Trying to Save Piggy Sneed

Verhalen

• Trying to Save Piggy Sneed (1993): John Irving
• Interior Space (1980): John Irving
• Almost in Iowa (1973): John Irving
• Weary Kingdom (1968): John Irving
• Brennbar's Rant (1974): John Irving
• Other People's Dreams (1982): John Irving
• The Pension Grillparzer (1976): John Irving
• The King of the Novel (1986): John Irving

Inhoud

Here is a treat for John Irving addicts and a perfect introduction to his work for the uninitiated. Following a spirited opening piece, Irving explains how he became a writer. There follow six scintillating stories written over the past twenty years, including 'The Pension Grillparzer', previously only to be found inside The World According to Garp, and now given an independent airing. The collection ends with a homage to Charles Dickens.

Bespreking

Irving can do a lot better than this

'Trying to Save Piggy Sneed' is a short story collection that brings together seven stories written between 1973 and 1993. In the title story, for example, Irving explains how he became a writer. 'The Pension Grillparzer', previously only to be found inside 'The World According to Garp', has been given an independent airing. The collection ends with a homage to Charles Dickens.

The saddest thing about this collection is that it is in no way a showcase of the enormous talent of John Irving. Nevertheless, this is exactly what the cover promises. A few of the stories like 'Interior Space', 'Weary Kingdom' and 'The Pension Grillparzer' are quite entertaining, but still miss the true spirit of his novels. Most of these stories finish without even reaching some kind of clue. The book ends with some kind of non-fiction essay on Charles Dickens: a boring addition which no one was waiting for. The conclusion is clear: Irving should keep to writing full-featured novels, so he can develop his characters in his own personal way and make the most bizarre story lines that fascinate the reader from cover to cover.

The stories in this collection are: Almost in Iowa, Brennbar's Rant, Interior Space, Other People's Dreams, The King of the Novel, The Pension Grillparzer, Trying to Save Piggy Sneed and Weary Kingdom.