Customer Reviews

The Cider House Rules

5 star:		(186)
4 star:		(78)
3 star:		(26)
2 star:		(10)
1 star:		(15)

 

 

I revisited 'The Cider House Rules' recently, just before picking up another of John Irving's earlier novels, and I again recalled before I reached page 25 what it was about Irving and this novel that made me fall in love with his writing. 'The Cider House Rules' is an epic, Dickensian story, a didactic old-fashioned tale of love and loss that speaks to both the most basic human dilemmas and contentious contemporary subjects. Irving writes with an absurdist aplomb that causes me to find myself laughing when I would never expect to, and cry soon thereafter; his character Homer Wells is a delight, winsome and true. 'The Cider House Rules' is an exquisite novel, and one of the greatest achievements in American letters. If you enjoyed books such as McCrae's "Children's Corner" or Wolfe's "A Man in Full," then you'll like this one as well.

Just loved Cider House, savored every word and felt the characters were alive. So, so sad to finish it. Irving is a fabulous storyteller, makes you laugh and cry. I have read hundreds if not thousands of books and this is in my top 20.

The book is great at raising the social issues in a context that makes sense - unwanted pregnancies, ethics of abortion or abandonment of newborns, etc. It also talks about poverty, depravation of one's childhood environment, the need to understand social cues to function in society, etc. All of this it does very well.

And until about 2/3 of the way through the book, although the main characters are in situations that are often not easy and don't often make the choices that the reader might have chosen for them, you understand why they did it and can empathize with how they're feeling. Melony, damaged girl-to-adult that she is, ironically emerges as one of the most sympathetic characters in her wandering, violent, vindictive bid for some kind of love and satisfaction with her life.

However, the last third has me losing sypathy with the characters, Candy in particular. (...spoilers...) I cannot justify the level of lying that Candy in particular forced on Homer and Angel for 15 years until circumstances force their hand. I cannot justify how she uses uncertainty to effectively have her cake and eat it too - be married to Wally, love him, but sleep with Homer too and after a fashion love him too - for 15 years! She denies Homer any chance to have moved on with his life, found a new life for him and his son (since Homer is Angel's primary parent), which is wrong. As Wally says, she's manipulative. However, one can understand more easily why Wally puts up with her - he's a paraplegic and would have trouble getting by without help. And when the big "reveal" happens, it's a complete letdown - we don't even get a full description of Wally and Angel's reactions! And to top it off, Homer's finally acquiescing to Dr. Larch's wanting Homer to come back to St. Cloud's and pretend to be a doctor... end one form of dishonesty for an even worse one!

If you can overlook my major objections, the book is still worth reading. But if the interpersonals will bother you, you might not want to get into it.

A captivating story about life in the 1920's-1930's told in a powerful and brilliantly written fictional novel about an orphan named Homer Wells and the St. Cloud orphanage. Dr. Wilbur Larch, who is an obstetrician on staff at St. Cloud's, is an ether addict who performs abortions at the orphanage secretly. He is known to say, "women come here to have an orphan or an abortion".

The story, though simple, is thought provoking. It contains many underlying themes about human nature, social injustices and the complexities of life. Written to be shocking and graphic, Irving uses the characters to express each theme as he tells the story. One such theme is "we all break the rules"... Another theme is "the realities of life can influence you to make a practical rather than a moral decision"... and this is what happens to Homer Wells...

A fascinating book! Highly recommend!

This review is based on the paperback version 1985

The movie debut a few years back was great, excellent actors represented the characters, cinematography and technical details were solid.
The book is a lot more involved, with more in-depth events in the story that are left out of the movie.
However, readers are missing out on a lot of John Irving's writing talent if they fail to read the book. A reader grows to know Irving's players in a way not many authors create and allow the reader to absorb each character -- some readers put the book in a negative light by stating that the characters and issues are unrealistic... Whoa! That is definitely NOT the case. The issues existed then as they exist now and are in our sight always.
The setting is State of Maine, an orphanage named St. Cloud's -- Dr. Wilbur Larch, orphan Homer Wells, and the relationship of their bonding. All characters deserve and are allowed compassion enhanced with understanding. Sub-plots are woven gracefully into the story assisting the main essence of the theme. John Irving gives credence to issues in The Cider House Rules: abortion, friendship, family, love, loyalty, humor to laugh to, and tears to cry with. John Irving has ecome one of my top ten favorite authors. John Irving was born in Exeter, NH, resides in NY, and has also authored "Hotel New Hampshire" & "The World According to Garp"... and more.

Re-released to coincide with the Miramax film version of Irving's popular book, The Cider House Rules has lost none of its power to haunt.

As the world now knows Irving is both an artistic and ingenious writer as he displays in this story set some years ago in St. Cloud, a sparsely populated Maine town. At bare bones it is the life of Wilbur Leach, founder and director of an orphanage. The doctor performs abortions.

It is also the story of Homer Wells, an orphan who is never adopted.

Treat yourself again to the mesmerizing magic of John Irving.

Once again, John Irving has scored with an intriguing and heartfelt tale of love and family.

The Cider House Rules brings together the notion that family is borne of those who love us and those who accept us as we are. Homer Wells is a character of almost accidental existence--as an orphan, he stands out to those in the orphanage as different. And Homer is different. His life and his passions emerge as he grows into an independent being. Homer is the epitome of every person who's ever felt rejection. John Irving takes great care in weaving an intricate plot and bringing passion and reality into a bittersweet conclusion.

I just loved this big long book. I couldn't wait to return to it. He presents both sides of very difficult topics like abortion. I am looking forward to reading another Irving book.

You can never say the John Irving, doesn't give you your money's worth. I just finished C.H.R and I will say that it is a heavier read,and more complex than GARP, But that is not to say it wasn't grand. I have yet to find a writer who can spread words like warm butter, his sentences roll off the tongue with ease.
I haven't seen the movie yet and I will look for it now and to compare notes. I loved this novel, the characters are so vivid and real, the settings, even down to the smells are so clear in this book. It reads like a thousand page novel, but in only 600 pages. There is so much vivid and important detail that it is simple amazing. Irving is one great writer. His story's are so rich. I hope he will write more and more.

I must say, this is one of the best books of our time! John Irving knows how to grasp a reader and keep them inside a story. I could NOT put this book down. I really can't say anymore because you just need to read the book to appreciate how wonderful this book really is. It is totally worth reading and I recommend it to anyone not easily offended by abortion, loss, or some [physical] content.