John Irving's memoir begins with his account of the distinguished career and medical writings of the novelists's grandfather Dr. Frederick C. Irving, a renowned obstetrician and gynecologist, and includes Mr. Irving's incisive history of abortion politics in the United States. But My Movie Business focuses primarily on the thirteen years John Irving spent adapting his novel The Cider House Rules for the screen-- for four different directors...Not least, and in addition to its qualities as a memoir--My Movie Business is an insightful essay on the essential differences between writing a novel and writing a screenplay.
-Random House
Reader from Baton Rouge, LA:
Not everyone will be interested to read this book. If you are a fan of John Irving, however, or interested in the process of adapting a film from a novel, you'll find this a quick, fun read, and informative to some extent. What I found most interesting was Mr. Irving's views on adaptation and the glimpses on how those views changed over the years. Most authors and readers presume that the only good adaptation is one literal to the book. Mr. Irving shows why that isn't the case, and he does so by relating his own experiences as author and screenwriter. Most of the book is about the upcoming (movie) "Cider House Rules"; I would have like to have read more about the previous film adapted from other novels. Nevertheless, as a novelist's honest assessment of adaptation, it is an unusual and valuable document.
Reader from New York, NY:
John Irving needs a reality check. The writing of this book is embarassing, arrogant, shallow and worst of all, highly self-important. OK, so he's now making some big screenwriter bucks, unfortunately, it has turned him into (or revealed him as) a highly unlikable person. I can only imagine what a tiresome dinner guest he would be if he spewed this garbage in person. So sad given the talent he has shown in the past. John, please get over yourself already. It really is embarrassing for us to see you this way.
CRITIC'S REVIEWS:
Ray Olson
Booklist
...Irving also recalls his involvement with attempts to film four of his other novels, but he hones in on the "Cider House" experience. His is very much a writer's perspective; he speaks of character, dramatic development, casting, and acting to the virtual exclusion of other details of visualization, sound production, and montage that are additional paramount concerns for a film director. Cineasts as well as Irving's fans ought to find this book enthralling whether they see the movie or not; those who see and like the movie shouldn't miss reading it.
10-1-99
