Of course I am crazy for the novels of John Irving.

I suppose that I read  his novel "A Prayer for Owen Meany"  soon after it was published in 1989.  It blew my mind away, even though I did not entirely comprehend it. 

 The "denouement" ( if that is the right word) of the novel devastated me  ( I had missed the clues along the way).

 I plan to read it again.





Later on I read "The Cider House Rules"


What a great book.  Irving is courageous and  deeply honest regarding the "taboo" subject of abortion. He goes where  venial politicians, pastors and moralists cannot go for fear that their unformed prejudices will be challenged, whilst women suffer.

 Just now I have read  Irving's "In One Person"  (2012)



 This novel blew my mind away as had "A Prayer for Owen Meany". 

 It made me glad and sad.

 GLAD that I am still amongst the living.

 SAD that I have tried so hard to keep my soul pure that I have never been able to let my body enjoy sexual pleasure sans guilt.

 -----------------------------------------------------------------

 Thank you John Irving for pointing me to the direction of freedom.  If only I/we could believe what he writes.

 [-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
As Irving writes:
“Your memory is a monster; you forget—it doesn't. It simply files things away. It keeps things for you, or hides things from you—and summons them to your recall with will of its own. You think you have a memory; but it has you!” 
― John Irving, A Prayer for Owen Meany






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