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John Irving

    March 2, 1942

    John Irving is a master storyteller, crafting sprawling, epic narratives that delve into themes of fate, coincidence, and complex family dynamics. His prose is celebrated for its rich texture, dark humor, and unexpected twists that immerse readers in worlds both bizarre and profoundly human. Irving expertly weaves disparate elements, such as wrestling motifs and tragic events, into cohesive tales that explore human resilience in the face of life's unpredictability. His works possess a unique charm, examining deep questions of human existence through unforgettable characters and unconventional plots.

    John Irving
    The World according to Garp
    The world according to Garp : a novel
    Mozart
    A son of the circus
    The Hotel New Hamsphire
    The Cider House Rules
    • The story of a village doctor in the 1920's who delivers unwanted babies and finds homes for them, as well as performing abortions illegally.

      The Cider House Rules
      4.6
    • “The first of my father’s illusions was that bears could survive the life lived by human beings, and the second was that human beings could survive a life led in hotels.” So says John Berry, son of a hapless dreamer, brother to a cadre of eccentric siblings, and chronicler of the lives lived, the loves experienced, the deaths met, and the myriad strange and wonderful times encountered by the family Berry. Hoteliers, pet-bear owners, friends of Freud (the animal trainer and vaudevillian, that is), and playthings of mad fate, they “dream on” in a funny, sad, outrageous, and moving novel by the remarkable author of A Prayer for Owen Meany and Last Night in Twisted River.

      The Hotel New Hamsphire
      4.4
    • A son of the circus

      • 832 pages
      • 30 hours of reading

      Born a Parsi in Bombay, sent to university and medical school in Vienna, Dr Farrokh Daruwalla is a Canadian citizen - a 59-year-old orthopedic surgeon, living in Toronto. Periodically, the doctor returns to India; in Bombay, most of his patients are crippled children. Once, twenty years ago, Dr Daruwalla was the examining physician of two murder victims in Goa. Now, twenty years later, the doctor will be reacquainted with the murderer.

      A son of the circus
      4.3
    • Mozart

      The 'Haydn' Quartets

      • 116 pages
      • 5 hours of reading

      Focusing on Mozart's renowned string quartets, this guide highlights the composer's deep friendship with Joseph Haydn, who greatly influenced his work. It explores the musical intricacies and emotional depth of these quartets, offering insights into their historical context and significance. The book serves as both an analysis and appreciation of Mozart's contributions to chamber music, making it a valuable resource for music enthusiasts and scholars alike.

      Mozart
      4.2
    • The world according to Garp : a novel

      • 510 pages
      • 18 hours of reading

      T.S. Garp, a man with high ambitions for an artistic career and with obsessive devotion to his wife and children, and Jenny Fields, his famous feminist mother, find their lives surrounded by an assortment of people including teachers, whores, and radicals

      The world according to Garp : a novel
      4.2
    • First pub. 1978. A comic and compassionate coming-of-age classic filled with stories inside stories about the life of Garp.

      The World according to Garp
      4.1
    • Mussolini Also Did a Lot of Good

      • 200 pages
      • 7 hours of reading

      Surgically, but with wit Francesco Filippi demolishes each and every myth that has taken root about Mussolini and fascism in an uplifting handbook for political and intellectual self-defense. No stones are left unturned, including the colonial devastation of Libya and Ethiopia.

      Mussolini Also Did a Lot of Good
      3.8
    • An LGBTQ-inclusive story about understanding your peers, your feelings, and yourself, The Wishing Flower is a love letter to longing, belonging, and longing to belong. Birdie finds comfort in nature and books, but more than anything she longs for connection, to be understood. At school, Birdie feels like an outsider. Quiet and shy, she prefers to read by herself, rather than jump rope or swing with the other kids. That all changes when Sunny, the new girl, comes along. Like Birdie, Sunny has a nature name. She also likes to read, and loves to rescue bugs. And when Sunny smiles at her, Birdie’s heart balloons like a parachute. From the acclaimed author of Dance Like a Leaf, with stunning illustrations by Kip Alizadeh, this book will inspire readers to honor their wishes and show the world their truest selves.

      The Wishing Flower
      3.8
    • Widower Dominic Baciagalupo, a cook for a small logging community in New Hampshire, and his son Daniel live a modest but comfortable existence until two tragic events change the course of the rest of their lives. Dominic decides that to best protect his son, they must flee, and do so for a majority of their lives. Covering 40+ years and thousands of miles (including Boston, Iowa, Colorado and Canada), Irving delivers with vivid description the lives of Dominic and Daniel and their odyssey.

      Last Night in Twisted River
      3.8