The Water-Method Man

Rating:
Summary: The Long & Winding Road
Review: "The Water Method Man" could easily be renamed "John Irving's Frankenstein". Bits of first-person and third-person narration, a movie script, and an Old Low Norse epic are patched together to form a book at times funny and other times almost unreadable. The end product is entertaining and probably too clever for its own good.

The story focuses on Fred "Bogus" Trumper, the shallow, immature man who fails at one marriage, almost fails at another relationship, becomes the subject of a mockumentary, and undergoes painful surgery to correct a rather sensitive defect (hence the title of the book). Throughout the tangled web of narratives, Bogus eventually grows up a little and is perhaps on the way to becoming a good husband and father.

For fans of Irving, this earlier work contains all the elements of any of his novels--Vienna, prostitutes, New England (everything except a bear). Having read the author's memoirs I know that at least some of the material is based loosely on Irving's own experiences. There are more humorous elements in this book than later ones like "The Cider House Rules" or "Prayer for Owen Meany"; I would say "Water Method" is the funniest of the Irving novels I've read to date.

The writing, the characters, the story are all vintage Irving--there's no point in discussing those. The problem is HOW the story is told. The setting changes so much that as a reader it's hard to get into the flow of the book until it's almost over. There were many times when I thought about just giving up and putting it back on the shelf, but I pressed ahead and--like Ian McEwan's "Atonement"--my patience was rewarded with a story that when pieced together is humorous and a little touching (for an Irving novel). Other readers, I suspect, would have less patience waiting for everything to come together.

Should you read this book? Yes and No. If you're an Irving fan, then definitely Yes. If you've never read the author before or didn't like what you read by him, then No. I still recommend "Cider House Rules", "World According to Garp", and "Son of the Circus" as my favorites, but "Water Method" is up there in the pantheon of Irving novels.

Rating:
Summary: People, please stop comparing his works to Owen Meany!
Review: "A Prayer for Owen Meany" is a masterpiece. Enough said. This book delivers just as it should; it is captivating from page one on, it is wildly funny (people on the "El" don't want to next to me, the crazy lady laughing out loud), rich in details and it comes full circle. It is a great book and an excellent introduction to the wonderful world of John Irving. I highly reccommend for the first-time reader.

Rating:
Summary: The Long & Winding Road
Review: "The Water Method Man" could easily be renamed "John Irving's Frankenstein". Bits of first-person and third-person narration, a movie script, and an Old Low Norse epic are patched together to form a book at times funny and other times almost unreadable. The end product is entertaining and probably too clever for its own good.

The story focuses on Fred "Bogus" Trumper, the shallow, immature man who fails at one marriage, almost fails at another relationship, becomes the subject of a mockumentary, and undergoes painful surgery to correct a rather sensitive defect (hence the title of the book). Throughout the tangled web of narratives, Bogus eventually grows up a little and is perhaps on the way to becoming a good husband and father.

For fans of Irving, this earlier work contains all the elements of any of his novels--Vienna, prostitutes, New England (everything except a bear). Having read the author's memoirs I know that at least some of the material is based loosely on Irving's own experiences. There are more humorous elements in this book than later ones like "The Cider House Rules" or "Prayer for Owen Meany"; I would say "Water Method" is the funniest of the Irving novels I've read to date.

The writing, the characters, the story are all vintage Irving--there's no point in discussing those. The problem is HOW the story is told. The setting changes so much that as a reader it's hard to get into the flow of the book until it's almost over. There were many times when I thought about just giving up and putting it back on the shelf, but I pressed ahead and--like Ian McEwan's "Atonement"--my patience was rewarded with a story that when pieced together is humorous and a little touching (for an Irving novel). Other readers, I suspect, would have less patience waiting for everything to come together.

Should you read this book? Yes and No. If you're an Irving fan, then definitely Yes. If you've never read the author before or didn't like what you read by him, then No. I still recommend "Cider House Rules", "World According to Garp", and "Son of the Circus" as my favorites, but "Water Method" is up there in the pantheon of Irving novels.

Rating:
Summary: The Long & Winding Road
Review: "The Water Method Man" could easily be renamed "John Irving's Frankenstein". Bits of first-person and third-person narration, a movie script, and an Old Low Norse epic are patched together to form a book at times funny and other times almost unreadable. The end product is entertaining and probably too clever for its own good.

The story focuses on Fred "Bogus" Trumper, the shallow, immature man who fails at one marriage, almost fails at another relationship, becomes the subject of a mockumentary, and undergoes painful surgery to correct a rather sensitive defect (hence the title of the book). Throughout the tangled web of narratives, Bogus eventually grows up a little and is perhaps on the way to becoming a good husband and father.

For fans of Irving, this earlier work contains all the elements of any of his novels--Vienna, prostitutes, New England (everything except a bear). Having read the author's memoirs I know that at least some of the material is based loosely on Irving's own experiences. There are more humorous elements in this book than later ones like "The Cider House Rules" or "Prayer for Owen Meany"; I would say "Water Method" is the funniest of the Irving novels I've read to date.

The writing, the characters, the story are all vintage Irving--there's no point in discussing those. The problem is HOW the story is told. The setting changes so much that as a reader it's hard to get into the flow of the book until it's almost over. There were many times when I thought about just giving up and putting it back on the shelf, but I pressed ahead and--like Ian McEwan's "Atonement"--my patience was rewarded with a story that when pieced together is humorous and a little touching (for an Irving novel). Other readers, I suspect, would have less patience waiting for everything to come together.

Should you read this book? Yes and No. If you're an Irving fan, then definitely Yes. If you've never read the author before or didn't like what you read by him, then No. I still recommend "Cider House Rules", "World According to Garp", and "Son of the Circus" as my favorites, but "Water Method" is up there in the pantheon of Irving novels.

Rating:
Summary: Irving at his very best.
Review: Ah, what can I say about a book that has accompanied me all around the world? The wit, sarcasm and character development of J.D. Salinger set in a more modern era. While the whirlwind plot changes may take a while to adapt to, I suggest sticking it out for what I consider to be the epitome of Irving's early Vienna, wrestling, East Coast prep character focuses. Bogus Trumper, a man too smart for his own good, tosses his life in the air in search of a completion of his incomplete past and voila, it all comes together in the end. A major book in Irving's repetoire and a must own. I am fortunate enough to own an autographed copy that I will forever treasure.

Rating:
Summary: Irving creates the template for his furture great books.
Review: Everything that John Irving fans know and love about his books is in this sad and funny story about a man with a messed up penis (a symbol for his messed up life?). Everything thing, that is, except for the magical ingredient that made his later novels great. Still, this is worthwhile reading for Irving fans interested in seeing where it all began.

Rating:
Summary: The older one gets, the more this book will make sense.
Review: Fred Trumper is a fully believable character, trying to sort thru the everyday curves thrown at him. He is an intelligent man who lacks common sense, and as a result, his life (like most peoples) seems a mish mash. Hard reality and biting satire ( his description and detail of his fellow "Vigeronists" in the doctor's office is hilarious, while his sexual accounts are surreal. And yet by the end of the novel, you know that he is in essence a true survivor. The only problem with the book is that at times it is hard to follow, but is still vastly entertaining

Rating:
Summary: Sloshing through the Water-Method Man
Review: I am a fan of John Irving but was unimpressed by this book. Although the Fred Trumper character was developed fully in the usual Irving fashion, he was ultimately unendearing and dull. Coupled with an unmomentous plot, the lack of an interesting protagonist made for a dull read. While The Water-Method Man had moments of truth and insight, they were just that: moments. Overall, a semi-worthwhile read.

Rating:
Summary: just help
Review: I need help: Would anybody send me the summary of John Irving's book " the water method man"? It's important. I'd need it until Friday, as soon as possible, absolutely necessary! This would definitely be overwhelming! Thank you [e-mail]

Rating:
Summary: Absurd and touching. Very very funny
Review: I read several other Irving Books before I read this, all of which i loved, and while the water-method man did not capture my attention at the beginning as much as garp or owen meany or cider-house rules did, once i had gotten through the first few chapters i was completely enraptured. it is very different than some of the others, but still wonderfully written. the water-method man manages to be both one of the funniest things that i have ever read and one of the most depressing. it is very honest writing. I am only fifteen so everything is probably distorted but i think that it is very true to life. or at least one kind of life. and merrill overturf is truly an inspiration. his death was an appropriate tragedy. what i mean is, the reader was sad when it happened but nothing else quite seems fitting for merrill. even if you hate the book or john irving you must finish it just for merrill. also the scene with the 'verbose eel.' it's difficult to say which irving book is my favorite because i liked all of them except the hotel new hampshire, but the water method man has the some of the most memorable scenes i've ever read.