Billie, the protagonist, is bisexual. He is neither shy nor conflicted, but he’s had it with the way some members of his family treat him. The story begins when Billie, a.k.a William Marshall Abbott, recalls the story of his life as he has grown old, nearing his 70th birthday.

Billie began his life as William Francis Dean, but after his stepfather adopted him, his last name changed to Abbott. This is fine with Billie, as one of the three most important people that he is sexually attracted to is his stepfather. The other one is a librarian, Miss Frost, who was a famous wrestler once, when he was a man, in the private academy Billie attends, but Billie learns this truth later in the story. The third important person is his best friend, a girl about his own age. But not only a handful of people have different sexual stances in Bille’s life. There is also his cross-dressing grandfather, his biological father, his boyfriends, and several other people he meets later in life.

The story fluctuates from the time when Billie is an old man to his young days, and throughout its many twists and turns, Billie is involved with one or another of the most important people.

Yet, the story does not only reflect Billie’s sexual history. It also addresses dysfunction in families, single parenthood, loss that comes with maturing, AIDS tragedy especially during the eighties, being a writer, sexual identity, and being misunderstood.

The novel is strong and forceful with its insight and the way it handles reality. The author knows what he is talking about, and his grasp of the emotions of a teen who is made miserable by the ignorant people around him is superb.

In One Person is a serious novel, one of the most serious I have ever read, not only for its subject matter but also for the wonderful prose that is straightforward yet full of sentiment, ranging from sadness to humor, as only John Irving would be able to pen.

learning from, learning especially tolerance and acceptance of those who are terribly misunderstood.

Everything. This is one of the most memorable books I have ever read.

is John Irving, also the writer of
The World According to Garp, The Cider House Rules, A Prayer for Owen Meany and A Widow for One Year,The Hotel New Hampshire, The 158-Pound Marriage, A Son of the Circus, The Fourth Hand, Last Night in Twisted River, A Sound Like Someone Trying Not to Make a Sound, Until I Find You.

John Irving won a Lambda Literary Award in 2013 in the Bisexual Fiction category for In One Person, and was also awarded the organization's Bridge Builder Award to honor him as an ally of the LGBT community.

it is--above all--highly literary, comes with exemplary character portrayal, and has an epic plot that is rich, bold, absorbing, and daring.

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Created Jan 08, 2014 at 6:53pm • Submit your own review...