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Quote by John Irving

“Although he knew all the best — or, at least, the least boring — stories in the Bible, Mr. Merrill was most appealing because he reassured us that doubt was the essence of faith, and not faith’s opposite.”

Quote by John Irving

Work

A Prayer For Owen Meany

In this novel, John Wheelwright's life is forever altered by his friendship with Owen Meany, a boy who possesses a mysterious aura and a belief that he is destined for greatness. As they grow up together, the boys' lives intertwine in ways that challenge their understanding of faith, friendship, and the supernatural. The story is set in the 1950s and 1960s, reflecting the social and cultural changes of the time. more

Author

John Irving
John Irving

John Irving is an American novelist known for his intricate narrative structures and profound character development. His works often explore themes of family, love, morality, and identity, enjoying great popularity among readers. more

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“i love like flowers and fire… i don't know any other way. soft and vulnerable, and wild and burning… with my heart broken. wide. open. and even though he came in like wildfire, he was just. broken. and hardened. and filled with an ugliness raging inside of him and he thought that if he raged hard enough against me that he could rage an ugliness out from inside of me too. then he could say, “see, it's you.” that he could be so hard to love that he could make me feel hard to love too. but i just softly left the room. a graceful exit. and i wrote all my feelings down to shed his hardened residue. and to remind myself of all the ways that there are such beautiful and tender things in me… always.”

“give them girlhood. in any way you can… give girls friendships. ways to find other girls in their world and to learn to dance with other wildflowers, and to build bonds that teach them the magic of girls and reflect back to them their own magic in themselves. and then, when they grow a little taller and their world gets a little bigger, if that world tries to tell them all about the unworthiness of a woman… they will know it's a lie. and if you haven't yet known girlhood, i hope you find it in some way now… find other ones in this world who help you see and feel the magic of other women. anything… from trading friendship bracelets to breathing life into each other's souls, just somewhere you'll be shown the magic in yourself. and so whenever this world tries to tell you all about the unworthiness of a woman… you'll know it's a lie.”