*originally published in “Reading Selections” on December 23rd, but more worthy of a spot here. Thanks BogusTrumper!*
I recently saw John Irving do a brief reading from his new novel at the International Author’s Festival in Toronto. He was then interviewed by Seamus O’Regan and finally he took some questions from the audience. He was in fine form as he talked his writing process, cracked a joke about the obligation of writers to answer questions from Margaret Atwood, and told numerous funny anecdotes, including one about how he had to talk to Charlton Heston, proud President of the National Rifle Association, who was being scorned by puzzled left leaning liberals at a Pro-Choice fundraiser. (The refined liberals were incredulous that this gun-toting Moses moron could also support pro-choice). In addition to being a great writer, the Irving is quite a raconteur.