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The Imaginary Girlfriend
The Imaginary Girlfriend | John Irving
3 posts | 9 read | 5 to read
Dedicated to the memory of two wrestling coaches and two writer friends, The Imaginary Girlfriend is John Irving's candid memoir of his twin careers in writing and wrestling. The award-winning author of best-selling novels from The World According to Garp to In One Person, Irving began writing when he was fourteen, the same age at which he began to wrestle at Exeter. He competed as a wrestler for twenty years, was certified as a referee at twenty-four, and coached the sport until he was forty-seven. Irving coached his sons Colin and Brendan to New England championship titles, a championship that he himself was denied.In an autobiography filled with the humor and compassion one finds in his fiction, Irving explores the interrelationship between the two disciplines of writing and wrestling, from the days when he was a beginner at both until his fourth wresting related surgery at the age of fifty-three. Writing as a father and mentor, he offers a lucid portrait of those—writers and wrestlers from Kurt Vonnegut to Ted Seabrooke—who played a mentor role in his development as a novelist, wrestler, and wrestling coach. He reveals lessons he learned about the pursuit for which he is best known, writing. “And,” as the Denver Post observed, in filling “his narrative with anecdotes that are every bit as hilarious as the antics in his novels, Irving combines the lessons of both obsessions (wrestling and writing) . . . into a somber reflection on the importance of living well.”
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review
Eggbeater
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Mehso-so

John Irving is one of my favorite authors, but I found his memoir to be only mediocre. His life is pretty boring. All-in-all I don't think this book would be interesting unless you are a big Irving fan or really into wrestling. He did have some good tidbits for writers who are worried they aren't good enough. There wasn't a lot about interpersonal relationships, particularly with women. I feel like he skipped over important events.

rather_be_reading thts ashame 6y
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quote
GoneFishing

Casey recalled how Gail defended herself... from the unwanted attentions of a lecherous fellow student, who shall remain nameless. ‘Please leave me alone, or I shall be forced to wound you with a weapon you can ill afford to be wounded by in a town this small.‘ The threat was most mysterious...but the oafish lecher was not easily deterred. ‘And what might that weapon be, little lady?‘ the lout allegedly asked. ‘Gossip,‘ Gail Godwin replied.

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