If you enjoy reading books by John Irving then you might also like the following authors:
If you enjoy John Irving’s mix of quirky characters, family drama, and heartfelt storytelling, you might appreciate the novels of Richard Russo. Russo also writes about small-town life, flawed but lovable characters, and humor blended with compassion.
His Pulitzer Prize-winning book, “Empire Falls,” is centered on Miles Roby, a mild-mannered man living in a decaying small town in Maine.
Miles manages the local diner and navigates complicated family ties and community struggles, all while trying to build a better future for his teenage daughter. Russo captures human relationships and small-town politics with warmth, wit, and authenticity.
Anne Tyler writes novels filled with quirky characters and family dramas that fans of John Irving might appreciate. Her stories often focus on everyday people and their small yet meaningful struggles.
In her novel “The Accidental Tourist,” readers meet Macon Leary, a man who writes travel guides for reluctant travelers but hates traveling himself.
After a tragedy disrupts his carefully ordered life, he must navigate unexpected relationships, odd hobbies, and the chaotic process of rediscovering himself.
Tyler’s charming, offbeat storytelling highlights life’s gentle absurdity and the unpredictable nature of human connections.
Readers who enjoy John Irving’s sharp humor and vivid characters might also appreciate the storytelling of Tom Wolfe. Wolfe is known for capturing the absurdities and ambitions of American life.
His novel “The Bonfire of the Vanities” exposes the excess and moral recklessness of 1980s New York City. The story revolves around Sherman McCoy, a successful Wall Street trader whose privileged life spirals out of control after a hit-and-run incident.
The novel satirizes greed, racial tensions, media frenzy, and the justice system with sharp wit. Wolfe’s vibrant characters and cutting observations paint a captivating portrait of ambition, downfall, and society’s taste for scandal.
Philip Roth is an American novelist known for his sharp-witted storytelling and keen exploration of identity, society, and moral struggles.
If you like John Irving’s vivid characters and thoughtful treatment of life’s complexities, you might appreciate Roth’s novel, “American Pastoral.”
This book tells the story of Seymour 'Swede' Levov, a successful businessman whose seemingly ideal life unfolds into turmoil when his daughter commits a shocking act of political violence.
Roth skillfully examines Swede’s struggle to grasp his family’s unraveling and to reconcile the American dream with harsh social realities.
The interplay between historical contexts, personal ambitions, and family drama creates a compelling look at human relationships and the effects of social tensions.
Salman Rushdie is a storyteller known for blending realism, myth, and imaginative twists in his novels.
If you like John Irving’s style of quirky characters, vibrant storytelling, and insightful explorations of human experience, you’d probably enjoy Rushdie’s “Midnight’s Children”.
This novel tells the story of Saleem Sinai, a boy born at the exact moment India declared independence, whose life mysteriously connects with the events and fate of his country.
Through Saleem, Rushdie explores family secrets, magical connections, and unexpected turns of history. Like Irving, Rushdie’s writing is vivid, playful, and full of sharp observations that bring characters to life.
Readers who enjoy John Irving’s blend of family drama, complex characters, and emotional storytelling might appreciate Pat Conroy. Conroy often writes about Southern family life, emphasizing relationships, hardship, and personal redemption.
In his novel “The Prince of Tides,” Tom Wingo, a teacher from South Carolina with a troubled past, travels to New York City to help his twin sister after her suicide attempt.
While uncovering their painful childhood memories, Tom confronts his family’s deep-rooted secrets and faces his own struggles.
Conroy’s detailed portrayal of family dynamics and vivid depiction of the low-country setting pulls readers into Tom’s journey of discovery and healing, making “The Prince of Tides” a memorable and emotion-rich read.
Readers who enjoy John Irving’s quirky characters and sharp humor might also appreciate Mordecai Richler. Richler was a Canadian novelist known for his biting wit, dark comedy, and unforgettable storytelling.
His novel “Barney’s Version” is a satirical and engaging confession from Barney Panofsky, a flawed yet relatable television producer from Montreal.
Barney reflects on his wild personal history, failed marriages, friendships, and controversies, all told in a funny and poignant voice. Like Irving, Richler blends humor and tragedy, making readers laugh out loud one moment and pause in quiet reflection the next.
Books by John Updike often capture characters who wrestle with life’s ordinary moments in extraordinary ways. Readers who enjoy John Irving’s blend of humor, complex relationships, and deep personal conflicts may find a similar appeal in Updike’s “Rabbit, Run.”
This novel follows Harry “Rabbit” Angstrom, a former basketball star trapped in the quiet desperation of suburban life. Harry flees his responsibilities, driven by restlessness and an itch for something more, only to discover that escape comes with its own set of complications.
Updike draws readers into Rabbit’s inner struggles and flawed decisions, offering a sharp, thoughtful look at human desires and disappointments beneath the surface of everyday life.
Readers who enjoy John Irving might also appreciate Alice Hoffman. She writes novels full of richly developed characters, emotional storytelling, and a touch of magical realism. Her book “Practical Magic” follows sisters
Gillian and Sally Owens, born into a family with a curious legacy of witchcraft. The Owens women have always lived somewhat apart due to rumors and mysterious occurrences. Gillian and Sally wrestle with embracing or rejecting their family’s peculiar gifts.
Through love, tragedy, and magical mishaps, Hoffman explores relationships, family bonds, and the poignant ways the past shapes the present.
Books by Michael Chabon often explore funny yet tragic characters who grapple with family, identity, and unexpected turns in their lives. If you’re into John Irving’s quirky characters and blend of humor and sadness, Chabon’s work could really resonate.
A great place to start is “Wonder Boys.” The story follows Grady Tripp, a writer whose life has become hilariously chaotic.
He’s trying to finish a massive novel he can’t seem to end, his wife has just left him, and he’s gotten involved in all sorts of misadventures with one of his students over a single wild weekend. Chabon’s characters are flawed, funny, and memorable in the same vein as Irving’s.
If you enjoy the richly drawn characters and intricate storytelling of John Irving, give Margaret Atwood a try. Atwood combines insightful character drama with thought-provoking settings in novels like “The Handmaid’s Tale.”
Set within a dystopian society called Gilead, the novel follows Offred, a woman forced into submission and stripped of her identity. The repressive regime reduces women into categories like handmaids, whose only value lies in their fertility.
Throughout the novel, Atwood explores themes of repression, resistance, hope, and survival through Offred’s eyes. Her storytelling blends human drama with piercing social commentary, making it hard to put the book down once you start.
Readers who enjoy John Irving’s storytelling might appreciate Julian Barnes, an English author known for sharp wit and emotional insight. Barnes often examines memory, history, and the complexity of relationships.
His novel “The Sense of an Ending” focuses on Tony Webster, a retired man whose memories are challenged by the unexpected return of figures from his past. Tony begins to question what he thought he knew about himself and his friends.
Barnes portrays the fragile nature of memory and how easily people reshape their histories to fit their needs. For readers drawn to narratives that explore past choices and their hidden consequences, Julian Barnes offers an engaging and thoughtful reading experience.
Books by Jonathan Franzen often explore complex characters and family dynamics with humor and emotional depth, which readers of John Irving might find appealing.
In “The Corrections,” Franzen introduces readers to the Lambert family, whose adult children struggle with their own disappointments and personal crises.
When their mother decides to gather her fractured family together for one final Christmas, conflicts surface, old resentments simmer, and each family member faces their own flaws and truths.
Franzen’s blend of humor, dysfunction, and sharp social observations brings readers directly into the messy heart of family life.
Readers who enjoy John Irving’s blend of vivid characters, thoughtful narratives, and eccentric families may also find Barbara Kingsolver appealing. Kingsolver’s novels explore complex relationships, moral dilemmas, and the realities of flawed yet endearing characters.
In her novel “The Poisonwood Bible,” Kingsolver tells the story of the Price family, an American missionary family living in the Belgian Congo in the late 1950s.
Their story is narrated by the family’s four daughters and the mother, each voice distinct, rich in detail and full of insight. As political tensions rise in the Congo, readers witness a family’s struggle amid greater historical forces and personal tragedies.
The novel beautifully captures a moment of great change through the eyes of characters who stay with you long after you finish reading.
Readers who enjoy John Irving may find Iris Murdoch equally engaging. Murdoch is known for her insightful and often humorous portrayals of complicated characters and their moral dilemmas. Her novel “The Sea, The Sea” follows Charles Arrowby, a retired actor and playwright.
Charles leaves his glamorous life behind to live by the coast, aiming for solitude. But he soon discovers that escaping his past isn’t easy. Old love affairs resurface, obsessions take hold, and unexpected visitors disrupt his peace.
Murdoch skillfully portrays Charles’s unusual adventures and inner struggles, creating a memorable exploration of human desires and illusions.