Scan barcode
katykelly's review against another edition
4.0
One of those listed 'must read' titles. Glad I did, but it was a long'un.
This felt overlong, the story was more slight than the running length, but as I was listening to this as a new audiobook version, I didn't mind as it helped pass long drives and walks. The narrator managed the voices of several very old and young character, male and female, well, without their own gender and age intruding on the listener.
With two main characters, the first part mainly gives us the life of Dr Wilbur Larch, abortionist, while the rest is more on his protege and surrogate son, Homer Wells (almost always referred to by his full name).
Over two generations, Larch and Wells both live and work at an orphanage. Women unable to care for their children leave them there, or beg for abortions (illegal operations at the time). Homer Wells is one such child, and grows up bounced around at less-than-happy foster homes, meaning he is raised with Larch and under his medical supervision. Later leaving the small world of his childhood, his journey brings him full circle back to his childhood ‘home’.
Some memorable characters, the time and place is quite strongly portrayed and easy to picture, there's a lot of poverty, hardship and pain. But there's also a good dose of love. Strong themes, which may upset, but I thought they were handled realistically.
Glad I’ve read it, but I’m also glad it was an audiobook that I could follow while doing other things. Ponderous in places.
With thanks to Nudge Books for providing a sample Audible copy of this new edition.
This felt overlong, the story was more slight than the running length, but as I was listening to this as a new audiobook version, I didn't mind as it helped pass long drives and walks. The narrator managed the voices of several very old and young character, male and female, well, without their own gender and age intruding on the listener.
With two main characters, the first part mainly gives us the life of Dr Wilbur Larch, abortionist, while the rest is more on his protege and surrogate son, Homer Wells (almost always referred to by his full name).
Over two generations, Larch and Wells both live and work at an orphanage. Women unable to care for their children leave them there, or beg for abortions (illegal operations at the time). Homer Wells is one such child, and grows up bounced around at less-than-happy foster homes, meaning he is raised with Larch and under his medical supervision. Later leaving the small world of his childhood, his journey brings him full circle back to his childhood ‘home’.
Some memorable characters, the time and place is quite strongly portrayed and easy to picture, there's a lot of poverty, hardship and pain. But there's also a good dose of love. Strong themes, which may upset, but I thought they were handled realistically.
Glad I’ve read it, but I’m also glad it was an audiobook that I could follow while doing other things. Ponderous in places.
With thanks to Nudge Books for providing a sample Audible copy of this new edition.
book_concierge's review
4.0
Digital audiobook performed by Grover Gardner
From the book jacket: Irving’s sixth novel is set in rural Maine, in the first half of the 20th century. It tells the story of Dr Wilbur Larch – saint and obstetrician, founder and director of the orphanage in the town of St Cloud’s, ether addict and abortionist. It is also the story of Dr Larch’s favorite orphan, Homer Wells, who is never adopted.
My reactions
I love Irving’s writing, and don’t know why this one languished on my TBR for so long. I saw the movie back when it first came out (1999), but never read the book. The movie left out a lot and compressed the timeline.
The span of the novel is about 70 years, taking Dr Larch from a young man to his death in his 90s. Much changes in the world, and yet his little corner of the world sees little difference. Pregnant women come to give birth, their children coming into the care of the orphanage, with every effort made to place them in loving families. Other women come seeking an end to their pregnancies, and Dr Larch accommodates them with compassion and skill.
What I really like about the novel is how the characters are portrayed. The reader gets a clear idea of how Dr Larch came to his decision to perform abortions, the social and moral responsibility he felt he owed the women (and girls) who came to him for help. The reader also clearly understands why Homer makes a different decision, how he struggles to love this man who is like a father to him, once he makes that decision. And the reader watches the painful separation that all parents face when they send their offspring out into the world to make their own way. How a parent’s hopes and dreams may not always be embraced by that child.
Grover Gardner does a fine job narrating the audiobook. He sets a good pace and manages to differentiate the many characters.
From the book jacket: Irving’s sixth novel is set in rural Maine, in the first half of the 20th century. It tells the story of Dr Wilbur Larch – saint and obstetrician, founder and director of the orphanage in the town of St Cloud’s, ether addict and abortionist. It is also the story of Dr Larch’s favorite orphan, Homer Wells, who is never adopted.
My reactions
I love Irving’s writing, and don’t know why this one languished on my TBR for so long. I saw the movie back when it first came out (1999), but never read the book. The movie left out a lot and compressed the timeline.
The span of the novel is about 70 years, taking Dr Larch from a young man to his death in his 90s. Much changes in the world, and yet his little corner of the world sees little difference. Pregnant women come to give birth, their children coming into the care of the orphanage, with every effort made to place them in loving families. Other women come seeking an end to their pregnancies, and Dr Larch accommodates them with compassion and skill.
What I really like about the novel is how the characters are portrayed. The reader gets a clear idea of how Dr Larch came to his decision to perform abortions, the social and moral responsibility he felt he owed the women (and girls) who came to him for help. The reader also clearly understands why Homer makes a different decision, how he struggles to love this man who is like a father to him, once he makes that decision. And the reader watches the painful separation that all parents face when they send their offspring out into the world to make their own way. How a parent’s hopes and dreams may not always be embraced by that child.
Grover Gardner does a fine job narrating the audiobook. He sets a good pace and manages to differentiate the many characters.
robynedexter's review
3.0
The pro: absolutely exceptional character development
The con: 50+ page chapters
Overall, enjoyed it. Just didn't enjoy how long it took me to get through.
The con: 50+ page chapters
Overall, enjoyed it. Just didn't enjoy how long it took me to get through.
ingeborg_frey's review against another edition
Kjedelig og uforutsigbar. Altfor lang.
alex_watkins's review against another edition
4.0
This book is probably the least strange John irving book, which of course mean all manner of effed up shit still happens. Also not sure about the title, why is it called the cider house rules, I know that they show up, but I'm not sure I got the deep meaning of them that justified the title. Like when the cider house rules show up, I'm like better pay attention this is important, it's the freaking title, but then they aren't. I always just assumed the title referred to something abou the orphanage but I was wrong. I found the jump forward in time very jarring, and pretty depressing, really the second act of the book is just like life is a compromise where you never amount to what you thought you would, the end.
melanie1022's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
ursa_minor's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
kaceyp14's review against another edition
5.0
Well, I've had 20p to go for about a week...it's one of those books that I just can't make myself finish, b/c then it will be done. You know that kind of book. :)
I picked this up not knowing that it was about abortion-I just had heard it was 'good'. I've always been pro-choice, but reading this gives me solid reasoning behind my beliefs that I didn't even know I had.
And beyond that theme, great writing, great characters, great everything. Love the book.
I picked this up not knowing that it was about abortion-I just had heard it was 'good'. I've always been pro-choice, but reading this gives me solid reasoning behind my beliefs that I didn't even know I had.
And beyond that theme, great writing, great characters, great everything. Love the book.
kassiopeia8's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
Irgendwie entsteht die ganze Zeit nicht so richtig eine Handlung, es plätschert nur so dahin. Und die mangelnden Aussprachen zwischen den Figuren hinterlassen einen unbefriedigt
casspro's review against another edition
3.0
I think I only read about half of this novel, but what I remember was enjoyable. Irving has a way of tugging at your heartstrings and what better way to do so then to mix a kindly older doctor with a bad drug problem, a loveable orphan, and a abortion clinic?