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The World According to Garp |
I started the blog to remember my thoughts on books that I read, because I had a hard time learning that things I read eventually left my head. Ironically, if you asked me what the plot of the book was about before I watched the movie, I would only give you snippets. I remember Ellen James and I remember a horrible scene in a driveway. And I remember the last line. Haunting. It was so powerful, and it lead me to read more John Irving... some, like 'A Prayer for Owen Meany' I fell in love with, while others, such as 'The Fourth Hand' fell short.
Book: "The World According to Garp" by John Irving
Movie: "The World According to Garp"
Book Publication Date: 1978
Movie Production Date: 1982
Read: November 2004
Watched: February 2011
Stars: 4
When this movie began, I felt it was not penetrating me. The time flew by as I watched it, but I did not really feel it at all. I'm not sure if I felt this when reading the novel, but I do remember that the book was like the movie... a lot was packed into the end. After the 1 hour and 30 minute mark, I was hooked, and the last 45 minutes were haunting and emotional.
I must state that the movie did the book justice, and I was really afraid that it would not. The memories of the book came flooding back, and I remember some of the passion I had for the novel I read more than six years ago. That said, the movie will never be what the book was to me... though, it was a good experience and I'm glad I watched it.
I expected a good performance by Robin Williams, though I was expecting him to be 'sillier' - probably a reason I wasn't that excited about giving the movie a try. He was much truer to character than I thought he would be, and I was glad for that. Another thing that surprised me was seeing John Lithgow as the transgender woman. Honestly, I think he stole the performance from Robin Williams. I didn't look it up, but I hope he won something for it. I liked John Lithgow from the moment I saw him as a child in 'Harry and the Hendersons', but he won me over with his performance in '3rd Rock from the Sun', one of very few programs that I have ever been attached to - 99% due to his performances.
Anyway, I am rambling on here and I am probably doing a disservice to the movie with this shoddy review, but I am not a fan of giving away the plot and I think you should always read the literature first. My primary intention in this post is to let you know if the movie does the book justice, and I'm happy to report that in this case, it does.
Would love to know your thoughts.
4 comments:
I loved this book, too! I read it last summer and (ironically, you did the same) started my blog the next month. I haven't seen the movie yet but would love to compare them. There were so many symbolic images in the book that stuck with me. That short story Garp wrote as a child was so quirky and delightful :)
just hopping by-glad to see you read mostly classics-plenty of classics to be found for this event so I want to be sure and invite you
I would like to invite you to consider participating in
Irish Short Story Week-3/14 to 3/20
I loved the movie and the book--but it has be a zillion years since I read and watched Garp. Right now I'm flipping through Prayer for Owen Meany and wondering if it should be a read sometime soon...
I saw the movie when I was little, and all I remember is that the main character started writing his mother's biography and she got mad at him. I've heard so many good things about John Irving, though, and I should definitely give The World According to Garp a try. :)
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