The World According to Garp
by John Irving, Fiction (Released 1978)
Bottom Line: Read it.
Summary: T.S. Garp, a boy who was raised by his feminist mother, grows up to face horrific events in his life as a parent and writer.
My Thoughts: As I read Garp, I was struck by the connections to Irving’s life (Garp’s background of being raised without a father, his interest in wrestling, and his career as a fiction writer), causing me to wonder how much of this “fiction” is autobiographical. This adds another dimension to an already fantastic story. If you liked A Prayer for Owen Meany, you will love this one too. This is one of my All-Time Favorites and is also on my Time to Kill List.