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
As many times as I've seen 'The Merchant of Venice,' I always take Shylock's side. For all the hatred that guy is shown, he has a reason to hate in return. He's treated cruelly. And it's tragic that he learns to be intolerant because of what others do to him. John Irving cruellyguyhate share on social
There's no reason you should write any novel quickly. John Irving quicklyreasonwrite 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
I had a particular affinity for wrestling, and it did have a lot to do with being small and being combative - and being angry. And when you're small and you don't back down, you get in a lot of fights. John Irving affinityangryback share on social
There are few things as seemingly untouched by the real world as a child asleep. John Irving asleepchildreal Change image and share on social
I don't really set out to explore grand themes. I set out to tell a story. And one I have to be able to imagine right through. John Irving exploregrandimagine Change image and share on social
Titles are important; I have them before I have books that belong to them. I have last chapters in my mind before I see first chapters, too. I usually begin with endings, with a sense of aftermath, of dust settling, of epilogue. John Irving aftermathbeginbelong share on social
I think better of our behaviour as individuals than I do when we see ourselves as members of a group. It's when people start forming groups that we have to watch our backs. John Irving backbehaviourform Change image and share on social
You know, people think you have to be dumb to skip rope for 45 minutes. No, you have to be able to imagine something else. While you're skipping rope, you have to be able to see something else. John Irving dumbimagineminute Change image and share on social