{"product_id":"the-imaginary-girlfriend-a-memoir-9781956763157","title":"The Imaginary Girlfriend: A Memoir","description":"\u003cb\u003e\"The nearest thing to an autobiography Irving has written . . . worth saving and savoring.\"--\u003ci\u003eSeattle Times\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eDedicated to the memory of two wrestling coaches and two writer friends, \u003ci\u003eThe Imaginary Girlfriend\u003c\/i\u003e is John Irving's candid memoir of his twin careers in writing and wrestling. The award-winning author of best-selling novels from \u003ci\u003eThe World According to Garp\u003c\/i\u003e to \u003ci\u003eIn One Person \u003c\/i\u003eand \u003ci\u003eAvenue of Mysteries\u003c\/i\u003e, Irving began writing when he was fourteen, the same age at which he began to wrestle at Exeter. He competed as a wrestler for twenty years, was certified as a referee at twenty-four, and coached the sport until he was forty-seven. Irving coached his sons Colin and Brendan to New England championship titles, a championship that he himself was denied. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eIn an autobiography filled with the humor and compassion one finds in his fiction, Irving explores the interrelationship between the two disciplines of writing and wrestling, from the days when he was a beginner at both until his fourth wresting-related surgery at the age of fifty-three. Writing as a father and mentor, he offers a lucid portrait of those--writers and wrestlers from Kurt Vonnegut to Ted Seabrooke--who played a mentor role in his development as a novelist, wrestler, and wrestling coach. He reveals lessons he learned about the pursuit for which he is best known, writing. \"And,\" as the \u003ci\u003eDenver Post \u003c\/i\u003eobserved, in filling \"his narrative with anecdotes that are every bit as hilarious as the antics in his novels, Irving combines the lessons of both obsessions (wrestling and writing) . . . into a somber reflection on the importance of living well.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Arcade Publishing\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 08\/02\/2022\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781956763157\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 144\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.22lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 8.25h x 5.50w x 0.32d","brand":"John Irving","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42183853637813,"sku":"9781956763157","price":14.44,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0473\/0804\/6492\/products\/img_35b109ec-af5d-4f6e-ac36-51010fd4cf05.jpg?v=1654571415","url":"https:\/\/pastforward.org\/products\/the-imaginary-girlfriend-a-memoir-9781956763157","provider":"Past Forward","version":"1.0","type":"link"}