The Last Chairlift by John Irving review – an outlandish family epic
Unconventional characters, uncertain paternity issues: Irving’s 15th novel retreads familiar ground, but is overlong and poorly edited
July 2021
Top 10s
Top 10 platonic friendships in fiction
From Doris Lessing to Dickens and John Irving, these tales show how passionate, intense and vital ‘just’ friendships can be
May 2021
Books blog
Lionel Shriver v Cynthia Ozick: hurrah for the new literary beef
The books world was growing worryingly well-mannered, but Ozick’s response – in verse – to a bad review by Shriver has revived the fine art of feuding
May 2017
Top 10s
Top 10 unlikely romantic heroes in fiction
From the disgusting appeal of Christian Grey to the neglected charms of Shakespeare’s Don Pedro, Jenny Colgan picks her favourite difficult dreamboats
March 2017
Top 10s
Top 10 books about adopted children
A profound human experience – and also a brilliant plot device – adoption has inspired endless stories, from Shakespeare to Jeanette Winterson
February 2017
John Irving attacks 'intolerant' Trump in defence of political awards speeches
Writer of The Cider House Rules laments new president’s threat to LGBT and abortion rights, and says winners at next weekend’s Oscars should be free to protest
February 2016
The Guardian Books podcast
John Irving in conversation with Jeanette Winterson - Guardian Live event
John Irving on Donald Trump, Caitlyn Jenner – and the right way to wrestle an angry bear
January 2016
Critical eye
Book reviews roundup: First Bite; Avenue of Mysteries; The Prose Factory
Avenue of Mysteries by John Irving review – portrait of the artist as a spoilt adolescent
Book of the day
Avenue of Mysteries by John Irving review – dreaming the past into life
Fiction highlights for 2016
August 2014
Top 10s
The top 10 hotel novels
From Robert Bloch's Psycho to Chekhov's Lady With the Dog, Mark Watson explores the magnetism of hotels for novelists
August 2013
The 10 best ...
The 10 best writers in novels – in pictures
When novelists write about what they know best …
July 2013
Top 10s
The top 10 books about disability
From Harper Lee to Mark Haddon, novelist Paul Wilson chooses the best literature on lives too frequently overlooked or misunderstood
July 2012
The big novels of 2012
From Hilary Mantel to Martin Amis, Ian McEwan to Zadie Smith, plus the first adult novel from JK Rowling – the biggest stars are out in 2012. Here's a guide to an extraordinary year in fiction
