{"product_id":"9781956763157","title":"The Imaginary Girlfriend: A Memoir","description":"\u003ctable\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAuthor\/Contributor(s):\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"\"\u003eIrving, John\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eArcade\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDate:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e08\/02\/2022\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBinding:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"\"\u003ePaperback\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"\"\u003eNEW\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\u003c\/table\u003e\u003cb\u003e“The nearest thing to an autobiography Irving has written . . . worth saving and savoring.\"—\u003ci\u003eSeattle Times\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\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 bestselling novels from \u003ci\u003eThe World According to Garp\u003c\/i\u003e to \u003ci\u003eIn One Person\u003c\/i\u003e and \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.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\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.","brand":"Arcade","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44905731686655,"sku":"9781956763157","price":16.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0452\/0886\/2873\/files\/Jacket_d0e2c176-e4d6-4c26-bc90-ae1316cb7513.jpg?v=1710098494","url":"https:\/\/massivebookshop.com\/de\/products\/9781956763157","provider":"MASSIVE BOOKSHOP","version":"1.0","type":"link"}