The World According to Garp (Black Swan) |
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Author:
John Irving
By Black Swan
Average Customer Rating:  
List Price: £7.99
Our Price: £2.98
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Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 813
EAN: 9780552992053
ISBN: 0552992054
Label: Black Swan
Manufacturer: Black Swan
Number Of Pages: 591
Publication Date: 1986-07-01
Publisher: Black Swan
Studio: Black Swan |
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Brilliant, 2010-03-12
I absolutely loved this book. After the reading succes of The Cider House Rules this was another stunner for me.
The story of the Garp family starting with Garp'smother the feminist Jenny Fields all through the births and deaths of Garp's children and himself.
I thought it was taking me ages to read this book as it has 570 pages with a very small font size, but I enjoyed every page.
10/10
The World According to Garp, 2009-07-17
Wonderfully bizarre read. Absorbing, different and all I expected from the title.The World According to Garp (Black Swan)
 Great in parts but on a whole does start to bore., 2008-12-22
I know that I am in the minority with my rating but I really wanted to love this book and at times I did. Parts of this novel are genuinely hilarious. Parts are very touching and thought provoking. Parts are just plain pointless and a struggle. I still don't know what it was supposed to be about and I don't think the author does either. Is it about parental fear, sex, feminism, or writing? The author in his notes says its about the fear a parent has for his/her children but I think it just suits him to say that as he doesn't really know himself and if he does know then the best bits e.g. his Steering schooldays, Vienna, Ellen Jamesians, Mrs. Ralph have very little to do with the story. 5 stars in places, 2 stars in others, 3 1/2 stars overall. Might still read Owen Meany though
Best Read, 2009-11-25
This is truly my favourite book ever! A fabulous story about the life of Garp from conception until death.(and a very unusual conception it was).
The reader experiences Garps life with him. His unusual mother and upbringing. The characters he encounters are thoroughly enjoyable. Particularly Roberta Muldoon. It is a story that makes you laugh and cry and I was teary at the end. My next pet whether it be male or female is going to be named Garp!
A lot of John Irving's usual themes are present in the book, New England, wrestling, animals etc. This is my favourite John Irving title and the film with Robin Williams starring as Garp fails to do it any justice at all.
I would reccomend this book as a great flowing story about life with but with Irving style quirkyness.
Maybe a classic but not my favourite, 2009-03-27
I know this book is popular amongst readers, especially Irving fans, but I read it twice (10 years apart) and still felt the same. The story is interesting and original but it drags on a bit and I found it difficult to keep interested, despite being a big Irving fan.
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