Avenue of Mysteries by John Irving
Avenue of Mysteries by John IrvingMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Image that T.S. Garp and Owen Meany were brother and sister. Next imagine that they started life as poor Mexican dump kids. (Is there any other kind, but poor?) And rather than calling themselves Garp and Owen their new names are now Juan Diego and Lope.
Now imagine that Juan Diego is an author of books that sometimes appear to have much in common with some of John Irving’s more famous, and infamous, works. But don’t read too much into that similarity because as Juan Diego often protests, his books are not autobiographical. Although, I do have a suspicion that he does protest too much.
“Avenue of Mysteries” contains miracles or possible miracles. There is religious ambiguity as well as sexual ambiguity. There are several John Irving style deaths, meaning comical, tragic and untimely. There are ghosts, or at least potential ghosts, or at least we hope they really are ghosts. They might be.
Juan Diego’s life plays in the present day, on a pilgrimage of sorts, to the Philippines where a somewhat obnoxious former student serves as his host. It’s is on this trip that he meets two women who may or may not be mother and daughter, who may or may not even be flesh and blood, at least not of the type we are used to. And his past returns to him often, in his dreams and in his imagination.
If you have read Irving in the past and you liked his work, I think you will really appreciate “Avenue of Mysteries”. It is not a re-tread of past glories, but a re-imagining of many. There is much that is familiar and, perhaps, I got too caught up in the “That’s from…” game. This doesn’t come across like leftovers—OK, maybe a little bit—but more like a fresh meal, an old favorite, but with a slightly different flavor.
I think the best books are the ones where the characters become more than props in an opera and, for whatever reason, whether you want them dead or alive, you give a damn. In that I think this book qualifies.
View all my reviews
It is not a re-tread of past glories, but a re-imagining of many. windshield crack repair
ReplyDeleteGreat site. I love it! keep posting more. www.drywallsurreybc.com
ReplyDeleteI love the title of that book. Thanks for sharing! www.appliancerepairedm.ca/spruce-grove.html
ReplyDeleteIt’s is on this trip that he meets two women who may or may not be mother and daughter, who may or may not even be flesh and blood, at least not of the type we are used to | crawl space remediation
ReplyDeleteI appreciate you sharing this post! Resin paving should be installed by professionals to ensure proper preparation and application. resin-driveways-edinburgh https://lifeleadgeneration.com
ReplyDeleteAnd his past returns to him often, in his dreams and in his imagination. lasvegasfoundationrepair.net
DeleteThe ratings don't lie. This story is so good. :)
ReplyDeleteJoana WordPress collapse
The author's ability to tackle a complex topic with clarity and depth is impressive. This article is a testament to their expertise. Handling a complex topic with such clarity and depth is no small feat. The author's expertise shines through, and it's an enlightening read.
ReplyDeleteHow To Junk A Car Without A Title
There are ghosts, or possible ghosts, anyway—at least that's what we hope in www.christchurcharborist.co.nz. They could be.
ReplyDeleteYour observation about the characters transcending mere roles and becoming deeply engaging individuals is a testament to the strength of the storytelling. It's clear that "Avenue of Mysteries" offers a fresh take on familiar themes, making it a compelling read for fans of John Irving's work and newcomers alike. floridayachtlife.com/
ReplyDeleteWe are working to improve Gemini’s ability to generate images of people. We expect this feature to return soon and will notify you in release updates when it does.
DeleteAffordable SEO Services