Thank you, John!

John Irving and what he has done for me

"Not every collision course comes as a surprise."

I am a huge fan of John Irving. The above quote is from one of his novels, which I haven’t read yet, and it is so intriguing, ambiguous, and nuanced that it has sparked my curiosity - I am dying to dive in and discover what the novel is about.

Right off the bat, my interpretation of the quote is that we can foresee things coming our way or attract certain people, events, or circumstances into our lives. Though I don’t dare say anything definite until I read the book, I’ve learned from Irving’s work that we can expect to be surprised, mesmerized by his unusual characters, and sucked into the world of his fiction. He really is a master of weaving spectacular plots that are both captivating, unforgettable, and endlessly surprising.

It is striking how life literally brings certain people into our lives. Just as unexpectedly, they can vanish into thin air, leaving behind a lasting impact through the music, books, or art they introduced us to. This is the case with my enduring affair with John’s work. It was over two decades ago that a former colleague gifted me A Prayer for Owen Meany, his favorite book, and that's when my love for his writing began.

Interestingly enough, for a long time, A Prayer for Owen Meany was my favorite book as well. Over time, it became difficult to tell which of his novels or fictional characters I like most. To this day, I remain grateful for the gift, which is certainly one of the best that I’ve ever received.

This summer, I re-read The World According to Garp, and I was drawn back to it once again. My paperback copy, with its worn binding and about 50 loose pages, accompanied me on holiday. As I lay on the beach, book in my hands, and even though I’ve read it once before, I got so absorbed again that I tuned out the world around me, my family included. It was a well-deserved break, and one spent well.

Apropos of the quote that inspired me to write this, another one closely connected to Irving comes to mind: art imitates life. Through his work, I’ve come to realize just how true that really is. When I first read Irving, I was shocked. Some of his storylines and settings seemed exaggerated—unreal, even. I thought, There’s no way this is imitating real life. But as I kept reading, I began to see it differently. What I had initially dismissed as exaggeration was actually a deep observation. Irving isn’t just creative—he’s remarkably insightful, perceptive, and honest in portraying the complexity of human nature. That’s what makes him such a great writer.

When I was younger, I wore what I like to call “pink sunglasses.” I saw the world as a nicer, softer place than it really is. Irving helped take those shades off. Through his writing, I started seeing people and relationships more clearly—not as I wanted them to be, but as they often are. His stories gave me a kind of social awakening. And yes, it might sound strange to say I gained social intelligence from novels, but that’s exactly what happened. I finally stepped out of my illusions.

So, what is John’s work really about? To put it simply—for those who haven’t yet read any of his novels—he’s a mastermind when it comes to tying loose ends together in a way that feels almost effortless. Anyone who has ever tried to write knows how demanding it is to bring a story to a grand finale - tying everything together and making a point that leaves the reader speechless. John’s like a puppet master who knows exactly when and how his characters should cross paths, challenge each other, and influence one another’s lives. Nothing feels random; everything has meaning. Everything happens for a reason—just like in real life, or at least that’s what I tend to believe.

I don’t know if John set out to become the kind of writer who leads us out of the fog created by social norms, rigid rules, and the unspoken conventions we often follow without question. But that’s exactly what he does. Through his storytelling, he gently (and sometimes not so gently) pushes us to ask: Do these norms actually serve us? Do they make our lives better—or are they quietly making us miserable?

Some people say, Life isn’t in books. I strongly disagree. Books are full of life—of experience, emotion, and wisdom. The key is how you read them and whether you’re open to the truths they hold.