In the April 30, 1978, edition of the Washington Post Book World, William McPherson wrote that The World According to Garp is: "A wonderful novel, full of energy and art, at once funny and horrifying and Heartbreaking. . . . You know The World According to Garp is true. It is also terrific.
Many of the initial reviews for The World According to Garp were equally enthusiastic. Christopher Lehmann-Haupt, in a favorable review published in the New York Times on April 13, 1978, recognized the book as "what is easily [Irving's] best novel to date." Mark Stevens, in a brief review published in the March 2, 1979, issue of the National Review, wrote that "The World According to Garp is the work of an extravagant imagination." In a review published in the April 23, 1978, issue.....
This is a free excerpt of 135 words. This section contains 691 words. This
study guide contains 27,503 words (approx. 92 pages at 300
words per page).
Read the rest of this Literature Guide with our The World According to Garp Access Pass.