Reviews

A Widow for One Year by John Irving

toddm_lcnm's review against another edition

challenging sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

iheartrice's review against another edition

4.0

This is my "Hawaii book". I was in the HNL airport - with a 4 hour sit, so I go to the bookstore and have it narrowed to three books: Twilight, Bonesetters Daughter or A Widow for One Year. I called my brother and he recommended A Widow for One Year by John Irving (his favorite author). This book was amazing! I am a huge fan! I fell in love with the writing style. It was a page turner! I'm very proud of myself for reading this. The last sentence made me smile.

akenny614's review against another edition

3.0

I read it a few years ago, remember liking it, but don't remember anything more about it.

izellemckelvie's review against another edition

Beautifully realistic characters. I love how smoothly he can incorporate several stories into one novel.

ruthenator's review against another edition

2.0

I enjoyed the first maybe 120 pages. Then it really started getting on my nerves. The italics. My god, the italics! (and the parentheses.) It had been 25 or so years since I'd read an Irving book, and I'd loved Garp and Owen Meany. This brick I picked up at a library sale and for a while it had been elevating my laptop until one day I thought maybe I should actually read the book. I opened it and found one of the main characters has the same first name as mine, so I continued.
I did enjoy some of this book but kept wondering what happened to the editor that this was what went to press. I could go on with examples of my issues and disappointment, but suffice it to say it was better as a prop for my laptop.

lenny9987's review

challenging dark reflective 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? Yes

3.0

ivanssister's review against another edition

4.0

There is a lot going on in this book. I swear, by the time I reached page 125 or so, I reached a point where the book could have ended. But then it went on and took an entirely different turn.

kimberly_b's review against another edition

5.0

This is hilarious and entertaining. It's my favorite Irving book. The characters are ridiculous (in a good, funny way) and incredibly memorable.

kbratten's review against another edition

3.0

Writers love writing about writers, writing about writers. I enjoyed the development of Ruth's character as an adult-her take on relationships and squash and suppose it needed some of the strangeness of her childhood. I don't understand why there was so much time spent developing Eddie when the second two thirds of the book he has little function. I also didnt care for the excessive behind-the-scenes writer talk nor Ruth's unlikely best friendship with the selfish and vulgar Hannah and Ruth's unlikely reactions to her father (no reaction) , Amsterdam (she just LEFT?), and even Scott Saunders (why did you LET him if it was gonna make you go crazy violent?). A whole book be written about Ted and his destructive womanizing, I could really picture Marion's character and loved step into being a writer, and wish her conclusion as not so delayed and anti-climactic.

I read the whole thing, but I almost stopped several times.

spridlewv's review against another edition

2.0

Its always disappointing to be reminded that authors of unbelievably good books also lay eggs. Didn’t even finish this one.