In One Person

A Novel

By: John Irving

Narrated by: John Benjamin Hickey

From the author of A Prayer for Owen Meany and The World According to Garp comes "his most daringly political, sexually transgressive, and moving novel in well over a decade" (Vanity Fair).

A New York Times bestselling novel of desire, secrecy, and sexual identity, In One Person is a story of unfulfilled love—tormented, funny, and affecting—and an impassioned embrace of our sexual differences. Billy, the bisexual narrator and main character of In One Person, tells the tragicomic story (lasting more than half a century) of his life as a "sexual suspect," a phrase first used by John Irving in 1978 in his landmark novel of "terminal cases," The World According to Garp.

In One Person is a poignant tribute to Billy’s friends and lovers—a theatrical cast of characters who defy category and convention. Not least, In One Person is an intimate and unforgettable portrait of the solitariness of a bisexual man who is dedicated to making himself "worthwhile."

Being human is not strange

John Irving treats his characters with respect. This is not voyuerism or sniggering in an alley at outrageous behaviour, it is an honest, funny and human treatment of a life that needs to be met on its own terms. I love this author and Mr. Hickey does a great job with the material. This is a great an worthwhile listen.

Loved it!

Wow, how could anyone, except a homophobe, not like this book?! In true Irving style, this book just keeps getting better and better as you stick with it. The narration was excellent.

Great start, then got predictable and kind of dull

I enjoyed the beginning of this book a lot! The writing is good throughout, but the plot just got too limited and predictable to be interesting.

Another great John Irving tale

Hugely enjoyable set of characters and a narrative beautifully described. Extra nice as an audiobook, really well read.

Not his best, but pretty good nonetheless.

As with previous reviews, not for those offended by strong sexuality. Some of the jumping around at points within the narrator's life got confusing--I realize future happenings related to things in the past, but sometimes difficult to place things in a line.

I thought the pace of the story was quick and succinct, and the narration was well done. Of course there are great characters, the hallmark of Irving.

Point of contention with a previous reviewer. A complaint was made about a sexual encounter between a younger and older person (trying not to be a spoiler), and that this "abuse of a minor" was the key issue, rather than gender issues. I would like to point out that the youger person was 18 at the time, but still living with parents. I don't believe this constitutes sexual abuse legally or otherwise.