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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
I like the characters, and the storyline progresses naturally. For some reasons i couldn't sit down to read it for a long time, i read it in several short intervals, and it correlated with the storyline, really feeling the passage of time. At times, the plot seemed stretched out unnecessarily, but still, i really enjoyed it. I got the book second hand for 2euros. :D
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Here's what you need to know about John Irving's work: Vienna, wrestling, New England, bears. Don't believe me? Check his wikipedia entry under recurring themes. The thing is, he keeps putting those limited ideas together in newly engaging ways. Until he doesn't -- and here he doesn't. You can skip The Fourth Hand, too. I read it so you don't have to.
In what I am told is an Irving trait, this novel is told in an epic 3 part series spanning approximately 40 years of Ruth Cole's life.
In the first part (which was adapted for the screenplay for 'The Door in the Floor') The story opens when, Ruth Cole at 4 years old, is awakened by the sounds of her mother making-love with her husband's 16 year old writing assistant. A young man who happens to resemble her deceased eldest son Thomas.
Thus we are introduced to the dysfunctional family Cole of A Widow For One Year . Crippled by the death of their two boys, Ted and Marion Cole cannot seem to return to life. Father Ted, a children's book author, finds solace in drinking and the utter degradation of women who find him at first charming. Mother Marion, however, finds no solace and becomes a zombie unable to bond with youngest daughter Ruth.
Leaving them all behind Marion disappears into parts unknown, leaving Ted as Ruths most stable role model.
The second third is Ruth as an adult writer of fiction with an unsurprising distrust of men.
The culminating third of the novel focuses on Ruth in her 40's a widow and young mother about to fall in love for the first time in her life.
This book touched me deeply. The characters were written so expertly that there was sympathy and forgiveness for them as human beings. The descriptions of the books written by all the members of the Cole family were also so well done that they could have been real books. I grieve that I won't ever find Ruth or Ted Cole on the shelves. And the photographs! Spellbinding!
In the first part (which was adapted for the screenplay for 'The Door in the Floor') The story opens when, Ruth Cole at 4 years old, is awakened by the sounds of her mother making-love with her husband's 16 year old writing assistant. A young man who happens to resemble her deceased eldest son Thomas.
Thus we are introduced to the dysfunctional family Cole of A Widow For One Year . Crippled by the death of their two boys, Ted and Marion Cole cannot seem to return to life. Father Ted, a children's book author, finds solace in drinking and the utter degradation of women who find him at first charming. Mother Marion, however, finds no solace and becomes a zombie unable to bond with youngest daughter Ruth.
Leaving them all behind Marion disappears into parts unknown, leaving Ted as Ruths most stable role model.
The second third is Ruth as an adult writer of fiction with an unsurprising distrust of men.
The culminating third of the novel focuses on Ruth in her 40's a widow and young mother about to fall in love for the first time in her life.
This book touched me deeply. The characters were written so expertly that there was sympathy and forgiveness for them as human beings. The descriptions of the books written by all the members of the Cole family were also so well done that they could have been real books. I grieve that I won't ever find Ruth or Ted Cole on the shelves. And the photographs! Spellbinding!
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
fast-paced
I enjoyed this but not as much as The World According to Garp, The Cider House Rules and A Prayer for Owen Meany. I really love John Irving's perverse sense of humor.
loved this book. i have a hard time deciding if this or cider house is my fav irving book.
My Official Favorite Book Of All Time! It's poignant, raunchy, funny, and really moving. Read it. NOW!!!