anticipating Irving
to keep my mind off the bitching/thinking/busyness of this week (and probably the next two), i’ve decided to focus all non-work braincells and energy on hoping that the new John Irving book Until I Find You doesn’t suck ass.
as i’ve said about 942 times, i love John Irving. his book A Prayer for Owen Meany changed my life and introduced me to the wonder of words. I’ve read every book he’s written and that’s quite a feat. Because, 1.) he writes very long books and 2.) the last three novels have sucked ass. maybe i’m being a little hard on A Widow for One Year, but Irving doesn’t write a convincing woman and it really falls apart at the end. And i’m still mad that not only was The Fourth Hand a bad book, but it had a fatal flaw i can’t get over. however, that being said, much like Rod Stewart being forgiven all his sins for giving the world “Maggie May,” i will forgive Irving all his sins for giving me Owen Meany.
as i wait, tingly with anticipation for the new novel to land on my doorstep, i’ve been reading all the press. I just read the short ‘Newsweek’ piece about the book, and i am intrigued — tattoos, someone looking for their long-lost father, cross-dressing? why it could almost be about me. if the book arrives on friday, i plan on hiding out this entire weekend taking a break only long enough to go see Willy Wonka. and as lame as that sounds, it sounds very nearly like heaven to me.
At your suggestion (I think) I just finished Love Invents Us. As I don’t know anyone real (AKA anyone tangible in my real life) who has recently read this, I’d like to take a moment to tell you, the recommender (I think), that the final two sentences SUCK. Why did she leave us hanging? Why make us question her narrative credibilty? Did Huddie leave his wife? Is he there to stay? ARGH!! What do you think?
13 Jul 05 at 7:05 pm #I’ve only read Washington Irving, although I once heard the Ballad of Irving on the Doctor Dimento Show.
13 Jul 05 at 10:38 pm #I’m taggin’ you on my current book meme someone tagged me on…..I can only hope.
13 Jul 05 at 11:20 pm #UH: Irving, the 142nd fastest gun in the west?
13 Jul 05 at 11:57 pm #That’s the one, Damon.
Ah, the (hazy) memories.
14 Jul 05 at 10:21 am #