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Books

John Irving spoilt my Christmas

Ysenda Maxtone Graham finds Irving’s latest novel, Avenue of Mysteries — largely concerned with the Catholic church — one holy mess

23 January 2016

9:00 AM

23 January 2016

9:00 AM

Avenue of Mysteries John Irving

Doubelday, pp.458, £20, ISBN: 9781451664164

This novel, John Irving’s 14th, took the sheen off my Christmas, and here are the reasons.
 

  1. The comments on the back of the book (‘Irving is the wisest, most anguished and funniest novelist of his generation’ — Chicago Sun Times) made me feel lonely. He might have been wise, anguished and funny in The World According to Garp, 33 years ago.

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