In One Person

A Novel

By: John Irving

Narrated by: John Benjamin Hickey

Length: 16 hrs and 20 mins

Publisher's summary

A compelling novel of desire, secrecy, and sexual identity, In One Person is a story of unfulfilled love—tormented, funny, and affecting—and an impassioned embrace of our sexual differences. Billy, the bisexual narrator and main character of In One Person, tells the tragicomic story (lasting more than half a century) of his life as a “sexual suspect,” a phrase first used by John Irving in 1978 in his landmark novel of “terminal cases,” The World According to Garp.

His most political novel since The Cider House Rules and A Prayer for Owen Meany, John Irving’s In One Person is a poignant tribute to Billy’s friends and lovers—a theatrical cast of characters who defy category and convention. Not least, In One Person is an intimate and unforgettable portrait of the solitariness of a bisexual man who is dedicated to making himself “worthwhile.”

©2012 Garp Enterprises, Ltd. (P)2012 Simon & Schuster

Critic reviews

"A profound truth is arrived at in these pages. It is Irving at his most daring, at his most ambitious. It is America and American writing, both at their very best.” (Abraham Verghese)

"His most daringly political, sexually transgressive, and moving novel in well over a decade." ( Vanity Fair)

“ In One Person is a rich and absorbing book, even beautiful.” ( Esquire)

Deja vu

Would you try another book from John Irving and/or John Benjamin Hickey?

Maybe not. I have read everyone of his books and he has been my favorite author.

If you’ve listened to books by John Irving before, how does this one compare?

This sounds so much like a prayer for Owen Meany. The whole setting is almost identical, a single mom, a private school in New England, the plays, etc. His Books are always similar, but this was way too close to what I consider his best, Owen Meany. Maybe he should cowrite a book within Steven King to spice things up. This could have been titled Owen Meany, the Sequel.

What about John Benjamin Hickey’s performance did you like?

Good reader, and liked his performance. The issue is the material.

Not his best

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Depends on the friend. The subject matter is not for everyone! :)

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

yes

Do you think In One Person needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

perhaps a book on G

Disappointing

As much as I like John Irving this book doesn't feel genuine. I felt like I was reading a book written by a straight man that researched gay lifestyles.

Fabulous Irving for the open-minded

I loved this book! I loved the multitude of colourful and slightly mad characters, the timespan of telling a story over half a century (including the presence of certain political events or outbreaks as well as cultural changes during that time), the fascinating coming of age of a young person very different to "the norm", and most of all the clever, humourous and incredibly sensitive yet raw and honest way in which Irving handles such a delicate, difficult and often made taboo subject.

Whilst I had to suspend my disbelief that there were so many gay, lesbian, bisexual, cross-dressing and transgender individuals in a small town like "First Sister, Vermont", let alone as part of one family, I was actually happy to do that to go along with the flow of a most wonderful, mind-boggling and even educational (though sometimes, frankly, I learnt more than I'd ever have wanted to know....some of the descriptions of gay sexual practices are not to be read by the faint-hearted, I suspect. :-) story told by the very likeable and self-aware William Abbott.

During the last third of the book I felt that Irving repeated a lot of events and encounters between people to the extent that I was wondering whether either Bill Abbott, the narrator, or myself the reader was supposed to be a bit demented. Perhaps it was supposed to be part of Billy's growing old and reminding himself of certain events in his life but it was a bit too repetitive for me. It's possible, too, that the repetitions were supposed to serve the reader's memory because there were so many different characters central to various parts of Billy's life.

In fact, I already mourn not only the fictional deaths of many of the book's weird and wonderful characters, but also the loss of the company that Billy Abbott provided me with over the last ten days, in the form of the outstanding audio narration by John Benjamin Hickey.

Excellent on all aspects

John Irving is my favorite author. His books are complex making narrating them difficult for some
This couldn't have been any better imo.

Characters that will stay with me

Narrator was great, book interesting but for me, not on the same level as his earlier works. Certainly won't stop me listening to his others. A slightly disappointing John Irving is still great compared to other writers.

A tremendous accomplishment

Where does In One Person rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

One of the best audiobooks I've listened to. Classic John Irving at his best. Fascinating characters and stirring, intriguing narrative that kept me involved from beginning to end. I'd have to go all the way back to "The World According To Garp" to find John Irving in such fine form.

What did you like best about this story?

An absolutely original story, sensitively and skillfully written.

Which character – as performed by John Benjamin Hickey – was your favorite?

Billy Abbott, the narrator, lives an extraordinary life but is realistic and believable. His first love, Miss Frost, is outstanding.John Benjamin Hickey, an accomplished actor, was the perfect narrator. He delivered a stunning performance. It would not have been the same in anyone else's hands.

VINTAGE IRVINE AT ITS BEST!

I have been a devoted fan of John Irving for decades. He has the rare talent needed to wrap hard issues in literate laughter. In One Person is Vintage Irving. His signature symbols and character types are all present. As in his earlier books, from Garp through Twisted River, Irving continues to address socio/political controversies thoughtfully and fearlessly.

The themes in this book remind us of Robert/Roberta the pro football player defender of Nurse Jenny, of Dr. Larch, the non-practicing homosexual who gave women choices and orphans second chances, of Frannie who learned how to live after gang rape, of Owen who tried to understand his religious parents as he lived out his own dream and even of the twisted multi-generational hatreds in Twisted River. And bears, of course.

It is set in a private boys (originally) school in New England where we are reminded of elderly professors freezing in the snow and of warm, padded wrestling rooms, and a year in Vienna. And while it is fun to encounter the archetypes from his previous books, the social and political questions still remain to be explored and confronted. As he carefully built his arguments for questioning the “status quo” opinions, social norms, natural morals and blind prejudices of earlier generations about prostitution, abortion, sexual orientation, women’s rights, racial justice, child abuse, the handicapped etc, he again argues for Questioning and questing and for sympathy. In Irving’s words, don’t categorize me before you even know me. He asks for tolerance, even for tolerance of the intolerant. To all of this, add Irving’s tragicomIc writing genius and his story telling skills and we have another thoughtful provocative John Irving book. It’s great!

Irving did it again

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes I would highly recommend this to a friend. Hickey does an great job with the different characters' voices. Many times the narration will take away from the book as in Jean Auel's latest, but this time it was right on the money. I am an Irving fan and he didn't disappoint.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I liked Elaine, Billy's best friend. She was an interesting character and always true to Billy and to herself.

Which scene was your favorite?

I enjoyed it immensely when Billy stood up to the bullies that were torturing G. Definitely need more of his type in these days and especially in the 1980's when Lesbians, Gays and Bisexuals were finally being heard, and in a limited forum, being accepted.

Who was the most memorable character of In One Person and why?

Obviously the most memorable would be Billy, as he is the main character, but also Mrs. Frost. It was apparent to me from the beginning that she was a biological he, but I liked the way Irving didn't come right out and say it. I liked how she went out of her way to fit in and how the wrestling coach never gave her away. Irving told a story, made his views known without bashing me in the face with it. Great JOB Irving. Applause, applause, applause. Keep 'em coming and I'll keep listening.

Engaging

John Irving once again delivers a novel with well crafted, off beat, but completely believable characters engaged in what I can only describe as "real life". John Hickey's well nuanced portrayal of those characters does the story justice.