I read it a few months ago. Normally I'm a big Irving fan, but this one just didn't do it for me. I had to force myself to finish it, and at the end wished that I had given up 400 pages back. In fact, I now don't even remember what happened at the end, which is a sign to me that I didn't care for the book. If I remember right, I thought it was too long and had way too much emphasis on a certain male body part. I liked the begining of the book, but it went downhill from there.
What did you think of it?
Kelly

Thanks Kelly. I'm a big Irving fan as well. I posted the request because when I got to the "LA" part of the story I was tempted to write touche on the sales receipt and mail it to Mr. Irving. I am still wondering if the tone really became superficial intentionally to mimic Hollywood. The book at times itself seemed made for TV.

Irving, as usual, taunts the axiom that truth is stranger than fiction. He challenges us to open our eyes to the world around us. He is still my favorite story teller in spite of repeating themes/characters in his work....benevolent cop in the red light district in Amsterdam (Widow for One Year)...single mothers and their sons (Garp) (A Prayer for Owen Meany) (The Fourth Hand)...wrestling...

The theme of this book...what we remember...why we remember it and what it really means is universal...I will labor to its conclusion tonight. Gender/sexuality is tough challenging material. The penis phenom is a tough call. Jury is still out.

-Wayne