(different cover) I've not read a John Irving for the longest time, so happy to spot this on a charity shelf in one of my favourite indy coffee shops in Chester

(13/10/22) I've not read many Irving’s, definitely The World According to Gary and ‘Owen Meaney’, and possibly a couple of others pre-bookcrossing/pre-journal … I need to set myself the task of rising my way through his back catalog.

This is his second novel written mostly for laughs, which follows the richly comic and chaotic history and present of Fred ‘Bogus/Thump-Thump/Thumper’ Trumper, his friends, family, career, and constant battle with his failings, inconstancy, lack of drive and focus. The book starts with a potential cure for his persistent UTIs, hence water-method, and then careens backwards and forwards in time, sometimes confusingly. Key episodes include meeting his wife, Olympic skier ‘biggie’, leaving her, being part of an independent production company in New York with new girlfriend Tulpen, and subsequently leaving her. There are a number of background themes; his protracted doctoral thesis translating (or rather mistranslating) an epic ‘Old Low Norse’ poem; friction with his despairing urologist father; his attempts to bond with his children and have grown up relationships when he is a child himself! Also to add to the self-referential layers, Trumper uses the poem ‘Akthelt and Gunnel’ to mirror his life and there is biopic film, working title ‘F**king Up’. As I said good grown-up comic fun. This is a good review on wikipedia

Leaving in the station, probably somewhere in the main concourse. We've had a great visit to Philly, now off to NYC ... let's hope this little book has an interesting onward journey as well :)