Sunday, November 18, 2012
The World According to Garp
I just commented on another blog, that I am reading outside my comfort zone and it is not always a pleasant experience. This is the second novel I have read recently that I thought was a waste of time. I must be narrow minded, but I like to know what I am reading. If it is a comedy, great. If it a tear jerker, fine, but I do not like it when a writer combines quirky comedy with graphic violence. This is what John Irving did in the World According to Garp. This style of writing reminded me of the movie Fargo, exceedingly violent but the characters are "real cards." I also did not like the way Irving portrayed the Feminist Movement either, as if it was only odd balls, fanatics and "wanna be men" embracing the idea of equality.
I watched the movie The World According to Garp yesterday, and they did a terrific job of staying true to the book but beyond that the only redeeming quality was John Lithgow's portrayal of Roberta Muldoon, the transsexual former line-backer. I really loved the movie version of The Cider House Rules, but after reading The World According to Garp, I am apprehensive about other Irving novel.
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I enjoyed Garp because it was different. It is supposed to be campy and edgey and ground breaking. Something unusual is why it is considered a classic today. Granted he did not portray the Feminist in a flattering light but he was not writing a book about the Women's Movement.
ReplyDeleteVery true. Thanks for your comment!
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