It's not very interesting to establish sympathy for people who, on the surface, are instantly sympathetic. I guess I'm always attracted to people who, if their lives were headlines in a newspaper, you might not be very sympathetic about them. John Irving attractestablishguess share on social
Writing a novel is actually searching for victims. As I write I keep looking for casualties. The stories uncover the casualties. John Irving casualtysearchstory Change image and share on social
You don't want to dwell on your enemies, you know. I basically feel so superior to my critics for the simple reason that they haven't done what I do. Most book reviewers haven't written 11 novels. Many of them haven't written one. John Irving basicallybookcritic share on social
You've got to get obsessed and stay obsessed. John Irving haveobsessstay Change image and share on social
When I love a novel I've read, I want to reread it - in part, to see how it was constructed. John Irving constructhavelove Change image and share on social
I believe in plot, in development of character, in the effect of the passage of time, in a good story - better than something you might find in the newspaper. And I believe a novel should be as complicated and involved as you're capable of making it. John Irving capablecharactercomplicate share on social
I suppose I'm proudest of my novels for what's imagined in them. I think the world of my imagination is a richer and more interesting place than my personal biography. John Irving biographyimaginationimagine Change image and share on social
The principal event of my childhood was that no adult in my family would tell me who my father was. John Irving adultchildhoodevent Change image and share on social
With every book, you go back to school. You become a student. You become an investigative reporter. You spend a little time learning what it's like to live in someone else's shoes. John Irving backbookinvestigative Change image and share on social
