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bittersweet_symphony's review against another edition
2.0
This may be the last John Irving book I read for a while. He is my favorite author, one who inspired me to become a writer myself. A Prayer for Owen Meany, Cider House Rules, The Hotel New Hampshire, and Last Night in Twisted River are all great books. This reads more like a patchwork of Irving's ideas that have not been fully formed. He appears to still be writing out loud possible plots and character details, but fails to refine them enough. He gives a million details when only half of them give interesting character insights and drive the plot forward.
I sound off another critique that others have stated in reviews of his other books. It has slowly creeped up on me, but has become the final blow. He cannot write female characters very well. Actually, I modify that a bit by saying his female characters are nearly identical copies of two different types--the most common one being the one I will describe. The reality is, I rarely interact with or befriend women in real life who resemble his female characters. They are harsh, vulgar, unsentimental, emotionally closed-off, detached, unfeeling, irritating, unfriendly, and lack all nurturing qualities.
His prose is still reliably, Irving--full of details adding history, and peculiarity to characters and places.
Several novels later it has become clear which themes, and events must be biographical from Irving's life. His own psychology is on open display here. I believe in a recent interview Irving revealed that he was "deflowered" by an older woman when he was only a teenager--a much older woman--which not only happens as a central event in this book, but holds as a theme common to his other novels. Additionally, you will read about orphanesque characters, surprising deaths, sexual "deviants", and writers with specific passages and plot-lines from the fictitious novels included in A Widow for One Year.
This is my least favorite Irving book next to The World According to Garp. Whenever I am ready to end my break from Irving, I plan to read Until I Find You. Until then, I am after other authors with equal interest in orphan archetypes, comical characters, tragic family dynamics set in quaint or idyllic backdrops, and a love for quirky personal qualities.
Irving is a phenomenal writer, but I recommend any of his other books besides this one.
I feel compelled to write this again. His female characters are terribly unappealing. If Irving could write a female character I could fall in love with, then I would be hooked for life. In the end, I believe Irving and I just have difference preferences in women. I wish I didn't have to accept that.
I sound off another critique that others have stated in reviews of his other books. It has slowly creeped up on me, but has become the final blow. He cannot write female characters very well. Actually, I modify that a bit by saying his female characters are nearly identical copies of two different types--the most common one being the one I will describe. The reality is, I rarely interact with or befriend women in real life who resemble his female characters. They are harsh, vulgar, unsentimental, emotionally closed-off, detached, unfeeling, irritating, unfriendly, and lack all nurturing qualities.
His prose is still reliably, Irving--full of details adding history, and peculiarity to characters and places.
Several novels later it has become clear which themes, and events must be biographical from Irving's life. His own psychology is on open display here. I believe in a recent interview Irving revealed that he was "deflowered" by an older woman when he was only a teenager--a much older woman--which not only happens as a central event in this book, but holds as a theme common to his other novels. Additionally, you will read about orphanesque characters, surprising deaths, sexual "deviants", and writers with specific passages and plot-lines from the fictitious novels included in A Widow for One Year.
This is my least favorite Irving book next to The World According to Garp. Whenever I am ready to end my break from Irving, I plan to read Until I Find You. Until then, I am after other authors with equal interest in orphan archetypes, comical characters, tragic family dynamics set in quaint or idyllic backdrops, and a love for quirky personal qualities.
Irving is a phenomenal writer, but I recommend any of his other books besides this one.
I feel compelled to write this again. His female characters are terribly unappealing. If Irving could write a female character I could fall in love with, then I would be hooked for life. In the end, I believe Irving and I just have difference preferences in women. I wish I didn't have to accept that.
loreal8's review against another edition
5.0
i'm just pretty much obsessed with anything written by john irving. he's an incredibly adept, and quintessentially american storyteller. he typically turns his gaze to the immensely, and unfairly underrepresented in literature, american genus of "northeastern wasps," and, apparently, that's just my thing...
shantial20's review against another edition
2.0
I found the first half better than the second. Once the POV changed (switched to Ruth's perspective), the story went downhill and never picked back up. Solid 2 stars.
ursulaursula's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
oyuna152's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- 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
3.75
specificity's review against another edition
1.0
The plot was quite slow, but every time I felt bored enough to stop, there was a sudden twist which compelled me to continue reading, which on second thoughts, was not at all worth the effort.
His characters felt exaggerated. Eddie's obsession with Marion was clearly unhealthy. as was Ted's creepier obsession with younger women. Hannah felt larger than life, and Ruth rushed into marriages quicker and more impulsively than Ross Geller
His characters felt exaggerated. Eddie's obsession with Marion was clearly unhealthy. as was Ted's creepier obsession with younger women. Hannah felt larger than life, and Ruth rushed into marriages quicker and more impulsively than Ross Geller
ettuladyblue's review against another edition
2.0
It's no Cider House Rules, but Irving's deep grasp of character (making them more than idiosyncrasies) shows his immense talent for modern fiction. However, that doesn't always leave a character one can like. (and yeah, Irving isn't great at women characters).
Not his most memorable effort, but it's a worthwhile read if you're looking for schmaltz tempered with dark comedy. To be honest though, I skimmed the last hundred pages or so, simply because I wanted to finish the book. I don't know if it had to be 500+ pages.
Not his most memorable effort, but it's a worthwhile read if you're looking for schmaltz tempered with dark comedy. To be honest though, I skimmed the last hundred pages or so, simply because I wanted to finish the book. I don't know if it had to be 500+ pages.
robreads123's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
chishc's review against another edition
1.0
I have read a few John Irving books and I ususally like them. I happened upon this one by chance at a used book store, and decided to give it a read. It took me four months to get through it. John Irving's book are generally lengthy, and I was determined to finish it beacause you really never know where his stories will take you.
I really didn't like it. Even by the end. I didn't care for the characters or the storyline. I especially didn't care for the tangents that drifted from the storyline in order to spend some time describing Ted Cole's books.
I really didn't like it. Even by the end. I didn't care for the characters or the storyline. I especially didn't care for the tangents that drifted from the storyline in order to spend some time describing Ted Cole's books.
alexisrt's review against another edition
A Widow for One Year by John Irving (1999)