The Cider House Rules (Thorndike Press Large Print Basic Series) Reviews

• recommended even though there are some flaws

  
  By A1VQEAFW83OTG9 on 2000-04-29
  If I had to write down just one phrase,describing John Irving's writing, it would have to be: he's a first rate story-teller. "The cider house rules" is the third book of his that I read, after "The world according to Garp" & "A prayer for Owen Meany". The opinion that I've formed so far, that Irving is a superb writer, hasn't changed. However, there were both good and less than good things about "The Cider house rules" which is the reason for the 3 star rating.

  First of all, John Irving has a gift when it comes to character development: he consistently describes interesting, different, strange, very original people: and he does this in such a subtle and sensitive way, that after finishing each of his books, you have the feeling you know each and every character very well. This is one of the good points of the cider house rules: Homer Wells, Melony, Dr Larch are all unique and interesting chararters...but after having read other John Irving books, the reader has come to expect characters like these, so it doesn't come so much as a surprise.

  I also liked the handling of the abortion issue: John Irving doesn't preach, he gives both sides of the story, and helps us realise how nothing is ever black or white. However, by the end of the book, his own opinion is clearly stated, but not in a "bossy" way...

  What I didn't like about the book was that first, I thought it was very slow paced and at times boring, especially after "Prayer for Owen Meany" which is much funnier & never boring. Also, I thought the end was totally predictable: you could tell, almost from the beginning what the conclusion would be. Finally, I was a little bit disappointed by some of the choices the characters made: John Irving built up an almost hero-like character (Homer Wells), a strong, talented & intelligent person...but he compromised on many levels, especially when it came to his personal life.

  Having said all this: I would still whole-heartedly recommend Cider House Rules, but I don't think it's one of the best novels by John Irving. I still haven't seen the movie & I look forward to watching Michael Caine play the part of Dr Larch.
  
  

• Very moving and superbly crafted story

  
  By AN9TLUKFAJHP8 on 2000-06-28
  You can't evaluate "The Cider House Rules" on the basis of the plot: to say that the book is about an orphan who grows up in an orphanage run by an abortionist, meets a young couple (there for an abortion), leaves with them, and falls in love with the woman, is to miss about 90 percent of what makes the book special.

  I've only read one other book by John Irving ("The Hotel New Hampshire"), but it seems to be the case that his novels are so incredibly character-driven. As you read the books, you get the sense that he is so attuned to the people who populate his world that he could write novels centered on any of them.

  Now, you are probably aware that the book is somewhat about abortion. Indeed, Irving clearly has a point to make about the pro-choice vs. pro-life debate, and it's pretty clear which side he's on. But at the same time, to say that the book is "about" abortion is like saying that "Casablanca" is about World War 2. Clearly, abortion is inextricably intertwined with the plot and the characters, but the novel is not about abortion; rather, it's about characters who have to make life decisions, including about abortion.

  One final note: for better or worse, I tend not to have much patience for "literature." I've read some Dickens, but would never do so for fun. My idea of great literature is "Cryptonomicon" by Neal Stephenson. But . . . I absolutely loved reading "The Cider House Rules" and I was never bored.
  
  

• I wish I could give it more than five stars.....

  
  By A2SI0H15MQECCI on 2000-01-04
  I just finished this book last night and can honestly say that I loved every single page. It was so interesting and entertaining to read that I could read twenty pages and not even remember turning one! These are my favorite kinds of novels: ones where you debate whether to spend much of each day reading because you can't wait to see what happens next or whether to slow down because you already know that you'll be sad once the book is through. I'm happy with how long it took me to read this book, but I'm still sad that it is over.

  I've never gotten to know the characters in a book the way that Irving allows the reader to know them. I read some reviews on Amazon.com that claimed that the book was not good because the characters were unrealistic-- I whole-heartedly disagree. Even characters that Irving could have gotten away with making one-dimensional were anything but. I think of the stationmaster who lived near St. Clouds and, without giving anything away, I will say that he had some quirks and fears that did seem a little extreme to me in the beginning. However, Irving adds background to ALL of the characters, and invites the reader to understand their traits as they would a friend. In this way, there are no bad guys or good guys in the novel-- everyone is allowed compassion and understanding. Beyond creating an interesting story, this shows that everyone that one encounters in their life has an important story behind who they are.

  John Irving also weaves different issues into The Cider House Rules: abortion, friendship, family, love (especially the importance of love to a child and to a partner). And, in addition to weaving these themes and issues into the story, Irving always has different sub plots going on in different settings.

  I can't say enough about this book-- It is rare that I read a novel that makes me laugh to myself or even tear a little at certain parts (I hate when people say 'I laughed out loud! I cried!' because that doesn't really happen, does it? I miss reading The Cider House Rules and I miss the characters that I got to know like good friends. If I were to see Homer Wells again, I would say to him (like an old friend) 'Homer, I missed you' to which he would reply, 'Right,' because that's what he always says. I know, because we're friends.

  Read The Cider House Rules-- John Irving has now become my favorite author. I love him so much that I just went to a nearby used bookstore and bought six more of his books. Next on my list is The World According to Garp... I can't wait.
  
  

• A Good Book by a Wonderful Writer- but no Water-Method Man

  
  By A1GEM4VWJUU47P on 2000-01-17
  John Irving, for my money, is one of the top two or three American storytellers of our time. Like Dickens, his literary hero, Irving is always concerned with his readers' well-being. His novels range from the sublime (The World According to Garp) to the mediocre (The 158-Pound Marriage), but even the weakest are entertaining.

  The Cider House Rules falls beneath sublime but well above mediocre. The characters are engaging (it would be a mean reader indeed who did not root for the protagonist, Homer Wells) and the plot meanders about pleasantly. Sometimes the tearful moments seem too easy-- nobody can stay dry-eyed when a cute little orphan keels over-- but the book bravely explores the complexities of love and abortion without preaching for any particular side.

  It's a good book but if you're looking for vintage Irving, head for the classics: The World According to Garp and The Hotel New Hampshire. Or track down my personal favorite, The Water-Method Man, which remains to this day the funniest book I've ever read (with the possible exception of J.P. Donleavy's The Ginger Man).
  
  

• A thoughtful exploration of the idea of "rules"

  
  By A2LNLRSOBMVTL8 on 2000-01-11
  It amazes me how Irving can broach topics like adoption, abortion, love, faithfulness, etc. with such empathy and balance. This is the only discussion I've ever encountered of abortion, pro or con, that zeroed in on the core issue, then explored both sides of it in such an enlightening manner. And although abortion is a major theme in this novel, it's not what the book is about--it's just a way of discussing the overall theme--rules. It doesn't matter whether you're liberal, conservative, or somewhere in between. Irving will make you think, and give you a chance to question and refine some of your own views, while at the same time read a very engaging story that provokes and entertains from beginning to end.
  
  
• not what i thought i was getting into...
  By A1S9L08ZZZ0K3F on 1999-11-04
  Cider House Rules was recommended to me by a Sociology professor as a good book on abortion. It wasn't until about 3 years later that I actually checked a rag-tag copy out of the Boston Public Library.
  
  I am a well-informed young woman (age 24) who, after considering all the facts I have studied, am proud to be pro-life. When I started this book, I found it to be a moving testimony to the tragedy of abortion. The doctor who performs them abuses inhalants, suggesting that he must distance himself from "the Lord's work," as he refers to abortions. How ironic, I thought, that he loves Homer so much, whom he could have easily scraped from the womb with his tools. I never thought Homer would get involved with abortion-- hadn't he thought about how lucky he was that his own mother had gone to St. Cloud's to give birth? At the end, Homer has replaced the Doctor. He does not abuse ether, but must take on a new, false identity to perform his duty as the new abortionist-- so he "loses himself" as well.
  
  I am not sorry I read this book. All the reviewers are correct when they say that Irving's style is fascinating and a real page-turner. And it is good to examine the causes that makes women seek abortions so that hopefully we can help them before they get to that desperate point. But my thoughts keep returning to the fetus Homer finds with its arms outstretched, as if beseeching Homer for help that it will not find.
  
  I wouldn't say don't read it-- but I do question weather abortion is the convenient, compassionate fix-it that this book seems to indicate.
  
  
• All about choices
  By A331LOXJBT4ZH0 on 2000-02-17
  This was the first John Irving novel I ever read, back in 1989. I quickly read everything he'd had published, and aside from A Prayer for Owen Meany, this was my favorite. When you read an author's entire catalog in one sitting, you notice their habits and literary devices, and John Irving, while one of my favorite writers, had a tendency to make use of the same images over and over again (dressmaker's dummies, old men with bears and old cars with rusted out floors, etc.). However, Cider House was refreshingly free of those repetitive images, and decidedly different. It skillfully looks at issues ranging from abortion to the conditions of migrant farm workers to fidelity, while all of them are tied together by the single theme of making choices. Every choice made by every character in this novel has repercussions, and it is a mark of the excellent writing that you never feel you're being beaten over the head by the outcomes. I've not seen the movie, so I can't compare it, but if you're looking for a good book, you'll find one here.
  
  
• Bravo, Mr. Irving! A true masterpiece.
  By A3VL6RDNBZCPHS on 2000-03-21
  This book kept me up until 5:00 in the morning and left me teary-eyed. I LOVED this book! I read 'Garp' more than 15 years ago and always considered it one of my favorite works of fiction. I have been in something of a literary coma of late and I have been reading mostly non-fiction (too many years in 'gradual' school). 'Cider House' has reawakened me, and has inspired me to read more works by Irving. I was deeply moved by the relationship between Dr. Larch and Homer in particular. None of the relationships in this book are easy to define. You won't find your typical father, son, or lover here. That's what makes this book so compelling. Similarly the issues raised are not so easily categorized as black or white, abortion being the most obvious one here. The point is not so much whether you are pro-this or anti-that, rather the danger (or futility) arises when you try to impose your beliefs, morals, or definitions on others. This book makes a compelling case against our all too human tendency to do so.

  This book is anything but boring. And it pays homage to our beloved New England. What could be wrong about that?
  
  

• Wonderful
  By ASB1IE1F2KLG5 on 2000-02-16
  I recently went with a friend of mine to see this movie in the theatre. At the time I knew basically nothing about the movie but decided to tag along with her anyway. I really enjoyed the movie and when I found out that it was based on a book I purchased it immediately. This was my first case of seeing a movie and then reading the book. Normally I do this the other way around and feel dissapointed. This book had me mesmerized. I carried it with me everywhere in case there was a spare moment where I might be able to read just a little bit more. The movie's depiction of the character Candy didn't do her justice. I was irritated with her during the film but loved her in the book. Anyone who has seen this movie but not yet read the book must do so. The book is so exciting because having seen the movie, you think you know what will happen but you really dont! There are many wonderful surprises. I now almost wish I hadn't devoured the book so quickly because I miss it. Savor this one.
  
  
• No words to express my feelings...
  By ADNOKJ742Z1GD on 2000-02-18
  May be because english is not my mother tongue... Anyway, I remember reading Cider House Rules 5 or 6 years ago during a couple of nights. Today I'm just amazed figuring out how deep in my mind CHR's characters are carved in. I don't know how to explain this, maybe simply because Irving's books convey pure LOVE, WISDOM and HUMOR. Would you have THE CHANCE not having read this book YET, just let me know how much I envy you to have the opportunity to experience such a heart/mind moving experience...
  
  
• Excellent modern Dickensian novel
  By A33872WCAUCJ60 on 2000-03-16
  In "The Cider House Rules", author John Irving weaves an engrossing and thought-provoking story of morality, choice, and responsibility. Using the story of orphan Homer Wells (a true "stranger in a strange land") to illustrate personal choice versus public responsibility (focused mostly on the issue of abortion), Irving introduces us to complex, three dimensional characters whose choices may not be the best, but are understandable and realistic. Well-balanced in the controversial areas, this is an uplifting novel that intertwines Dickens, "Jane Eyre", and medical terminology to illustrate the impact one individual -- or in this case, two: Homer Wells and Dr. Larch -- can have on countless people. I cried several times, because I came to care for these characters, even if I didn't always agree with them. The use of real historical events only adds to the imaginary world that Irving masterfully creates. I highly recommend it!
  
  
• Very Well Written!
  By on 2000-01-25
  This book was very intriguing, and very well written. It dealt with how hard it can be for someone to love both the men and her life and to have to choose. It also deals with an older doctor who runs a orphan and an abortion clinic at the same time; he has a hard time expressing his love for a young man who eventually leaves, and also deals with an ether addiction he's had for most of his life. It is a great book and I'd recommend it to most people. Although I think it would better suit older teenagers and adults, just to understand the entire thing.
  
  
• A Definite Must-Read!
  By A2MPROQMND1QR4 on 2000-01-05
  This is one of those books that you don't want to stop reading. I would be falling asleep at 4:30AM and still finding myself reading on into the next chapter. After you do finish it (its 500+ pages flew by in 3 days), you find yourself missing it and wishing you had drawn out the pleasure of reading such an excellent novel. The characters, both "good" and "bad" step right off the page and into your heart. The ending, although a bit predictable, is exactly how you secretly want it to end. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes stories about people. Action-packed it may not be, although the story never lags. The real beauty is in the characters and Irving's colorful descriptions of their lives and relationships. I can't wait to see the movie, although I'm sure it will disappoint after this incredible book.
  
  
• A Great Book for Everyone
  By A3KT4GTI3U26TA on 2000-04-10
  Once I picked up this book, I couldn't put it down, reading whenever and wherever I had a spare moment. The book was one of the best I have ever read. Irving had a way of writing a story within a story, his orphans Homer and Melony living out the lives of Jane Eyre and David Copperfield. It was an amazing book that tore at your heartstrings, questioning pro-life or pro-choice, the fairness of being left an orphan, the ups and downs of love, family bonds, and loyalties. We watched as St. Cloud survived the ages and the strength of Dr. Larch's convictions, and his undying, strong love for his young protege, Homer Wells. We watched the love triangle between Homer, Candy Kendall, and Wally Worthington unfold over the span of fifteen years. But most of all, through the actions of the characters, we learned a little bit about ourselves. By the end of the book, I was hoping for more. This book is a must-read for anyone.
  
  
• A Total Ether, St. Clouds' Experience!
  By AWEOR1WZSMBEZ on 2000-01-31
  Society, like the cider house, has rules set by people, rules supposedly followed obediently, rules that are guidelines to one's behavior & decision making. But society, like the people living in St. Clouds' & in Oceanview, tend to make their own rules in their daily lives --- not necessarily in conformity with the society's norms but not necessarily wrong either. It only clearly shows that life is not entirely black or white, right or wrong. Somehow, somewhere, compromises are made to make things right for some lost souls.
  
  
• Dumb Gets Dumber
  By on 2000-03-27
  "Cider House Rules" is a sloppy, unorganized mess of a book, filled with utterly unbelievable comic book characters in a pretentiously self-described "Dickensian" fable that is flatly contradictory when it isn't completely meaningless. The story, of a sociopath abortionist and the orphan he loves (whom, by the way, the abortionist would have gladly killed if the mother had simply asked), is told without a single moment that approximates the life of any human being who has ever breathed. The characters are pathetically one-dimensional (if that), and never become more than the simplest kind of sketch. In fact, this seems to be the point. Irving is almost daring us to believe that any of these characters (the word has never found a better home) could have existed. In fact, they could only exist in the imagination of the world's noisiest pre-adolescent -- i.e., Irving himself. The Irving-penned screenplay just won an Oscar, which means that he completely rewrote this hash for the movie, or the Academy is filled with ignorant dolts. You choose.
  
  
• Almost no comparison....
  By A29HD4O6FXG9UT on 2000-03-21
  John Irving has done it again. Wow. What I loved about this book was the suspense. And the tension. The only book I've ever read that I thought had more suspense and tension than this one was "One of the Guys" by Robert Clark Young. To which Irving was compared on the dust jacket. But I would have to say this Irving novel is right up there!
  
  
• Thought-provoking and real
  By A317CUPDD6NKJN on 2000-04-27
  John Irving has this incredible ability to create complex, interesting characters and place them in the most unusual situations. I was completely fascinated by this book. From the perennial orphan Homer, to the misnamed Melony, to the ether-addicted and opinionated Dr. Larch, all of the characters were very real and very different. You understand their motivations and emotions, even if you don't always agree with them.

  One thing that I really liked about this book is that although it dealt with many important social issues (such as abortion and racism), it was never preachy. Rather than coming right out and blatantly stating his opinions, Irving skillfully weaves the issues into the plot for the reader to interpret.

  I have not yet seen the movie, and after reading the book I'm not quite sure that I want to because I know that the complexity of the plot and characters can in no way be expressed in a few hours of film. I would definitely recommend this book.
  
  

• If only the nurses could name this review...
  By A26AZL504ZKUN2 on 2000-12-23
  I began reading this novel on the recommendation of one of my education professors, which I find rather ironic, considering the main character of this book received very little formal education. This book has many strengths, the first being its approach to the issue of abortion. John Irving presents a character against abortion (Homer Wells), who also happens to be an orphan.

  Over the course of Homer Wells' life, he never changes his mind about whether abortion is right or wrong. In fact, Homer dislikes it very much. He believes that the fetus has a soul. But the issue, of course, is not about whether it is right or wrong; the issue is about the lack of choice desperate women are left to face on their own. The worst, and most heart-wrenching of these desperate women, is Irving's character Rose. She is pregnant, and the baby is her father's. It is difficult for anyone to believe that this young, destitute girl should be denied an abortion. Earlier in the novel, we see the other end of the spectrum, when Dr. Larch is invited to a wealthy family's house. There, after dinner, he is asked to give one of the girls an abortion. Everything is prepared for him-- right down to the chloroform. It is clear that the rich have the choice, and the poor are the most sharply impacted by anti-abortion laws. In the end, Homer Wells decides that he must return to St. Cloud's, the orphanage where he grew up, and that he must make safe abortions available to women as long as women's choices are so severely limited. Irving presents Dr. Larch's and Homer's encounters with pregnant women who seek dangerous abortions several times throughout the novel. Some make it to St. Cloud's, or the hospital, and can be saved. Others cannot. Throughout the book, women are severely manhandled by the people who offer dangerous, expensive abortions. Like the Roe vs. Wade decision, I think that Homer Wells makes his final choice based on the evidence of the dangerous lengths women will go to in order to terminate a pregnancy.

  Of course, there is much more to this book than the abortion issue. The characters are interesting, but I can honestly say that I despised most of them. Dr. Larch has a bit more substance than most, and Homer's son, Angel, is easy to love. Few reviews have focused on Melony, a particularly desolate character, who readers mourn practically from the day she is born. A more accurate look at an orphan can probably be witnessed through her description. She is thoroughly angry, and why shouldn't she be? She is violent, abused, and almost completely unloved. Her character, I thought, was the most interesting to watch unfold. This book is an excellent read for people interested in the abortion issue, particularly men. At times, I admit, the book is a little tedious, but something surprising always happens and recaptures the reader's interest. Whatever you do, don't see the movie! It barely followed the book, and it wasn't exactly what I would describe as an Oscar caliber performance.
  
  

• a delightful Irving novel, but not his best effort
  By A29NUB3P6YIWZG on 2000-02-14
  Plainly put, John Irving writes delightful fiction. His characters are interesting (and quirky), and invariably he finds something funny about everyday people, places and things. The Cider House Rules has all this. It also has a way of disarming the very contentious abortion/pro-life issue without taking itself too seriously.

  However for John Irving newbies I suggest proceeding directly to Owen Meany. That (later) work of Irving is much more moving, and is considered by many to be his masterpiece.
  
  

• Best Book I Read In '99
  By A8WX6M9VK4EXR on 1999-12-28
  This is only the second book I've read by Irving and it is obvious why he stands out as an outstanding writer. His characters are wonderfully developed and he has the ability to make you feel as if you're going through all that his characters are. The picture he gives of the orphans looking out the window watching the adoptive parents arrive is heartbreaking. I finished this book about a week ago and I miss Homer already.
  
  
• Irving is Required Reading For Life
  By A6OA3FWC9LOXZ on 1999-07-21
  Last night I stayed up until 4:30 finishing the epic John Irving novel, "The Cider House Rules." When you read a John Irving novel, you hold life in your hands. When I finished the book, last night, I held something dead---the story was over, and the characters that I had gone through so much with, would no longer experience something new. I would contend that John Irving creates more realistic characters than any other novelist I've read; so much so, that I will remember these characters (and the characters from "Garp") as if I were remembering real people.

  Often, when I finish a book, I question what it has done for me. The problem I had with Thomas Harris' "Red Dragon" (which I read before this), is that although the storytelling was brilliant, it left me feeling cold and disturbed. "Cider House" and "Garp" left me feeling full, and excited about life, and aware of the framework that exists in the world. John Irving so often pulls back from his characters, telling you how they die or how they were born, that you often feel the impulse to view your own life that way. You too will have an ending. But before you do, I strongly suggest that you read a John Irving novel. Either "The World According to Garp," "The Cider House Rules," or (the Irving book I will read next) "A Prayer For Owen Meany" (which many contend is his best).

  I loved "The Cider House Rules," and I'm sad that it's over. I might even say that "Cider House" will stay with me for a long time, to which Homer Wells might reply: "right."
  
  

• What is isn't what always what's right
  By A2PE4RK5TWXIJ8 on 1999-12-14
  I am reading TCHR for the 2nd time (before I see the movie) and I have been reawakened to the wonderfully layered characterizations and world of John Irving's Maine.

  This book is one of the most meaningful pieces of fiction I have ever read.

  Abortion (and its 'rightness or wrongness') is just a piece of the story. Even though I am for choice, I recommended the book to friend who is staunchly against abortion. We both loved it.

  The story is about the choices and rules we set for ourselves and how they, occasionally, conflict with the ones we actually follow.

  Most readers can identify at some level with this and feel sad and redeemed at the same time.
  
  

• Reading Group Pick- Martha's & Alice's "Notes in the Margin"
  By A1Y5J75LTB5DM0 on 2000-07-27
  John Irving was born in 1942 in Exeter, NH. He is married and has three sons; he lives in Toronto and in southern Vermont. In "For the Love of books" Irving said that "Great Expectations" was the novel that made him want to be a novelist- specifically to move a reader as he was moved then. He went on to say that in addition to Dickens his other heroes include Gunter Grass and Robertson Davies.

  Each of Irving's characters break conventional rules and each has to work out for themselves which rules are to be followed. Irving wraps his story all around this title and ties his characters up in knots with it. Your reading group could discuss whether by the end of the novel the characters regret breaking any of the rules or whether they believe there are highter rules. Do the characters suffer remorse in breaking rules?

  Just as the nurses at St. Cloud's pondered each child's name and saw meaning in each name, Irving christened each of his characters with a name that can tell the reader something important. Orphan Homer Wells only needed his name until he returned home. Candy was a treat that couldn't be resisted anymore than the orphans could resist the honey she brought to the orphanage. Your reading group could devote an entire meeting to this cast of characters where a rose is a rose, Melony is not a melody and Wally's mother, Olive, labors under the weight of her own olive branch.

  There are two powerfully symbolic settings in this novel which your group could discuss along with the symbolism of water, floating, flying, safe lodging, shared reading or the Canada lynx which could not find a purchase on the crusted snow outside the orphanage.

  There were a number of interesting words to add to our compendium or interesting words but our favorite was: "Caul"- A membrane that is usually ruptured and expelled at the onset of labor. Irving noted in his notes at the back of the novel that in Dickens' time being born with a caul was a sign that a child would be lucky and specifically would not be drown.

  Selecting one favorite quote was challenging but we thought this one spoke volumes: "Dr. Larch pointed out that Melony had taken "Jane Eyre" with her, he accepted this as a hopeful sign-wherever Melony went, she would not be without some guidance, she would not be without Love, without faith; she had a good book with her. If only she'll keep reading it, and reading it."

  With the "Cider House Rules" your Reading Group will not be without some guidance; you will have a good book with you.
  
  

• Breakin' the Rules
  By A1OPQI914BQGKJ on 2000-10-10
  It took awhile for the theme of the book to emerge, and of course, that theme is RULES, and operating outside them. The first 200 pages are devoted to the rules that surround St Cloud's orphanage/abortion clinic. A couple hundred pages later, we hear protagonist Homer Wells vocalize that theme: "For fifteen years, Homer Wells knew that there were possibly as many cider house rules as there were people who had passed through the cider house. . ." and by extension, as many rules as society wishes(or dares) to impose.

  Only by creating such skillfully drawn characters, does Irving keep the reader's interest during the 200 page exposition. But by that time readers have been successfully hooked, and you couldn't put the book down if you wanted to. At least I couldn't.

  How could the author make me feel empathy for a man who would give a child a phony heart condition? But he managed to do it by appealing, I suppose to the love in all of us that will go to any lengths to protect our children.

  The point the author keeps hammering home is that society makes rules for orphans, rules for marriage, rules for family relationships, and even rules for the conduct of cider house employees, and yet people continue to play outside those rules, ignoring the consequences that must be borne for such behavior.

  Rarely, does a book force me to go back and re-read parts of it, but this one did. I place it up there among the great books. I am only afraid now to see the movie, knowing what a let-down that usually is.
  
  

• Fiction at its best
  By on 2000-03-09
  When I saw the length of the book, I really thought it was going to be a boring, slow moving book. However, after I started reading it, I became wrapped up in the characters and although I didn't agree with the viewpoint Dr. Larch on abortion I was pleased to see that Homer Wells shared my opinion and even though he ends up doing God's work and the devil's work, I could see myself doing the same. The end was a perhaps hurried and cliche' but not enough to make me reduce my rating. All in all, delightful and very entertaining.
  
  
• The Cider House rules
  By AWMO2TY49FEG2 on 2000-03-18
  This book touched on many different personal issuse that people face today. Such as abortion, incest,and the power of love. The book takes place in a orphanage on the coast of Maine during the 1920 to world war one. The main charchters are Dr. larch and a boy named Homer Wells. The book tells the story of these two men and how they grow over time and how they learn the ture meaning of what it is to be a family. I found this to be one of the best books I have ever read, and the fact that John Irving was able to add humor to such serious topics was even better. Even though John Irving seems to go off the point at some times. He stills is able to get his themes across
  
  
• Pro-Choice Classic
  By A2GD6S1AUK5BHN on 2000-02-28
  I'm pro-choice because my working-class family lost my grandmother's sister to a backstreet abortion during the thirties, and my mother is named after her. I loved this book because it captures the stories of women who lived through that dark period of western history. I liked the deeply human characterisation of Doctor Larch, flaws and all, and I found it interesting that Homer changed his mind at the end when his anti- abortion viewpoints collided with reality.

  I'm glad that some anti-abortion readers liked the fact that the book was well-written, which it is. I can't wait for the movie, either.
  
  

• A truly enjoyable book
  By A39BAS6VFE2L5L on 2000-09-07
  I am a new fan of John Irving, having been introduced to his work by watching the movie version of "The Cider House Rules." Having seen the movie before reading the book, I was prepared to be disappointed by the differences between them, but I found instead that Irving's book is much more meaty than the movie, more human and more complicated than the movie could ever have hoped to be. The movie is still very good, but the book is much more than good.

  Dr. Wilbur Larch is a truly interesting character, and Michael Caine was a perfect cast in the movie. Irving's character development is most obvious in the two main characters, Larch and Homer Wells, especially his use of catchphrases and mantras specific to personalities in his works. Larch is enigmatic to the point of frustration, subverting his desires and needs to those of "the children" from the first page to the last. His ether addiction is never excused nor celebrated, as is the subject of abortion throughout the story.

  Homer Wells is another exciting character for Irving. Here we have a conflicted man, a human being, living with lies and half-truths his entire life, breaking "the rules" while expecting others to live by them in their own circumstances. The movie version paints a much different picture of Homer Wells; in the novel, Homer is much more complete and MUCH more frustrating.

  THE CIDER HOUSE RULES was a great read for me, a book I devoured in a week without much effort on my part. This is a good American story, and I would recommend it to anyone looking for an honest novel about real, conflicted, complicated people.
  
  

• Survey of Life in the Narrative
  By A19CA56CK7Z05R on 2000-08-14
  "The Cider House Rules" is the first book by John Irving that I've read. For far too long I failed to listen to the opinions of others, who lauded him as one of the best and most interesting writers of our time. When I picked up the book as required reading for my first year in college, I was completely struck by the brilliance of the author's characterizations. As Hemmingway took hours thinking of the exact words to put down on paper, John Irving must have taken great time and care populating the various towns and cities of Maine. All the references as to the source of his knowledge of medical terminology and methodology shows how committed he is to conjuring up a world that, while fantastical, demands serious consideration.

  This book is for almost everybody. Abortion and the various philosophies concerning the viability of its ethical use is quite obviously a major theme. The gritty details, the chillingly neutral descriptions, and most heated of emotions that burst out of the characters give the reader an opportunity to consider his or her own beliefs, whether "pro-choice" or "pro-life." However, there are many other topics to be considered such as the definition of family, family life, and family values. All three terms are thrown around casually in the sociopolitical arena, but the characters in Irving's novel, like in real life, must deal with them every day; few have a consistent belief throughout their entire lives as growth (yet another but lesser theme) influences their minds. Life in many ways is unstable, for the young and old, and the various metamorphoses undergone by the characters are what made the book really endearing to my heart. Not all things are as they appear, character traits in one human may change over the course of her or his life independently of each other. It is difficult to define heroism and villainy, although we all too easily characterize others as such. Unfortunately one frequently cannot put a person in one category or the other as Harold Bloom might with Shakespeare's cast of characters where one is either "good" or "evil," important and non-essential. "The Cider House Rules" shows us how one may analyze another piece by piece when determining "moral purity" (if the so-called judge has any real right to do so in the first place).

  Tolerance and understanding reign triumphant in this novel, in which one sees all colors of the world's palette. "Agree to disagree" and move on with life. Spending too much time not doing so often seems to harm others, even complete strangers, that one may not even have considered; and therein lies the tragedy.
  
  

• The World According to Garp (Modern Library)
• A Prayer for Owen Meany (Modern Library)
• The Hotel New Hampshire (Ballantine Reader's Circle)
• The Cider House Rules (Miramax Collector's Series)
• The Red Tent: A Novel