Read It (49)
Want To Read (18)
Did Not Finish (1)
Not Interested (3)

1 comment(s)

It Was OK
2 months

Oh John Irving, you love incest. And feminists.

 

About the Author:

JOHN IRVING, born in Exeter, New Hampshire, published his first novel, Setting Free the Bears, when he was twenty-six. His most popular novel, worldwide, is A Prayer for Owen Meany, published in 1989. In 2000, Mr. Irving won the Oscar…

 
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