Writing Inspiration

John Irving novels make me want to write. I've never considered myself a "writer," although I suppose anyone who writes is a writer, because of language, if nothing else.
I read "Last Night at Twisted River" and loved it. Said book was purchased for me as a Christmas gift last year from my then girlfriend. The main character takes my name for about 350 pages right in the middle of the story due to some unforeseen circumstances. Between the story's weaving and feeling like I was the main character weaving in and out I fell deeply in love with John Irving's writing.
Upon arriving home from Texas at the conclusion of the United League Baseball season and more or less jobless for another off season I hadn't thought much about reading. I had read a few baseball related books while working in Texas, but those mostly fell into a research classification and not truly reading for enjoyment.
I read a paperback book called "The Camel Club" that was o.k. O.k meaning fast paced action combined with skin deep characters led on an amazing chase with a clearly defined hero and villain.
On my way driving from San Luis Obispo to Yuciapa, down the water hugging 101 freeway I stopped at a Borders for both a pee break and a book break. I had finished "The Camel Club" on the Amtrak bus down to San Luis Obispo where I was meeting a friend en route to a wedding.
This annoyed me, not finishing the book, but finishing the book in a position where I could not and would not find another book to read until I was in a position where I could not read anymore.
At this Borders it hit me after walking aimlessly for 20 minutes that I should grab another John Irving novel. After all he has been writing since the 1960's and I only had read his most latest literary installment, why not go backwards though Mr. Irving's literary career.
It was there I found "The World According to Garp," the novel, published in 1980 that apparently put John Irving on the map. It was a no brainer.
Now, 154 pages into the book I am just as enthralled as I was with Twisted River. Simultaneously, I found another John Irving masterpiece and newer, fonder memories to associate with reading Irving novels.