May / Irving Reading Poll

[Scheherazade]

Voting time for the John Irving book you would like to read in May!

The aim of the Book Club is to read and discuss new books together with other members.

Please try to avoid voting for the books you have already read and/or do not intend to (re)read with us.

Thank you!

More information on the books:

A Prayer For Owen Meany (http://www.amazon.com/Prayer-Owen-Meany-John-Irving/dp/0345915569/ref=sr_1_4/103-6782168-4943831?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1175383851&sr=1-4)

The Cider House Rules (http://www.amazon.com/Cider-House-Rules-John-Irving/dp/0345916387/ref=sr_1_5/103-6782168-4943831?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1175384047&sr=1-5)

The World According to Garp (http://www.amazon.com/World-According-Garp-John-Irving/dp/0676578225/ref=sr_1_6/103-6782168-4943831?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1175384179&sr=1-6)

Until I Find You (http://www.amazon.com/Until-I-Find-You-Novel/dp/0345479726/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/103-6782168-4943831?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1175399477&sr=1-1)

Setting Free the Bears (http://www.amazon.com/Setting-Free-Bears-John-Irving/dp/0345417984/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/103-6782168-4943831?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1175399202&sr=1-1)





Book Club Regulations (http://www.online-literature.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4104)

[Idril]

I voted for Owen Meany. I've read all the choices, except for Headmaster's Papers which I've never heard of and according to amazon, wasn't written by Irving he just wrote the introduction so I'm not quite sure why that's there but anyway, Garp and Cider House Rules are both amazing books and well worth a read but if you're going to read only one Irving book, it should be Owen Meany because I truly think it is the author at his best.

[Scheherazade]

I voted for Owen Meany. I've read all the choices, except for Headmaster's Papers which I've never heard of and according to amazon, wasn't written by Irving he just wrote the introduction so I'm not quite sure why that's there but anyway:blush:

Terribly sorry about that 'boo-boo'! Not sure what happened there either. Spent more than an hour going through all the Irving books and made a list (believe or not)! Shouldn't post polls after midnight (especially not while averaging 3-4 hours of sleep a day at most).

Haven't read any Irving books and not familiar with the author either but both Owen Meany and Garp are in my 'to-be-read list.

[Pensive]

I have read Hotel New Hampshire, and it was just amazing. I have also watched the movie of Cidar House Rules which I liked immensely. I would be glad to try another book by Irving, now.

*ponders what to vote for*

[bouquin]

I have read The World According to Garp and A Son of the Circus and I loved both!

[SleepyWitch]

Irving is one of my fave writers and I've read
The World According to Garp
The Hotel New Hampshire
A Widow for One Year
A Prayer for Owen Meany
The 158-Pound Marriage
The Fourth Hand

and probably one or two other books which I've forgotten to list.

I voted for The Cider House Rules, because I haven't read it yet, but I wouldn't mind re-reading Owen Meany or Garp either :)

[Virgil]

I've never read Irving and have wanted to. So I guess this will be an opportunity. Schoky had one of his novels as her all time favorite. Which one is that? I would like to vote for it.

[Idril]

:blush:

Terribly sorry about that 'boo-boo'! Not sure what happened there either. Spent more than an hour going through all the Irving books and made a list (believe or not)! Shouldn't post polls after midnight (especially not while averaging 3-4 hours of sleep a day at most).



:lol: :lol: No, that probably isn't a good idea. I was excited there for a moment because I thought there was an Irving book I had yet to read. ;)

[Schokokeks]

I've never read Irving and have wanted to. So I guess this will be an opportunity. Schoky had one of his novels as her all time favorite. Which one is that? I would like to vote for it.
It's Owen Meany :nod:. In a way, I find it the most "unorthodox" one of Irving's novels I know, and I think this might be one of the reasons why some people are put off it, and possibly one of the reasons why I love it so much :D. But I'd love to hear your opinion on it, Virgil :).
I've read all of the above except Until I find you, most of them multiple times, my last reading was Setting Free the Bears together with lovely Idril :).
I wonder why Hotel New Hampshire isn't on the list, that's the one I've not read so far...
I'd love to reread either Cider House Rules (though the title of the German translation is so much better :p), Owen Meany or World According to Garp. His characters are all so special, I don't know which one to pick... I've read Owen so many times, and since I'm also interested in the movie (didn't know there was one, thanks, Pensy!), I'm considering Cider House Rules...
Although I'm sure Owen would give the most interesting discussions :nod:.

I'll have to sleep over that :D.

[Virgil]

Thanks Schoky. I just voted.

[Atiri]

I've read the cider house rules so decided not to vote to read for it again.
Meary got my vote.

[Nightshade]

Owen meany I might as well read another one from the list while I have the vhance hadnt I ?

Paya, vote now!:D:D

[papayahed]

Owen meany I might as well read another one from the list while I have the vhance hadnt I ?

Paya, vote now!:D:D

Owen Meany? Really? Wasn't that an Oprah book? Are you sure Nightie? If you say so I will.....

[Nightshade]

err maybe its on the big read list and as I understand it all his books are weepies anyway, just dont vote for until I find you its about 700 pages long ( its so big the spine is damaged just from sitting on the shelves in the library)
:eek2:

[Asa Adams]

Owen Meany? Really? Wasn't that an Oprah book? Are you sure Nightie? If you say so I will.....

:eek2: I dread the Big "O"

[Idril]

...just dont vote for until I find you its about 700 pages long
:eek2:


And it's silly...and bad. :sick: :rolleyes:

Don't tell me Owen made Oprah's list, I don't ever pay attention to her list and I don't want one of my favorite books to be tainted by Oprah, I want to remain blissfully unaware. :p

[papayahed]

And it's silly...and bad. :sick: :rolleyes:

Don't tell me Owen made Oprah's list, I don't ever pay attention to her list and I don't want one of my favorite books to be tainted by Oprah, I want to remain blissfully unaware. :p



I was wrong Owen Meany was not on the Oprah list. Sorry:( I'm a font of misinformation sometimes.

[Nossa]

I haven't read anything by him, so I don't know for which book I should vote..but since I'm sure you guys have the most amazing taste in books, I'll choose whichever you choose :D

[Idril]

I was wrong Owen Meany was not on the Oprah list.

Thank you for putting my mind at rest, you had me worried there for a moment. :p

[grace86]

Ahh...my goodness Owen Meany sounds like a tear jerker...


From the Publisher
In the summer of 1953, two eleven-year-old boys - best friends - are playing in a Little League baseball game in Gravesend, New Hampshire. One of the boys hits a foul ball that kills the other boy's mother. The boy who hits the ball doesn't believe in accidents; Owen Meany believes he is God's instrument. What happens to Owen, after that 1953 foul ball, is extraordinary and terrifying.

[SleepyWitch]

i wouldn't call it a tearjerker, even though there are some tragic events in it

[grace86]

i wouldn't call it a tearjerker, even though there are some tragic events in it

Okay that's good. I am thinking about voting, but I wouldn't be able to guarantee I could join...I've been very bad lately with following through.

[Alexei]

I am a bit late, but I didn't have time recently.
I vote for A Prayer for Owen Meany

[Virgil]

Why are you late? You have until the end of the month.

[Prometheus'Wake]

Hey everyone, I'm new to the forum and for some reason I can't vote yet on which book to read. If it counts for anything I'd like to read Owen Meany. This is mostly because I just took it out from the library.
Thanks

[Schokokeks]

Hey everyone, I'm new to the forum and for some reason I can't vote yet on which book to read. If it counts for anything I'd like to read Owen Meany. This is mostly because I just took it out from the library.
Thanks
Hi there, Prometheus, and welcome to the Forum :).
You need 50 posts or more to cast your vote on the book of the month, but seeing you still have several days before the end of the poll, maybe you want to visit the Word Association Thread in the Games section ? ;)

[Virgil]

I took a chance and went and bought Owen Meany. It better win. ;)

[SleepyWitch]

I took a chance and went and bought Owen Meany. It better win. ;)

hehe, you could read it anyway :) it raises some interesting questions about Catholicism and miracles. maybe you'll find it provocative or inapppropriate but it's very interesting.

[Idril]

provocative or inapppropriate

That's a good description of pretty much every novel Irving writes. :lol: Of course not all of them are interesting, sometimes he goes a little overboard and it crosses the line to ridiculous but I always though Owen Meany struck a perfect balance.

[caspian]

"Setting Free the Bears". i wanna start with his first book. and it's the only one promises some 'great moments of beauty and humor". No drama for me.

[Janine]

:eek2: I dread the Big "O"

Hi Asa , What do you mean; are you referring to the length of the novel "Owen Meany"? :lol:
From a slow-reader sympathiser ~
The hardbound book I own and have wanted to read for sometime, is a little over 500 pgs long, not 700. Yes, it was quite threatening to me at first, too - overwhelming is the word. But last night I started to read it, since a little bird told me it would be the book read this month. So far I love it and it goes faster than I would have envisioned. Lots of witty and fun dialogue - at first a bit of description and family history to wade through, but not bad, that's also quite witty and entertaining, enjoyable.
I love the films that have been made from Irving's novels.
I have seen these three: "Ciderhouse Rules", "The Door in the Floor" ( adapted from part of "A Widow of One Year"), and "Simon Birch" (adapted from "Owen Meany"). Since, I first saw "Simon Birch" I really wanted to read the novel it was based on. The movie is very good and funny and touching.
I am sure this will be a great discussion. Anyone of Irvings books would have been great!

[Idril]

Hi Asa , What do you mean; are you referring to the length of the novel "Owen Meany"? :lol:

I love the films that have been made from Irving's novels.
I have seen these three: "Ciderhouse Rules", "The Door in the Floor" ( adapted from part of "A Widow of One Year"), and "Simon Birch" (adapted from "Owen Meany"). Since, I first saw "Simon Birch" I really wanted to read the novel it was based on. The movie is very good and funny and touching.
I am sure this will be a great discussion. Anyone of Irvings books would have been great!

I think Asa was talking about Oprah, as in the Oprah book club, I don't think he's a big fan. ;)

Just a warning though, Simon Birch made an absolute mess of the book so much so that Irving made them change the name and changed the 'based on the book...' to 'inspired by the book...'. The movie ends about a third way into the book or maybe half way, I can't really remember but there's a lot more to the story than what appears in the movie.

[Janine]

I think Asa was talking about Oprah, as in the Oprah book club, I don't think he's a big fan. ;)

Just a warning though, Simon Birch made an absolute mess of the book so much so that Irving made them change the name and changed the 'based on the book...' to 'inspired by the book...'. The movie ends about a third way into the book or maybe half way, I can't really remember but there's a lot more to the story than what appears in the movie.

Thanks Idril - glad to know the book is way better than the film. I just thought the film good, maybe not great, but touching at the end. Glad I can't recall the ending now so I will be surprised at all the plot in the book. Yes, one of my favorite films is "Ciderhouse Rules" - I have seen that film many times and thought it was well done, but I have yet to read the book. I have it here and it is on my must-read list.

As far as the big O - thanks for filling me in. I just know that Asa is like me and when someone said 700 pages he might run the other way. On another thread we were kidding and said we would start the "slow-readers club".

Papaya, you have that thing about the big O slapping her name across the covers of novels, but the other day I had to laugh since I saw one of the well known classics we all love with the O banner smack across the cover. It was a 19th century novel, for heaven sakes. Oprah's parents were not even born yet, probably not even her great-grandparents! I had to laugh out loud!:lol: Anything for commercialism.:lol:

[Idril]

Thanks Idril - glad to know the book is way better than the film. I just thought the film good, maybe not great, but touching at the end. Glad I can't recall the ending now so I will be surprised at all the plot in the book. Yes, one of my favorite films is "Ciderhouse Rules" - I have seen that film many times and thought it was well done, but I have yet to read the book. I have it here and it is on my must-read list.


I haven't seen Simon Birch, I just can't quite bring myself to watch it. The book is very touching, weird and odd at times but it has some very touching moments as well. Ciderhouse Rules was a pretty good film, there were some big changes there as well but from what I understand, Irving actually had a hand in writing the screenplay so at least he was in on those changes, that makes me feel a little better. The best movies made from Irving books I've seen are the early ones, Hotel New Hampshire and The World According To Garp, they were kept remarkably close to the book and were very well done.

[Janine]

I haven't seen Simon Birch, I just can't quite bring myself to watch it. The book is very touching, weird and odd at times but it has some very touching moments as well. Ciderhouse Rules was a pretty good film, there were some big changes there as well but from what I understand, Irving actually had a hand in writing the screenplay so at least he was in on those changes, that makes me feel a little better. The best movies made from Irving books I've seen are the early ones, Hotel New Hampshire and The World According To Garp, they were kept remarkably close to the book and were very well done.

Idril, I guess I had the advantage here by not having read the books first. This way I became interested in reading them from viewing the films, and now can delve below the surface; much deeper into them. I know I read that "The Door in the Floor" was only based on part of the book "A Widow for One Year". I really do want to read that novel, too. The film was good, again not great, but I did like it and some parts were just amazing. Same with "Simon Birch" - definitely it is quirky and odd and even weird at times, but I liked it (in my final analysis) very much, enough to want to read the book. Sometimes this sequence is better for me, sometimes other way around. It all depends. I like it best, too, if the author actually has a part in the writing of the screenplay. I know John Grisham has done the same many times. It makes the film much better, even if they change some of the original script.
You know I have never seen "Holel New Hampshire" or "The World According to Garp" - only parts of the second film, and I have seen tons of films in my day. I must see both eventually. I know they are good films. Thanks for the tips on those two.

[Idril]

I've never seen The Door in the Floor, I should get that one. I've read the book and I didn't hate it and I didn't love it so I may actually be able to enjoy the movie since I wasn't that emotionally invested in the book. It's generally a bad idea for me to see a movie of a book I really liked, as you can probably tell :blush: :p and yet I so often feel compelled to do just that. :rolleyes:

[Janine]

Idril, It seems "The Door in the Floor" is only a part of the novel "Widow for One Year". In fact I think the book pre-dates the film story. I am not quite sure. You might look it up online. I read something about it once, or they told this in the Special Features on the DVD. I thought it was a good story and film, but a terribly sad one. Some of the film I liked a lot and other parts I was not sure of. In the end it did hold my attention and I still thinking of certain aspects of the story, especially the tragic aspects, etc. I would say it is a fairly good film, but I forgot who directed it and I think Kim Basinger stars as the mother, Jeff Bridges plays the artist/husband. I forget who plays the young man who comes to work for them for the summer, but he is quite appealing and cute and a good actor. You should get the film and view it and then do let me know what you thought of it. I need to read the book someday. I have it here so no excuse, well, except time, that is....always time!

[Janine]

I am reading "A Prayer for Owen Meany" and loving it! Truly enjoyable so far. I can't wait to read tonights installation. I try to read a little each night and hope I get it done before discussion begins.

[optimisticnad]

i havent read any of these books! So i did the dip....:-) this should be fun!

[Scheherazade]

Going once...

[Scheherazade]

Going twice...

[Janine]

When does Owen Meany discussions begin - just curious? I am only up to page 120 but enjoying it emensely. Hope I can finish before the month is throught. I am a slow reader, but this particular style of writing seems to go quickly.