I love "The world according to Garp" - I've read it several times. As well as "Hotel New Hampshire" and "The Cider Rules" (and a few more I can't remember? I remember there are a few more though
)
Seriously, I was just plainly puzzled by your "logic": if one usually enjoyed Irving, one would be surprised - as this specific one was an good Irving novel. As if the other ones weren't good? Hmmm...
It just didn't add up
In my mind Irving writes good novels. I haven't considered that the reason I didn't read his most current books to be any other than my personal 'failing' - that they just aren't to my personal taste. So what? I love "The Children's Book" by A. Byatt, but I can understand if it's not to everyone's taste
However, I have a feeling that Byatt is to me, what Irving is to you.