When this podcast was in its infancy, John Irving joined us to talk about his work and what he described as “his last big novel,” that was, at the time, still being written. It is now “in better bookstores everywhere” as they say. And “big” is something of an understatement. “The Last Chairlift” is close to 900 pages! Is it worth that much an investment of time? If you’re a John Irving admirer—how can you say no? And we are among John’s many admirers. The novel has all of John’s familiar themes: the search for an unknown father, sexual politics, a highly unusual family, ghosts as well as skiing, wrestling and Exeter Academy. John even includes a couple of screenplays as part of the story. Reading “The Last Chairlift” is a significant investment of time, but it is both moving and entertaining. This is our second conversation with John Irving, and he never fails to fascinate us.
Books in this podcast:

The Last Chairlift by John Irving

Setting Free the Bears by John Irving

The Water-Method Man by John Irving

The 158-Pound Marriage by John Irving

The World According to Garp by John Irving

The Hotel New Hampshire by John Irving

The Cider House Rules by John Irving

A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving

Trying to Save Piggy Sneed by John Irving

A Son of the Circus by John Irving

The Imaginary Girlfriend by John Irving

A Widow for One Year by John Irving

My Movie Business: A Memoir by John Irving

The Fourth Hand by John Irving

Until I Find You by John Irving

Last Night in Twisted River by John Irving

In One Person by John Irving

Avenue of Mysteries by John Irving

David Copperfield by Charles Dickens

Moby Dick by Herman Melville

Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

A Saint from Texas by Edmund White

A Previous Life by Edmund White

Original Prin by Randy Boyagoda

Dante's Indiana by Randy Boyagoda

The Absolutist by John Boyne

The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne

A History of Loneliness by John Boyne

The Way Home by Kardea Brown

South of Broad by Pat Conroy

Embassy Wife by Katie Crouch

Neruda on the Park by Cleyvis Natera