So welcome to the fifth edition of the bookcase with Kate and Charlie.

I'm the Charlie part.

And on the Cape part.

And we are really, really excited, I guess, would be the word about today's interview.

Because both of us, and I know you, Kate, have been long-time fans of John Irving.

This was an interview for me where I was very much starstruck. A Prayer for Owen Meaning is a

really important book in my life. I reread it every two years. And like any great book,

I feel like it understands me. And every time I read it,

I feel like it understands me differently. I mean, maybe that's because my life has changed so much

over the last 20 years. But I read it right after college when I couldn't quite figure out who I was.

And I read it when I got sober. And I read it when I got married, both times. I read it when I had kids. And I read it when my kids started to argue back.

The language grows with me. The book means something different to me every time. And it puts

words to feelings I didn't even know I had. So I'm a huge fan. And Owen Meaney is a very, you're not

supposed to define the word unique, but he is a very unique character and unforgettable character

when you read a prayer for Owen Meaney. And John will say that probably if you're going to start

on John Irving novels, Owen Meany is the place will say that probably if you're going to start on John Irving novels,

Owen Meany is the place to start. But the world according to Garp, cider house rules, which was

made into such a great movie, a widow for a year, last night in Twisted River. John hasn't published in a while.

He has a new book coming out in October, and I hope we will talk to him then,

a book that has had a number of titles as he has gone through the progression of writing this book.

I think it's his 15th novel.

He will tell you he has been translated into dozens of languages.

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