I grew up around books - my grandmother's house, where I lived as a small child, was full of books. My father was a history teacher, and he loved the Russian novels. There were always books around. John Irving bookchildfather Change image and share on social
I do know where I'm going and it's just a matter of finding the language to get there. John Irving findlanguagematter Change image and share on social
I had been a student in Vienna, and one of the neat little things I had found out was about that zoo. It was a good debut novel for me to have published. I was 26 or 27 when it was published. I already had a kid and would soon have a second. John Irving debutfindgood share on social
Of all the things you choose in life, you don't get to choose what your nightmares are. You don't pick them; they pick you. John Irving chooselifenightmare Change image and share on social
I suppose I try to look for those things where the world turns on you. It's every automobile accident, every accident at a party, you're having a good time until suddenly you're not. John Irving accidentautomobilegood Change image and share on social
I think the sport of wrestling, which I became involved with at the age of 14... I competed until I was 34, kind of old for a contact sport. I coached the sport until I was 47. I think the discipline of wrestling has given me the discipline I have to write. John Irving agecoachcompete share on social
I write very quickly; I rewrite very slowly. It takes me nearly as long to rewrite a book as it does to get the first draft. I can write more quickly than I can read. John Irving bookdraftlong Change image and share on social
My first attraction to writing novels was the plot, that almost extinct animal. Those novels I read which made me want to be a novelist were long, always plotted, novels - not just Victorian novels, but also those of my New England ancestors: Herman Melville and Nathaniel Hawthorne. John Irving ancestoranimalattraction share on social
