John Irving on why The World According to Garp is more relevant now than he ever imagined 

as a teen i will never forget John Irving "The World According to Garp", cos i cried floods, then turned a page, and burst out laughing. such was his power to absorb in his storytelling and give voice to those that dont have. decades later i never forget. thank you for this

My favorite book. Each character is as real to me as anyone I know. Over the years I've owned no less then five copies, not all at once of course. As soon as I would misplace or loan one out another would certainly takes it's place. Weird part is, I would never seek it out but a copy would always find me. (Paperback only) Before I read it again I have to get through Summer of 42, just starting this classic. John, thank you for a wonderful book. Truly and sincerely.

This movie was my favorite when I was young. I read the book when I was 14. I was drawn to it as I grew to know my sexuality. What a pleasure to hear him speak of it now I'm 50.

The World According To Garp is really just about a person's evolution in life. Good experiences or bad experiences we soldier on & continue to grow, learn & deal with constant changes through out our life until the day we die. Our lives is our own book (or movie) constantly being written through out our life & experiences dictated by the choices we make. I need to drink now. Goodnight.

literary interviews always seem difficult to me, but this one flowed nicely and was insightful....thanks to our host, as usual.

I had never heard of John Irving until I saw the brilliant Garp movie in the 80s. Then I read the book which was even more amazing. Then 'Hotel New Hampshire.' After that any book or movie with the name John Irving in it was a 'must read' or 'must watch' for me. This was a great interview to watch - what an intelligent and caring man - thank you.

Thank you Tom. You orchestrated a very thoughtful, and insightful conversation. I very much enjoyed this. One of the all time American writers in the flesh. WOW!! Keep up the terrific work you're doing Tom. Kudos, from Leamington, ON.

An amazing interview!!!

Well... this has gone on for centuries. Did we ever really believe we could solve it in one generation? Hubris. Garp is an important contribution. THANK YOU, JOHN IRVING. (Hey, is it a coincidence the ads are about self-defense?)

A magical movie -gets me every time. John is the finest living writer inthe English language, for me.

Very nice interview!

I love this movie, brings back so many fine memories.

I can’t believe this book is nearly 50 years old! I adored this novel!!! I loved his writing style, a sorta neo-19th century. Long, but vivid sentences, many complex and joined by the unappreciated semi-colon! People don’t use semi-colons much anymore because they don’t favor long, complex sentences that require formal punctuation-perhaps on occasion a dash, even a colon, or an ellipsis-but I think a semicolon produces too much insecurity in today’s writers: why use it, why go there? Anyhoo, I loved the novel, how it told this story, the characters. A lot of people had kids after this book came out.

Thank you.

Roberta was a great character in the film nonetheless and so far ahead of her time.

This is a good interview.

"Darkness as a bride" - can't wait.

tyle subów a tak mała aktywność na kanale to jest smutne :(

I disagree, apparently, with almost everything John Irving believes politically, but I count Garp, both the book and the movie, as among the very best representatives of their media and time. Both are grand achievements. Hands down the best movie of Robin Williams' career. Introduced me to Glenn Close, Mary Beth Hurt, and John Lithgow. All were indelible in their portrayals. Close was Oscar worthy.

I truly enjoyed this novel. However, the character of Jenny Fields, a nurse caring for injured veterans, rapes one of her patients, who is dying and never gives his consent. She does this to get pregnant, blatantly using an injured man for her own needs. This is never discussed in interviews with the author. Strange and unacceptable.

How about men who are victims?

He's 80 ..? Retire aleady?

I think John Irving just likes to say the word "sexual" a lot. Must just like the sound of it.

This guy thinks he's really smart doesn't he?

Woman are still oppressed? Please, don't take this the wrong way. I'm not saying there's no women who are suffering, not saying rape isn't an issue that needs to be addressed, or anything like that. God will judge the men responsible in due time, they will pay. But, I still must say that the woman's movement has become so large that now sincere husbands and fathers who deserve a chance at custody of their children in divorces, and good men who are in many other, perhaps similar plights, have become the minority. Call me biased, call me whatever, but you have to admit that the women's movement is gaining headway--contrary to what Irving is implying. On a sidenote, there's always going to be "sexual hate" and all the other things we fight so much. Until the earth is destroyed in the end, those things will be there. I'm sorry, but there is no obliterating it, there is no changing the world. We can raise awareness, counsel, help the best we can. But we've gotta be cautious so as to give each "party" involved a fair appraisal and place.

One of the most radically progressive writers ever. Good on you, John!