As a professional book reviewer of non-fiction books, I don't have a lot of time for fiction. I make time for John Irving. I wish I had skipped this one. I have been a huge Irving fan for more years than I care to think about. There was nothing salvageable in this book. Has anyone else here ever played Irving bingo? It's a card with bears, abortions, childless children, transvestites, boys boarding schools and so forth... I am also astonished that anyone on this site like this book--this stretches the credibility of "different strokes for different folks." This book was objectively boring and awful. By the way, my other all time favorite novelist is Trevanian, who has also put out a horrible novel this year.His book is also about the trevails of a little boy abandoned by his father.... Hmmm. My advice to anyone who likes John Irving? Skip this one. Read Owen Meaney.