John Irving Doesn't Write a Book Until He Knows How It's Going to End

Рет қаралды 35,312

Жыл бұрын

Author John Irving talks about writing his longest book, The Last Chairlift, addressing sexual and gender politics in his novels and writing his 1985 book, The Cider House Rules, as a warning of what could happen if abortions were illegal.
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John Irving Doesn't Write a Book Until He Knows How It's Going to End - Late Night with Seth Meyers
• John Irving Doesn't Wr...
Late Night with Seth Meyers
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Пікірлер: 95

@TabethaAurochs Жыл бұрын

John Irving is my father's favorite living writer, and I too grew up on his books. Irving and Vonnegut bear the responsibility for my love of reading, writing, and the indescribable joy of the perfect turn of phrase. Thank you Mrs. Meyers (and Seth)! ❤️

@karleyyork9001 Жыл бұрын

Absolutely! Irving and Vonnegut are golden. I am going to start this new book tonight! ♥️

@domb8448 Жыл бұрын

'Bear' is oddly relevant.. 👍

@marigeobrien Жыл бұрын

If you like a good turn of phrase, if you haven't, you should read Lucy Maud Montgomery. I will never forget her amazing description of a fire, not to mention her characters, the way her stories reverberate far longer than you might imagine.

@ramonaboggio7402 Жыл бұрын

Bravo Mr.Irving, Bravo👏 👏 👏

@ingridnilsen9126 Жыл бұрын

Not only is it great that Seth often has authors on, but the conversation is always insightful, thought provoking AND funny. ❤

@richo6537 Жыл бұрын

Thought the same thing! I usually only watch videos if I know the person but when it's an author, I always watch them thanks to Seth :)

@FarshadTami Жыл бұрын

Very nice to have John Irving as a guest. Thank you for this gem of an interview.

@selfdiscardedkingofruin7291 Жыл бұрын

One of my absolute favorite authors of all time. Glad to see he's doing well and can't wait to read his new novel.

@pakitorodriguez119 Жыл бұрын

After I’ve learned English and I was able to read and enjoy novels, I’ve set out to devour John Irving starting with the Hotel New Hampshire. I fell in love with his soul but somehow I’ve drifted away from his work in the last 15 years. So to see him chatting with Seth was wonderful. Brought back so many memories. Thank you. ❤

@bookshopgirlilmariel2510 Жыл бұрын

He's an incredible writer. Some of his books are my all-time favourite novels. Thank you for this interview

@nolangutierrez9572 Жыл бұрын

Can I ask how many books have you read?

@bookshopgirlilmariel2510 Жыл бұрын

@@nolangutierrez9572 like ever? 😄 That I cannot answer. By John Irving: 6

@madilynlunsford9407 Жыл бұрын

He’s a wonderful writer with such a clear voice in his novels. 10 out of 10 would recommend! ❤

@derkeheath5172 Жыл бұрын

I love that his novels can be a little of everything - comedy on one page, horror on the next, a chapter that happens to be a murder mystery...you never know what's coming next. I always feel intimidated by an Irving novel because it's less like reading a novel and more like experiencing someone's life. I'll only read one if I know I have the time to devote to it that it deserves. The World According to Garp and A Prayer for Owen Meany are two of my all-time favorite novels. I think my next Irving read will be either Son of the Circus or The Hotel New Hampshire.

@onlyrick Жыл бұрын

I started Son of the Circus and for some reason put it down. I later picked it back up and it is now tied with A Prayer for Owen Meany as my favorite.

@joniheisenberg6691 Жыл бұрын

@@onlyrick I will need to give “A Son of the Circus” another go. “A Prayer for Owen Meany” is one of my favorite novels.

@scottienyc1963 Жыл бұрын

@@onlyrick I love Irving and have read pretty much everything he's written (and just started this one), but I've started Son of the Circus a few times and just haven't been able to get through it. Might have to give it another try.

@markdaniels7174 10 ай бұрын

“Son of the Circus” was a tough one for me, too. Lots of abandoned starts. I finally finished it by going with the audiobook. My five faves, in order of publication: Garp, Hotel New Hampshire, Cider House Rules, Owen Meaney, and A Widow for One Year.

@joniheisenberg6691 Жыл бұрын

A person I admired greatly urged me to read “A Prayer for Owen Meany.” The novel has stayed with me for many years.

@frannyowen Жыл бұрын

This is so exciting! John Irving is my favorite author and Seth is my absolute favorite comedian ❤ to have them together is so awesome 🫶🏻 thank you for having him on!

@ritaparker9629 Жыл бұрын

I just began this book last night. I'm already getting "Garp" vibes, and it certainly sounds like I'm not wrong. I love John Irving. He is one of the living legends.

@blackbird5634 Жыл бұрын

"It is hard work, and great art, to make life, not so serious." -John Irving.

@wmnoe Жыл бұрын

Great interview. Seth asked really good questions, and I freaking love John's responses. He too is my favorite living author.

@donstoddard8458 Жыл бұрын

Thank you that was really a nice interview short and sweet

@gregbors8364 Жыл бұрын

“This little guy writes mysteries.” “How can a hamster write mysteries?” “Well, he gets the ending first, then he works backward.”

@viewit16 Жыл бұрын

I will add my voice as someone who is a great fan of John Irving. My favorite male writer.

@kgreene460 Жыл бұрын

John Irving is one of my favorite authors, I've read all of his books and I cherish them, thank you SO MUCH for having him on!!

@UnderstandingDarkness Жыл бұрын

Authors rarely get spotlighted, thank you Seth for sharing your time with them!

@texaspineywoods3879 Жыл бұрын

Mr. Irving: over 56 years, you have saved my soul. Thank you for being the artist and craftsman you are. I might have been dead without you.

@deanebruner2396 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for this interview. My favorite author whom I've read all his books, currently savoring Chairlift.

@PecktheTownCrierVideos Жыл бұрын

Good interview! Substantive questions and a relaxed pace, to allow for real replies.

@BentonRox Жыл бұрын

John Irving is amazing. I read The World According to Garp when I was a teenager and it made me feel seen. (which probably says a little too much about me at that age but there it is.) Cant wait to read this one.

@VieenRennes Жыл бұрын

Thank you for this interview. What a legend.

@Sileonex123 Жыл бұрын

I'm gonna post this on every video till Seth mentions it in any way he wants to on here or on TV. It doesn't matter. I'm in love with the comedy this man and his team produces...there isn't anyone better doing it right now.

@British_Rogue Жыл бұрын

You'll be helping with KZfaq's algorithm then.

@Sileonex123 Жыл бұрын

@@British_Rogue I do not know what that means!

@JohnkyTonkbadonkadonk Ай бұрын

'The World Acording to Garp' is, to this day, one of my favorite books. I hope to read more of his books.

@tucci007da Жыл бұрын

I became an instant fan of Irving upon reading Last Night In Twisted River and am proud to know he's Canadian, eh!

@tammystockley-loughlin7680 Жыл бұрын

So good to see John Irving. I reas The world according to Garp in high school...and then Robin Williams and John Lithgow brought it to life. Good stuff. Positive vibes from New Hampshire, remember to be kind to each other and yourself during these trying times.

@itcouldbelupus2842 Жыл бұрын

This is the best late night show.

@MaryRowen Жыл бұрын

Oh, this is great!! John Irving's my favorite author and what a terrific interview with Seth! I'm embarrassed to say I didn't know Seth has authors as guests on his show--thought that era was over. Will be watching more often!

@lillifee278 Жыл бұрын

I love John Irving!

@debmcgerrigle3477 Жыл бұрын

It's refreshing to see an author on one of these talk shows. Irving's writing is always character driven who are so interesting. This book sounds like a good read.

@silkyway4024 Ай бұрын

He´s such a precious human being. I´m so thankful that he shares his mind and his stories

@robertodelosangeles3247 Жыл бұрын

This is the one thing that’s missing from Colbert’s show! He really does do a ton of very important interviews with journalist and other people in the arts, but he doesn’t interview enough writers of fiction, who, throughout American history, have been some of the most important voices in contemporary thought. I’m glad Seth and his team understand that!

@robertzobert1953 Жыл бұрын

John's books are a delight; he's great!

@derkeheath5172 Жыл бұрын

The World According to Garp needs an 8 to10 episode Netflix mini-series ASAP.

3 ай бұрын

Irving is one of my favorite authors, certainly my favorite living author, and I´m always amazed by his books. I´ve recently read "Cider House Rules" for the first time and he creates such good characters. "Garp" is excellent, of course, but maybe my favorite of his is "A Prayer for Owen Meany". He is 82 now and in this interview you can see his age, but he is still sharp, I hope he writes one more.

@largelingerie Жыл бұрын

900 pages! So sad that my attention span has diminished. I’m going to read it, for sure, because he is my all-time favorite writer.

@cengizc2456 Жыл бұрын

He used to be my favorite writer as well, but this necessity to write those, not just long, but extremely long-winded novels made me stop reading. That took away the joy of reading to me. When he writes twenty pages, another author writes one and there is just as much information in that single page as the redundant twenty of Irving. It's as if he is writing a paper for school and he needs to increase the word count. Also, every book of Irving is the same: disasters, bears, wrestling, etc. (just check off the whole Irving usual suspects).

@johns7868 10 ай бұрын

Was happy to see him laugh & smile at the end

@tanzoniaflakes5068 Жыл бұрын

I remember looking at the movie, "The World According to Garp" when I was about 8 and not knowing what this movie was about. Still don't. I just knew Robin Williams was in it. I'd seen him in the Popeye movie and Mark & Mindy, so I watched it. That was not a kid movie😒 Lol😄

@patricedecourcy4505 Жыл бұрын

I love Irving's novels. He has created so many memorable characters and situations...

@kamnbam Жыл бұрын

Seeing the ending is a gift!

@ianstewart8301 Жыл бұрын

Oh man! So excited that Seth had John Irving on!

@bamboolaceway Жыл бұрын

John Irving's books have had a great part in shaping who I am. I remember my mom quoting, "The Hotel New Hampshire," saying, "...to us, our family was as normal as rain,"

@ophelias4172 Жыл бұрын

I know how my stories begin and end. It’s the middle but that gets to me.

@susanfritzel4055 Жыл бұрын

I like Seth’s variety of your mom jokes

@scottmacdonald3438 9 ай бұрын

I love his books. I have read 4 of his books and just started reading the fourth hand.

@jrpipik Жыл бұрын

Wow! John Irving!

@dilbertdoe601 Жыл бұрын

Thought that was Steve Bannon in the thumbnail at first.

@nathanhughes Жыл бұрын

What a get! Only seth!

@TabethaAurochs Жыл бұрын

Shout out to Mrs. Meyers for this gem 💜

@susanfritzel4055 Жыл бұрын

So true. Shocker

@maryscottoconnor9711 Жыл бұрын

John Irving is my favourite contemporary writer. Reading his work dissuaded me from pursuing a life as a novelist. For that alone, the world should thank him.

@kelleecorti6968 Жыл бұрын

So funny ! I just love this man for writing so many gifts for us, and for so many…

@reneekad Жыл бұрын

Yes. To be the character in someone’s story with no clear point or end hasn’t been great.

@johnbastille5483 Жыл бұрын

I've read all of his novels at least once, many twice and Owen Meany three times. I just got The Last Chairlift, but need to finish Anthony Horowitz' The Twist of a Knife first (It's shorter.). By the way, Charles Dickens is Irving's favorite writer, so I read all of his novels in chronological order. Second is Canadian author Robertson Davies, so I read all of HIS novels in as close to chronological order as I could manage (Harder to find.). Both his choices were correct. Of Vonnegut, I've only read Slaughterhouse Five.

@MrBencbon 11 ай бұрын

This man has saved my life, as a writer .

@mackfarlainethebarenakedau5113 Жыл бұрын

The Last Chairlift isn't all that much longer than Until I Find You. That book is 820 pages all told; The Last Chairlift is 889. I thought it was going to be a lot longer, given how big the stack of pages was on John's website when he had a comparison of the two novels.

@francissookraj3202 Жыл бұрын

John Iriving is a very funny, unique writer. I read The World According to Garp and A Prayer for Owen Meany both books I enjoyed immensley. I'm going to read more of his books.

@JaneDoe-em7zi Жыл бұрын

Looooooovvvvved The Cider House Rules. ❤❤❤

@20NotTwothousand Жыл бұрын

Do I put that book on my Kindle or build upper body with the real thing?✌️🙏❤️

@blaq4427 Жыл бұрын

Upper body!

@joycastle. Жыл бұрын

Well, the upper body includes the head, doesn't it?

@js2010ish Жыл бұрын

Probably functions as a yoga block

@helengournay2377 Жыл бұрын

Oh Kathy Riese, I was just wondering if my arthritic hand would be able to hold it or if I would resort to Kindle.

@alexanderclaylavin Жыл бұрын

For New England!

@Miss_KittyFantastico 6 ай бұрын

Seth has put words on why I hate when an author is "writing as it comes to him" and you can feel it...

@catalinacurio Жыл бұрын

Writing is so therapeutic, it requires discipline and self awareness. 😊

@KogaAmagi Жыл бұрын

Absolutely, well said

@alexaales7937 Жыл бұрын

love his work, read most of it, didn't like his screenwriting for 'the cider house rules', that was in my opinion a bad adaptation of an awesome book! the casting was just bad! hated the movie having read the book!

@terrytube5247 Жыл бұрын

I stopped reading Irving over 30 years ago, halfway through Hotel New Hampshire. Every book was the same! Just need to read Garp and you're good! At least for the first five books. A friend of mine read Owen Meany when it came out and became obsessed. She read me some passages; they only confirmed I was done with Irving. Perhaps his later books are good, but a lot of postwar white male American writers tend to write too much yet not mature creatively. Readers "outgrow" them. Maybe they're all obsessed with emulating Hemingway or the terrible Jack Kerouac and never look forward. They are obsessed with sex, success, and the remote or absent fathers who never played catch with them. [END RANT]

@cengizc2456 Жыл бұрын

@Terry Tube, this is exactly why I stopped reading Irving. I'll cut and paste what I wrote earlier: He used to be my favorite writer as well, but this necessity to write those, not just long, but extremely long-winded novels made me stop reading. That took away the joy of reading to me. When he writes twenty pages, another author writes one and there is just as much information in that single page as the redundant twenty of Irving. It's as if he is writing a paper for school and he needs to increase the word count. Also, every book of Irving is the same: disasters, bears, wrestling, etc. (just check off the whole Irving usual suspects).

@JoeD0403 Жыл бұрын

“And from that day forward, no one ever again had to go without rhubarb. The End.” Book deal please.

@MrHighLife90 Жыл бұрын

Finally a show when i see adult themes talk. Can we go back to this please? Jeez

@bubblesezblonde Жыл бұрын

Well, I am not a fan of 'WATG' but this interview was gold. Thanks Seth.

@NewMessage Жыл бұрын

'The last chairlift' sounds like a pixar movie about a ski lodge full of talking hill grooming equipment.

@reneekad Жыл бұрын

Even if I knew what I do now I still wouldn’t have gotten an abortion. That says nothing about what I think of it as a policy matter.

@reneekad Жыл бұрын

The psychotic nature of the hatred I get bc I didn’t get an abortion is really scary.

@marigeobrien Жыл бұрын

Ladies and gentlemen, pay attention. This is not just "a bestselling writer." This is one of the great writers of the 20th century. This is like watching Hemingway (although, IMHO, I believe John Irving is better than Hemingway ever was) or Steinbeck or George Orwell or any of a dozen or so writers that came out of the 20th century. Read his books, wait 10 years and then read them again. And you will see.

@js2010ish Жыл бұрын

None of those 4 really catch my attention or aged well but thanks.