John Irving Reading Order
5 series · 20 books · Born 1942-03-02
John Irving is an American novelist born in 1942 whose literary career spans from the late 1960s to the present day. His densely plotted, character-driven narratives often weave together themes of wrestling, mortality, and unconventional family dynamics, drawing on his two decades of personal wrestling experience. Irving achieved major recognition with The World According to Garp, which won the National Book Award, and further cemented his status as a significant American author through his screenplay adaptation of The Cider House Rules, which earned him an Academy Award.
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Cider House Rules Series
Ongoing2 books (1985–2025)
The Cider House Rules series by John Irving consists of two books published across four decades, beginning in 1985 with the original novel and continuing with Queen Esther in 2025. This ongoing series should be read in publication order to follow the narrative progression. The second installment marks a significant return to the series after a substantial gap in publishing.
Start with The Cider House Rules and read in order.
Start this series with The Cider House Rules
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Non-Fiction Series
Complete2 books (1996–1999)
John Irving's two-book non-fiction series consists of works published between 1996 and 1999 and is now complete. These books should be read in publication order, beginning with The Imaginary Girlfriend followed by My Movie Business. Both titles offer Irving's personal reflections and insights across different aspects of his creative life.
Start with The Imaginary Girlfriend and read in order.
Start this series with The Imaginary Girlfriend
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Picture Series
Complete1 book (2003–2003)
Short Story Collections Series
Complete1 book (1993–1993)
Standalone Novels Series
Likely Complete14 books (1968–2022)
John Irving's fourteen standalone novels span from 1968 to 2022 and should be read in publication order, beginning with Setting Free the Bears. Though each novel stands alone with its own characters and plot, reading them chronologically reveals the evolution of Irving's distinctive narrative voice and thematic preoccupations across more than five decades. The series appears to be complete as of 2022 with The Last Chairlift.
Start with Setting Free the Bears, the first of 14 books in the Standalone Novels series.
Start this series with Setting Free the Bears
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Frequently Asked Questions
- How many books has John Irving written?
- John Irving has written 20 books across 5 series. Their published works span from 1968 to 2025.
- What is the first book in each John Irving series?
- Here are the first books in John Irving's series: Cider House Rules: The Cider House Rules; Non-Fiction: The Imaginary Girlfriend.
- What order should I read John Irving's books?
- We recommend reading John Irving's series in publication order. Each series can be read independently.
- Is John Irving still writing new books?
- Yes, John Irving has 1 ongoing series: Cider House Rules.