The World According to Garp

A Novel

By: John Irving

Narrated by: MacLeod Andrews, John Irving

Length: 20 hrs and 54 mins

Publisher's summary

A special 40th anniversary edition of the bestselling coming-of-age classic novel by John Irving, with a new introduction by the author.

"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.

©1976, 1977, 1978 John Irving (P)2018 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

“The most powerful and profound novel about women written by a man in our generation.... Like all extraordinary books, Garp defies synopsis.... A marvelous, important, permanent novel by a serious artist of remarkable powers.” (Chicago Sun-Times)

“Nothing in contemporary fiction matches it.... Irving’s blend of gravity and play is unique, audacious, almost blasphemous.... Brilliant, funny, and consistently wise; a work of vast talent.” (The New Republic)

"A large talent announces itself on practically every page." (The Book-of-the-Month Club News)

A roller coaster of emotion

This book was an amazingly colorful story with fascinating characters with lots of depth. Truly worth reading again

Much Better

I quite enjoyed this. The new narrator made a huge difference. MacLeod Andrews was a good choice. Both his narration and presentation of individual characters were a huge improvement on the old recording.

Perfect Narration

This is by far my favorite audio book! The story is fabulous and the narration is perfect.

Wonderful story, outstanding writer

Can’t go wrong with Irving, and Andrews delivers with a warm tone akin to Matthew McConaughey. A beautiful read about very “real” people. it’s a story about love and loss, feminism and violence. Every word: perfect.

Entertaining

I didn't find this book as good as I'd been told not would be, the author seems keen on making the point that not even the most charming of characters can escape death. Very realistic, of course.

Even better my 2nd time reading it, way better

I read this years ago and, of course, saw the movie. The story is as strong as it was 40 years ago, if not stronger. The story-line, characters, and plot have not lost any relevancy. If anything, the story has gotten stronger, way stronger. I really hope it gets re-movie-ified but I cannot imagine who might play Jenny or Garp (or Helen or Roberta, for that matter) or who might direct it. It's a very big ask in today's hollywood. I recently read "The Last Chairlift" and loved that, which caused me to come back to Garp. Mr. Irving, please keep writing.

A Very Well Read Audiobook - An Very Different Story

First as an audiobook, this is a very professional product. The narration is excellent. The audiobook starts with a forward by the author. I have a hard copy that has the same as an afterword. I preferred this the way it appears in my hard copy; reading it afterward.

As for the story itself, the writing is often brilliant. It is not "light" reading. It is more of a thoughtful work. There were times the story moved slowly and I had to preserve. There is, at times, very dark violence that one may find distasteful. As a former police detective I was often repulsed by the episodic violence.

On the other hand much of this book is really well constructed. The author made me care about characters. This made the end of the story as well as the epilogue particularly poignant.

"Garp" the character is a writer who seems to have disdain for reviews. Perhaps I should take the hint and stop here. Thank You...

Better for it.

A recommended read for anyone who is putting themselves on the frontline of any social or feminist cause. You can get a literary perspective on a varied array of women who have gone through their own unique experiences. It allowed me to vicariously live other's lives and experiment with looking at issues from a different point of view.

Everything and then some. I can't say enough

A complete story. Nothing more could be added. That would make it feel untrue.

Fantastic narration!

So thought provoking and funny at the same time. It's hard not to love such richly written characters.