The Big Five (4 of 5)
This is the fourth in my series of entries profiling my five favorite authors. Today it’s John Irving, master of the eccentric family novel. Irving achieved bestseller status in 1978 with The World According to Garp, his fourth novel, which is not to say that his three previous efforts were not worthwhile, though he might have still been discovering his voice, as his writing, in my opinion, has gained strength later in his life. It goes one way or the other with writers; they either mature with age, or they burn out early. Some of his other works include The Hotel New Hampshire, an odd yet touching story of a peculiar family and their travels that features an incestuous relationship between siblings as one of its primary plot points. Irving’s novels are full of eccentric people behaving oddly, but unlike, say, Stephen King, another of the Big Five, who resorts to the supernatural to fuel his stories, Irving always remains firmly grounded in reality…up to a point. The reality of Irving’s stories is reality according to Irving, as his narratives, seemingly, could all take place in real life, but the laws of probability indicate that they wouldn’t. Later works include The Cider House Rules, which was made into a movie, as was The Hotel New Hampshire, but, most would argue, The Cider House Rules was the more successful adaptation, garnering an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for Michael Caine, as well as helping to launch the careers of Charlize Theron and Tobey Maguire. A Prayer for Owen Meany was his next effort, also set in New England, dealing principally with the subjects of religion and belief, but avoiding any of the preaching that often accompanies these topics. Irving is a great one for encouraging discussion of taboo or delicate issues without coming down heavily on either side of the argument. Later works include A Son of the Circus, one of my favorite Irving novels, though it received mixed reviews. It’s about a doctor and a movie star hunting for a transvestite serial killer in India, and yes, it’s every bit as much fun as it sounds. The past decade he has also added A Widow for One Year and The Fourth Hand to his resume, both worthy efforts.
Irving’s novels are densely layered, his characters complex, his stories compelling, and his mastery of the language absolute. He is one of the most accomplished American writers of the past fifty years, in my opinion, and a national treasure. Unlike Stephen King, from whom we can expect a new novel every year, or sometimes even two, Irving comes out with a book every four to seven years. It’s always worth the wait. His novels are meant to be savored; he captures the mystery in the mundane, as a professor of mine once said was essential to a strong narrative. His characters are often flawed, but his novels are not. I’ve known friends who championed his writing to the point of approaching strangers and preaching the gospel of Irving like street corner fanatics handing out religious brochures. There are many worse religions to have, and few better ones. If in my fiction I can suck a reader in one tenth as well as Irving does, I would consider my own career a success. For the first time reader, I would suggest A Prayer For Owen Meany, or The Hotel New Hampshire, but by all means try A Son of The Circus at some point. Be forewarned, these are not frivolous undertakings. Irving’s writing is meant to leave an impact, emotionally and psychologically, and it seldom fails to do so.