HomeGroupsTalkMoreZeitgeist
Search Site
This site uses cookies to deliver our services, improve performance, for analytics, and (if not signed in) for advertising. By using LibraryThing you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Your use of the site and services is subject to these policies and terms.

John Irving (1)

This page covers the author of A Prayer for Owen Meany.

For other authors named John Irving, see the disambiguation page.

MembersReviewsPopularityRatingFavorited   Events   
88,491 (90,152)1,421114 (3.87)673
John Irving published his first novel at the age of twenty-six. He has received awards from the Rockefeller Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Guggenheim Foundation; he has won an O. Henry Award, a National Book Award, and an Academy Award. (Publisher Provided) John Irving was born John Wallace Blunt, Jr. on March 2, 1942 in Exeter, New Hampshire. His named was changed to John Winslow Irving when his stepfather adopted him at the age of six. He was a dyslexic child and it took him five years to get through Exeter Academy, which is where his adoptive father taught Russian history. He received a B.A. (cum laude) from the University of New Hampshire in 1965 and an M.F.A. from the Iowa Writers' Workshop, in 1967, where he studied with Kurt Vonnegut Jr. His first novel was Setting Free the Bears (1969) but it wasn't until The World According to Garp was published in 1978, that he became a literary star. The novel spent six months on the bestseller list and won the American Book Award in 1980. It was also made into a movie in 1982 starring Robin Williams and costarring Glenn Close and John Lithgow. In 1981, he received an O. Henry Award for the short story Interior Space. Some of his other novels were also made into movies including The Hotel New Hampshire starring Jodie Foster and Rob Lowe; A Prayer for Owen Meany, which was titled Simon Birch starring Jim Carrey; and The Cider House Rules starring Michael Caine. He won the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay for The Cider House Rules in 2000. Irving also wrote two memoirs; one detailing his wrestling adventures entitled The Imaginary Girlfriend, and another concerning his novels made into Hollywood films entitled My Movie Business: A Memoir. (Bowker Author Biography) — biography from A Prayer for Owen Meany… (more)
A Prayer for Owen Meany 17,891 copies, 325 reviews
The World According to Garp 15,049 copies, 193 reviews
The Cider House Rules 11,536 copies, 156 reviews
A Widow for One Year 8,285 copies, 112 reviews
The Hotel New Hampshire 7,219 copies, 74 reviews
The Fourth Hand 4,456 copies, 62 reviews
Until I Find You 4,154 copies, 65 reviews
A Son of the Circus 3,799 copies, 38 reviews
Last Night in Twisted River 3,042 copies, 138 reviews
The Water-Method Man 2,433 copies, 20 reviews
The 158-Pound Marriage 1,982 copies, 22 reviews
Setting Free the Bears 1,874 copies, 17 reviews
In One Person 1,854 copies, 75 reviews
Trying to Save Piggy Sneed 1,826 copies, 11 reviews
Avenue of Mysteries 1,100 copies, 49 reviews
The Imaginary Girlfriend 519 copies, 9 reviews
My Movie Business: A Memoir 425 copies, 8 reviews
The Last Chairlift 313 copies, 16 reviews
3 by Irving 172 copies
The Cider House Rules [1999 film] (Screenwriter; Author) 116 copies, 2 reviews
The Hotel New Hampshire [1984 film] (Author) 42 copies, 1 review
Ruimte binnenshuis 24 copies, 2 reviews

Top members (books)

Member favorites

Members: birder4106, JorgenHolst, TamasKiss, sunwin, belmarchris, Drapetsona, jamesabg, Werefish, private member, zitros, proteaprince, JoshMN, AdamBoring, traceylkb, private member, BD_Engel, niccollerae, Shilpaj77, private member, John_Daily (show 653 more), McDirk, bracdiver, anxietyfarm, rowabe, mrgrooism, LoisCK, supermanboidy, private member, Marcial87, Laura1124, braegross, epischel, MaryEvelynLS, cecile.sune, AnkaBlume, orbaf, ug2, gmerick, SamKates, outside-jane, JeffChadwell, chrk, hulswit, netedt, AlkaF, Josep_Ferres, JudiRobben, LBM007, Lesemonster, kenrg, BoekenTrol71, jphamilton, cait815, flajol, Judy_Winkler, SophieETallis, private member, Cstrickl, Steve.Monahan, stephanyt, NancyLuckey, tkhughes8, rob.haskins, JanOverbeck, keenomanjaro, tica3, Collectoreader, Kayla-Marie, aveys, mayelve, Clersius, kulujian, czubak, kinsey_m, Thomas.Taylor, kmuraki, rhy7s, jimrgill, LauraRaeAmos, lanewillson, Sally604, TylerMiller, madhatter22, BartvanBergen, the_darling_copilots, whiteperch, Chris_Warren, george1295, edparks, jtmaude51, TagThis, chuckyxchess, sunhill, elke2402, nedhayes, mairchgo, edelrio, AnneDC, KielGulick, jlid, JoannaD, LaiHock, Danishblue, Dr_Doom, nermal15, KAMWrites, Kristin99, jules.brown, emma.hamme, susiebrooks, Jullou, HRC0826, oliviamaybe, marface, Cyrus1932, Gatorhater, gandycat, chris.bergh, LisaL1, private member, JustinTylerLewis, DanaLC, sarapaige, tulipmedia, riktod, Appliquetion, DJHUTSON09, Beej415, bevpen, immaculatechaos, lesteraj, nighthawk4486, Steelyshan, SuzyK222, Framed, BiboBewohnerin, private member, Sdenn, private member, PhilRink, ontoursecretly, crabbei, sjurban, plantlover, happyharriston, geraly, ynot2924, sheridanredswan, vintagestitches, KarenAM, doyouknowjulesverne, justfred, LisaShoshana, morningwalker, Jaynee, arianns, testforlu, SusanBainbridge, JeffPgh, bethwolpert, kabercrombie, tsaorin, laluna179, PeRa1970, kgmersch, TaraLaing, jpackham, TheTwoDs, bergs47, adelavoe, wolves_away, faitharo5, zoe9905, drsnowdon, redjanet, Ridcully, emgaddis, DerekGentry, westonochse, jonstamp, Sarahinrainbows, KellyH22, manda19, gothamgal, phelmas, ImpudentAngel, labwriter, vincentvan, benjamin.guenther, aliciadavey, jessicamhill, bubbacusack, Lalatipsi, librarianlinz, latereader, private member, mzvetina, actonbell, EpicTale, chiwi, rygonz, hankvandervaart, breper, MyBookBarn, private member, Nancy9227, crystallineb, boonelostie8, mc_mc, JulieBDonnellan, losseloth, MickandGayle, HUlmanen, deereads, badgerchops, lapulli, aimees, sandykaypax, katereynolds364, auntycaz, Murmelit, achedglin, sojourner8, saranaut, janedoyle, cschwei, c3038354, chopstickninja, kirsty, rabornj, Disie35, kshaffar, davesbookthing, cowleyeleanor, private member, Nela333, knithappened, bridgitshearth, theherocomplex, aredninomis, melorem, Mhead49, Issendorf, dianp, kitkeller, nokisuu, private member, novelcommentary, bluedevilyn, deborahk, possumfish, Xaviers_Dog, bibliophile15, agmlll, munro, ijderaap, vickilk, MedwayJeff, jdarling29, Nodressrehearsal, ron415, cameling, jgirer, danstlou, sarahdeanjean, Bassamdraxx, jsewvello, icecoldsoda, elvi, perorazj, private member, missouri-gal, artemis15202, BankyBooks, jhdurr, mchimato, skconroy, baubie, Monikka, andrea58, AngeliqueS, TracieG, myce, breezygrl44, john56mb, AndyE, Littlemissbashful, insolent_redhead, ellington, jmh96, NoriandeRevelstone, happyhinsons, natbeourfriend, macphear, Kemmellie, justStan, simple22, gward101, ConstanceReeder, Sirrpa, southallc, HWells, satur9, liven, cmiller11, breezilla, lesenaar, erix.73, jbleil, funkyderek, vh3, Marecip, malloreeee, petterw, lexi13, monissin, LynnB, mlkasputis, johnmatti, tarendz, chrine, alk290, bryboyd, flips, brayzinski, BookBindingBobby, LDJeff, jokester, bonniebooks, chelsye, funky_george, pacocillero, Kir_de_Fer, leentjeleest, rampaginglibrarian, lineft, jennylynn, kowen, pagz4u, hardboiledminer, Batwoman64, KublaKess, raisins4peace, binator, Tolanor, niteswimming, kdspirit, primetimemitch, mclay2007, rebel619, sewerdnob, EdgarAllan, Angelof9, falls, Rose-Marie, astults, bardin, Lulubel, nvelvet, cllbridges, fkvdmark, bfolds, shearrob, Lovecarvings, DonCapone, garrobon, CeciliaAnn, pennyprz, louis.manow, libellous, bagambo, gerald.richards, angelrose, spacepotatoes, LKHunsaker, private member, pecanpie, bjoernbooks, sheckylovejoy, cadamy, EricCGibson, private member, private member, nemhain, toddclow, Branwell211, alicia.ann, electricjellybean, divyam, shaneycrawford, strandedon8jo, Bangsi, Laia, SpinningGrave, auntieem43, MrHomerWells, WisteriaLeigh, Dutchfan, marinesetwas, Maasrex, charlottem, haycorn, odysseia, Krendalin, Gael, donstuff, jesssh, phlegmmy, PJE, thomrj, bnbooklady, Diasphine, leahbird, Anfi, doogald, Seperson, tela1226, kellyholmes, pursuitofsanity, private member, lek103, spookshowbaby77, jhedlund, ShelBeck, Svada, thornster, tietoukka, private member, sparksmom, ktran82, rumhud, flint_riemen, drbower, thingol, sarahliz, Eric_the_Hamster, mlo000, bulderogbrak, DWHoel, private member, whiteroseofyork, CarolKub, AbbyAddams, Bibii, Frittelina, gowildboars, elsebeok, private member, Kenkwa, myub, CurtCronshaw, alceinwdld, ian.fountain, Annimaria, sogamonk, sageboy, Garp83, ame73, dyyanae, TeacherDad, pdebolt, gwendolyndawson, lustigkulle, Thesaminal, ilive2read, MarieMichon, marlojo, wjwhitmore, auggiebjorn, andy-cam1971, lloydshep, myralee, farleycar, miefledelius, Tonny, miss_catastrophe, slclock, SohoReader, pnkglitercandi, ktbarnes, uvula_fr_b4, mtbschoorl, redrackham, Treeseed, Xandra, ravenwood, pelette, jodiwilldare, private member, private member, jkmansfield, eraine, JWeb, private member, ericaRH, Natasja, bassoonreader, hk2kds, HarvReviewer, permachine, erinclark, MissConstantReader, alaskabookworm, cland, Patijntje, Donna828, aarch235, goldenphizzwizards, hockeycrew, narrowridge, jasmeyer, sunderland, MyLoveForAugustus, librarianna, scofer, frannyhadfield, Roddy, wmabey, Michael8564, Mordekai, ragnfrida, fallaspen, hjb, DeanieG, rhondayousif, stephmo, Katie_H, ichliebebueche, Steven_E_Rayner, jtimm, kfclark, Evangeline, vmthompson02, eba1999, e-zReader, Kowabunga, tolod, private member, lklem, aznstarlette, poziomka1986, valerie2, kikireader, falkman, fabi_k, Twijgje, Watty, margymae, Manli1208, jseger9000, lidermanrony, scarey, gvmelle, oliver40274, smokhaus, sweezel, ChicGeekGirl21, uklipa, pinklady60, Grammath, lisaantioch, siubhank, sunqueen, susamuru, ireed110, treybarth, jb460, Splittergal, survivingniki, laurenrayburn, Molave, 2irvingfan, Animo, autumndragyn, ElizabethEWS, Ilona83, brianinbuffalo, JennyG, GaileeSue, Ardashir, alzo, Neatnic, vincent-fortsey, rjwalto, rcooper3589, lyriclulu, jeffhunt, lizrstillwell, KBTaylor, janeekelly, MatthewB, hofnarr, psybre, BrianDewey, kapten-hanna, lovelylibrarylady, curiousjones, WitchCookie, Rhinoa, justmelissa, lisamorgan, JB007NJ, prehensel, louiseog, phillyexpat, jeniferbal, private member, unspuncapricorn, bkwerm, Athee, leo9000, lrasten, private member, bravenewgirl, read_dance_bliss, beautifulsoup, leore_joanne, private member, iaingbrown, private member, unedanseuse24, xmaystarx, private member, Lindsayg, Melsar, SaraBat86, squeakjones, sonjaplummer, amberalicia, private member, Doondeck, worcester, mattypsaidso, valentinebd, gnewfry, emily_morine, WalkerMedia, xtien, SwissShutist, jennyo, private member, writestuff, goddesswashu, olippold, Milesc, MKWillis, davidabrams, invisiblelizard, laytonwoman3rd, CJMauger, HesterPrynne, liehtzu, norasaurus, psibrarian, rgustafson, sherrie87, 2ndgenerationmuffin, jdsbooks, readaholic12, hisnameisjohn, Tasses, karenthecroccy, private member, librarygrl, Ambrosia4, lesezeichen, barefeet4, limerts, private member, clamairy, SarahAF, altay, Thalia

1001 (193) 1001 books (207) 20th century (499) abortion (316) America (177) American (916) American fiction (352) American literature (937) coming of age (399) contemporary (278) contemporary fiction (411) death (198) family (508) favorite (184) favorites (179) fiction (10,039) first edition (245) friendship (258) humor (524) India (171) Irving (256) John Irving (375) literary fiction (281) literature (826) Maine (183) New England (489) New Hampshire (279) non-fiction (165) novel (1,701) orphans (159) own (385) paperback (160) read (1,070) religion (176) Roman (631) short stories (174) to-read (2,329) unread (442) USA (537) Vietnam War (206)
You must log in to edit Common Knowledge data.
For more help see the Common Knowledge help page.
Canonical name
Legal name
Other names
Date of birth
Date of death
Burial location
Gender
Nationality
Country (for map)
Birthplace
Place of death
Cause of death
Places of residence
Education
Occupations
Relationships
Agents
Organizations
Awards and honors
Short biography

LibraryThing Early Reviewers Alum

John Irving's book Last Night in Twisted River was available from LibraryThing Early Reviewers.

Is this you?

Become a LibraryThing Author.

Member ratings

Average: (3.87)
0.5 61
1 426
1.5 101
2 1299
2.5 323
3 4635
3.5 1084
4 7405
4.5 928
5 6641

Author pictures (5)

(see all 5 author pictures)

Improve this author

Combine/separate works

Author division

"John Irving" is composed of at least 8 distinct authors, divided by their works. You can edit the division.

Name disambiguation

Go to the disambiguation page to edit author name combination and separation.

Includes

John Irving is composed of 7 names. You can examine and separate out names.

Combine with…

 

About | Contact | Privacy/Terms | Help/FAQs | Blog | Store | APIs | TinyCat | Legacy Libraries | Early Reviewers | Common Knowledge | 195,028,127 books! | Top bar: Scrolls with page