John Irving- The World According to Garp-9

[Blair]

What a big, beautiful novel!

This is the first work by Irving that I've read and it's left me wanting more.
Garp is the fictional life story of T.S Garp, a son, a father, a lover, a husband, and a writer.
Although there is no structured plot, it is a fascinating character study of not just one, but many interesting characters. Many of them are women- which leads to one of the major themes of the novel- feminism and the polarization of the sexes. While there are other themes, such as death and love of children, this theme echoes the loudest.
I don't know if it's an "important" novel as one critic claims, but it's certainly entertaining and thought-provoking.

[SlowRain]

I've heard many people say that The World According to Garp is Irving's best novel, and it's on my list to read one day. I've only ever read A Prayer for Owen Meany; I highly recommend it.

[Serenity]

I have only read two of Irving's novels so far. The Cider House Rules and The World According to Garp. I loved them both. However for me Cider House was far better. That being said Garp is touching, funny, sad, and a hundred other emotions. The world of Garp is inhabited by fully fleshed people, who your can not help but care about. It will leave you feeling like you lived a life through the eyes of Garp. A real Gem. I look forward to reading more of Irving's work in the future but fear that anything of his I read will fall short of Garp and Cider.