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mattyvreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
What I so appreciate about this book is that each character is so layered and nuanced and complex. Characters that you love have some unavoidable fault. Characters that you hate aren’t written as cartoon villains; the audience even grows fond of some characters before we learn the depth of their cruelty.
I love the way that Irving tells a story. There is an interconnectedness between the characters he creates, even if those characters don’t know each other. Every detail feels so intentional, even something as small as a crushed mosquito on the wall. Everything is important.
Irving is so cool because writes from a pro-choice, anti-war, sexually liberated (and at least a little queer) perspective. He tackles issues of classism and racism, misogyny and abuse. He is enlightened. It is no wonder that this is such a commonly banned book. Conservatives wouldn’t be able to handle the inarguable points he makes in support of safe health care, including safe abortions for anyone that wants or needs one.
There is some dated language in the book, which makes contextual sense given the time period. There’s a little bit of casual fatphobia, but that might be expected in a novel from 1985. Still, Irving seems to land on the “correct side of history” in discussion of socioeconomic and political arguments.
Graphic: War, Dementia, Incest, Abortion, and Addiction
Moderate: Rape, Sexual violence, and Child death
melissa_cosgrove's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Abortion and Addiction
Moderate: Rape, Incest, Racism, and Child abuse
Minor: War
zzelda's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Abortion
Moderate: War, Gore, and Death
Minor: Incest and Rape
vagrantheather's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Medical content, Abortion, and Addiction
Moderate: Drug abuse, Pregnancy, Racism, and War
Minor: Incest, Infertility, and Infidelity
m1923's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: War and Abortion
Moderate: Incest and Racism
adrionmacaron's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Addiction, Blood, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Abortion, and Death
Moderate: Terminal illness, Sexual content, Sexism, Self harm, Rape, Racism, Racial slurs, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Medical trauma, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Fatphobia, Drug abuse, Death of parent, Alcohol, Abortion, Xenophobia, War, Vomit, Violence, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Infertility, Incest, Drug use, Dementia, Death, Child death, Child abuse, Blood, Alcoholism, and Addiction
balgor's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Abortion and Racial slurs
Moderate: Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Violence
Minor: War
rockettemorton's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Abortion, Addiction, Medical content, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Abandonment, Child death, Grief, Sexual content, and War
Minor: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Medical trauma, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Rape, Violence, and Vomit
jedore's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I remember loving the Cider House Rules movie, but don't remember it being like what I just read. Let's just say this book is not for the Karens of the world. 😄 Abortion, prostitution, bestiality, incest, domestic violence...this book will offend and/or trigger pretty much anyone whose mind isn't pretty wide open.
Fortunately, mine is so I truly enjoyed it. John Irving is an amazing WRITER (as opposed to just an author). He pulls you in and takes you on quite the wild ride.
His character development is top tier. Every one of the characters comes to life—I could see, hear and feel them with little effort. Being that the story is primarily character driven, I especially appreciated this aspect of his writing.
Having read this on my Kindle, I didn't realize how long it was until I started it. If you're not a speed reader, it will take you some time to read at 963 pages. I fought it a bit at first, but then settled into to a place where I savored it.
Looking forward to watching the (award winning) movie again...now I'm intrigued as to how they handled all of the super edgy content.
Graphic: War, Abandonment, Abortion, Addiction, Drug abuse, Incest, Infidelity, Medical content, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Bullying, Child death, and Racism
Minor: Rape
clemthecat's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Abortion, Medical content, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual assault, and War