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  • The World According to Garp

  • By: John Irving
  • Narrated by: Adam Sims
  • Length: 21 hrs and 4 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (45 ratings)

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The World According to Garp

By: John Irving
Narrated by: Adam Sims
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Publisher's Summary

A masterpiece from one of the great contemporary American writers.  

Anniversary edition with a new afterword from the author.  

A worldwide best seller since its publication, Irving's classic is filled with stories inside stories about the life and times of T. S. Garp, struggling writer and illegitimate son of Jenny Fields - an unlikely feminist heroine ahead of her time.  

Beautifully written, The World According to Garp is a powerfully compelling and compassionate coming-of-age novel that established John Irving as one of the most imaginative writers of his generation. 

©2020 John Irving (P)2020 Orion Publishing Group

Critic Reviews

"A wonderful novel, full of energy and art, at once funny and heartbreaking...terrific." (Washington Post)

"A diamond sleeping in the dark, chipped out at last for our enrichment and delight...As approachable as it is brilliant." (Cosmopolitan)

What listeners say about The World According to Garp

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Average

A book easily to put down. Basic writing and overuse of shock tactics rather than thought provoking. Agree, narrator is highly irritating and speaks very slowly

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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awesome

I loved reading the book, the audio version is just as good.

great reading & a brilliant story.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A classic narrated perfectly

Having read The World According to Garp many times over the years I was excited to listen to this recording. I was not disappointed. The narrator did a perfect job of presenting the characters. Highly recommend.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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  • Sue
  • 21-05-2020

one of my favourites of all time

i first read Garp as a teenager over 30 years ago. i loved it then and i love it now. A classic.

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Uninspiring

I struggled to get into this story. I found the voice of the narrator uninteresting and dull as he read in almost a monotone.

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    2 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Massive disappointment

Every word of dialogue was read with a cynical sarcastic tone! However now I’ve finished I realise that possibly that is how these truly odious people spoke to each other. I’m not sure why I persevered to the end. A massive disappointment.

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