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alexisrt's review against another edition
A Widow for One Year by John Irving (1999)
rageofachilles's review against another edition
4.0
Out of all the John Irving books I've read so far, I would place this book behind Cider House Rules and A Prayer for Owen Meaning. It is still a riveting read, but Irving, in my opinion, is one of the best living American novelists, and a really good novel can still be dwarfed by his other works.
This book is mainly a book about authors and the novel writing process. It seems like every character ends up being an author, and Irving shows how "imagining stuff up" can be extremely hard for novelists as every author-character dips into the well of his or her own experience to write.
A lot of things happen in A Widow for One Year, but Cider House Rules and Owen Meaning are more closely unified around a single main idea that drives the force of the novel (CHR=Abortion OM=Religion).
If you are looking at diving into Irving, I would start with Cider House Rules and/or Owen Meaning. I haven't read The World According to Garp, which I hear is great, but A Window of One Year is a good novel to read after starting somewhere else in Irving's corpus.
This book is mainly a book about authors and the novel writing process. It seems like every character ends up being an author, and Irving shows how "imagining stuff up" can be extremely hard for novelists as every author-character dips into the well of his or her own experience to write.
A lot of things happen in A Widow for One Year, but Cider House Rules and Owen Meaning are more closely unified around a single main idea that drives the force of the novel (CHR=Abortion OM=Religion).
If you are looking at diving into Irving, I would start with Cider House Rules and/or Owen Meaning. I haven't read The World According to Garp, which I hear is great, but A Window of One Year is a good novel to read after starting somewhere else in Irving's corpus.
duparker's review against another edition
4.0
This is a novel, not fiction. The difference is you believe everything that occurs herein could actually happen to you. The book, the sadness, the honesty really feels authentic. The start was a bit of a struggle but then you hit a stride where the pages fly by and the plot thickens.
threethousandducats's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
ddurling's review against another edition
4.0
John Irving redeemed himself for me with this book. I was not into Twisted River and worried about jumping into another Irving book so soon, but I was deeply enthralled with Ruth's life. Such an interesting woman who can really care for herself. Her indifference to the fate of her father made me envy her. No regrets. In this day when women are waiting longer to get married and have kids, I think she plays that role well. I also love how Irving intertwines the workings of a writer in his books. It is informative and interesting to know how the process works for some authors.
123itsannamarie's review against another edition
3.0
Overall it was a very pleasant read. I really enjoyed the way this book was written. I felt as if I was growing older with the characters and understanding the complexities of what had made them who they are. This was by no means a page turner, but it was worth the read.
regamemnon's review against another edition
3.0
This was my first full-on Irving read since I half-read A Prayer for Owen Meany in AP English in high school. I enjoyed the book, it entertained me. It didn't knock me off my feet. Some parts annoyed me, such as the character of Hannah. I don't see how Ruth would remain friends with her. I am intrigued to read more Irving, but I am nervous I would get frustrated. He apparently uses a lot of the same themes/devices over and over again, which makes me wonder if it would be monotonous. I guess we'll find out.
It was a good read.
It was a good read.
bupdaddy's review against another edition
3.0
Maybe I wasn't in the mood for John Irving, so it's my fault, but when the first hundred pages had boarding school, dead kids, New England, major characters who happen to be authors, and smatterings of German, I spent the rest of the book waiting for a bear to ride through the door on a motorcycle.
It's almost like a self-parody, this book. He tries a female protagonist this time 'round, but that "woman" struck me as John Irving in drag - her competitive machismo is in full force as she builds up her squash game, practicing all day, icing her shoulder, and impressing every person who sees her with how strong her right arm is. She even beats a guy up at one point.
Anyway, the last 150 pages really picked up and bumped it up from 2 stars to 3, for me.
And I realize that no matter how much I make fun of John Irving's stock elements, I keep reading him.
It's almost like a self-parody, this book. He tries a female protagonist this time 'round, but that "woman" struck me as John Irving in drag - her competitive machismo is in full force as she builds up her squash game, practicing all day, icing her shoulder, and impressing every person who sees her with how strong her right arm is. She even beats a guy up at one point.
Anyway, the last 150 pages really picked up and bumped it up from 2 stars to 3, for me.
And I realize that no matter how much I make fun of John Irving's stock elements, I keep reading him.