The Imaginary Girlfriend: A Memoir [Paperback]

John Irving (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 1997

From a novelist known for the complexity of his novels - they are also long - comes an autobiography of compelling simplicity; it is also short. Dedicated to the memory of two wrestling coaches and two writer friends, "The Imaginary Girlfriend" is a lucid portrait of the writers and wrestlers who played a mentor role in John Irving's development as a novelist, a wrestler and a wrestling coach. Moreover, this candid memoir portrays a father's dedication to his children: Irving coached his sons Colin and Brendan to New England championship titles - a championship that, as a competitor, he himself was denied. John Irving began writing and wrestling when he was fourteen. He competed as a wrestler for twenty years, he was certified as a referee for twenty-four and he coached the sport until he was forty-seven. His thirty-three years in wrestling are three times those he spent as a student and a teacher of Creative Writing; yet his concise autobiography details the interrelationship of the disciplines of writing and wrestling - from the days when Irving was a beginner at both pursuits until his fourth wrestling-related surgery at the age of fifty-three. "The Imaginary Girlfriend" is both a work of the utmost literary accomplishment and a paradigm for living.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Concise, original, and enjoyable." -- The Times

"His "inexpressible personal opinions" as a critic are wonderful, slaying many a sacred cow." -- Tobias Jones, Spectator

"Interesting and surprising revelations." -- Michael Moran, Literary Review

"The patent sincerity of his passion gives an appealing authenticity to this memoir... Compelling and alive." -- Andrew Rosenheim, The Times Literary Supplement

:Irving can transform sex and violence and personal mythology with the best of 'em." -- Adrianne Blue, Independent on Sunday

From the Inside Flap

?The Imaginary Girlfriend is a miniature autobiography detailing Irving?s parallel careers of writing and wrestling. . . . Tales of encounters with writers (John Cheever, Nelson Algren, Kurt Vonnegut) are intertwined with those about his wrestling teammates and coaches. With humor and compassion, [Irving] details the few truly important lessons he learned about writing. . . . And in beefing up 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.?
?The Denver Post --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Black Swan (March 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0552996807
• ISBN-13: 978-0552996808
• Product Dimensions: 5 x 0.5 x 7.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,537,108 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

John Irving published his first novel, Setting Free the Bears, in 1968. He has been nominated for a National Book Award three times-winning once, in 1980, for the novel The World According to Garp. He also received an O. Henry Award, in 1981, for the short story "Interior Space." In 1992, Mr. Irving was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in Stillwater, Oklahoma. In 2000, he won the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay for The Cider House Rules-a film with seven Academy Award nominations. In 2001, he was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Letters. Last Night in Twisted River is John Irving's twelfth novel.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

70 of 70 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Story, but buy Trying to Save Piggy Sneed, January 5, 2003

By 

Z. Blume (St. Louis, MO United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Imaginary Girlfriend (Ballantine Reader's Circle) (Paperback)

The Imaginary Girlfriend is a terrific memoir. Irving, while taking a break from writing novels, decided to pen a short autobiography, but he brought his usual sense of humor, ability to develop characters, and readable style to the project. The story does an excellent job of explaining the life events and people who have shaped his character and writing, which I think is very useful when trying to understand and appreciate his other books. I think this story itself is some of Irving's best writing and is certainly worth the short time it takes to read. I would recommend, however, instead of paying for the memoir alone, you purchase Trying to Save Piggy Sneed which includes this memoir as well as several short stories. You will not be disappointed if you are an Irving fan or just enjoy good, entertaining writing.

43 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars devistating standing cradle, November 26, 1999

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Imaginary Girlfriend: A Memoir (Paperback)

This book is a must for anyone who has ever wrestled or followed the sport. Irving does a fine job of showing how the physical exertion and emotion he put into wrestling mirrored the creative process of his writing. He is able to capture the sweat, the smells and the camaraderie of the wrestling room while showing that he and his pals were not just a bunch of one dimensional oafs. He concentrates on the creativity and diverse personalities of the wrestlers on his team. Those of you who are former wrestlers who are coaching or who are totally retired from the mat will appreciate Irving's transition from college student, to writer, to family man without ever really losing contact with the wrestling world. Stories about referees and out-of-control sports parents are all too real, but will make you chuckle anyway. A quick read.Iriving shows how all of those old coaching cliches really do apply to life.

44 of 53 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Don't buy this book, June 25, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: The Imaginary Girlfriend (Ballantine Reader's Circle) (Paperback)

Buy "Trying to Save Piggy Sneed" instead, since it includes this work and several other pieces. It's just my stupid opinion, but I think the publisher deserves a big dope slap for republishing this seperately.