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jingyao's review
3.0
My only other John Irving read is Garp and this book is unfortunately a disappointment after reading Garp. In a Best and Worst of John Irving blog post a blogger said "But around the time of A Widow for One Year I began to grow tired of what appeared to be the lazy writer’s habit of recycling his earlier novels" - so I really ought to have just read Garp, Meany and Cider, and called it a day with John Irving.
It is incredible how much overlapping there is between this book and Garp. In Widow, the main character is a writer, and her father, mother, mother's ex-lover and best friend are all writers. In fact, the main character is writing a novel about a writer and struggling with writing purely fictional, as opposed to autobiographical, content. In Garp, the main character and his mother are both writers. It makes one wonder if Irving knows how to write about professions other than his own. The two main characters went to an elite private high school and their parents are alums/faculty at the school - same as Garp. And yes there are European prostitutes, and mini-stories within story, just like Garp. There's a lot of overlapping with the author's life too. This repetition reveals itself on a micro level too. For instance, we get that the main character has great breasts and every man she comes across absolutely has to stare - no need to talk about that 50 times. And I can't help but notice that the phrase "let someone's remark pass" shows up 3 times in the course of 5 pages.
The plots are a lot less powerful and tight than Garp too. Actually, the first out of the three section showed great potential. The plots are very creative and interesting, and I dove into it thinking "wow, Irving is Irving! Always an enjoyable read." However, with the shift of narration to the other main character (Ruth) in the second section, the result is that I didn't sufficiently bond with either main character to care that much about their fates. The second section in the beginning devoted great lengths to Ruth's several novel's plots and new novel's development, as well as her dating life and relationship with her best friend. That's probably my least favorite part of the book - it didn't help me understand adult Ruth or her best friend more, and the ensuing adventure in Amsterdam again took a such a drastic turn that the plots do not feel tight. Ruth as a character is also quite perfect, rational and showed little emotion in the face of deaths that I fail to connect with her or care about her "little misfortune." The characters of Hannah and Allan are also quite flat and never got fully developed, so I was surprised that Irving let them into such important roles as the plot progresses.
I finished it because Irving's style still makes it an enjoyable read overall, just not as powerful as what I expected from Irving's potential. I'll still read Meany and/or Cider - hopefully they live up to their strong reviews.
It is incredible how much overlapping there is between this book and Garp. In Widow, the main character is a writer, and her father, mother, mother's ex-lover and best friend are all writers. In fact, the main character is writing a novel about a writer and struggling with writing purely fictional, as opposed to autobiographical, content. In Garp, the main character and his mother are both writers. It makes one wonder if Irving knows how to write about professions other than his own. The two main characters went to an elite private high school and their parents are alums/faculty at the school - same as Garp. And yes there are European prostitutes, and mini-stories within story, just like Garp. There's a lot of overlapping with the author's life too. This repetition reveals itself on a micro level too. For instance, we get that the main character has great breasts and every man she comes across absolutely has to stare - no need to talk about that 50 times. And I can't help but notice that the phrase "let someone's remark pass" shows up 3 times in the course of 5 pages.
The plots are a lot less powerful and tight than Garp too. Actually, the first out of the three section showed great potential. The plots are very creative and interesting, and I dove into it thinking "wow, Irving is Irving! Always an enjoyable read." However, with the shift of narration to the other main character (Ruth) in the second section, the result is that I didn't sufficiently bond with either main character to care that much about their fates. The second section in the beginning devoted great lengths to Ruth's several novel's plots and new novel's development, as well as her dating life and relationship with her best friend. That's probably my least favorite part of the book - it didn't help me understand adult Ruth or her best friend more, and the ensuing adventure in Amsterdam again took a such a drastic turn that the plots do not feel tight. Ruth as a character is also quite perfect, rational and showed little emotion in the face of deaths that I fail to connect with her or care about her "little misfortune." The characters of Hannah and Allan are also quite flat and never got fully developed, so I was surprised that Irving let them into such important roles as the plot progresses.
I finished it because Irving's style still makes it an enjoyable read overall, just not as powerful as what I expected from Irving's potential. I'll still read Meany and/or Cider - hopefully they live up to their strong reviews.
mikewomack's review
4.0
I am convinced that John Irving will be one of the writers still widely read in one hundred years. While A Prayer for Owen Meany is his finest work, followed closely Cider House and Garp, A Widow for One Year is another very satisfying novel with multiple layers of complex concepts delivered in beautiful prose. Reading Irving can be effortless if one is simply interested in a well written story but his writing also leaves the opportunity for lasting and complex consideration of challenging themes.
The book description claims it's a story Ruth Cole and the people around her but I would argue with that statement. I think this is Eddie's book and everyone else is in his universe. With that said, part One of the novel (the first 200 pages) is undoubtedly my favorite. His story, set in the late 50s, feels a lot like Irving's writing in Owen Meany and Cider House. I loved it and had this tone remained throughout, A Widow would surpass Garp for on my list of Irving favorites. The portion in Amsterdam, especially regarding the Red Light District, grew tiresome. After reading through it, I understand that the build up and is probably necessary, but the language and sex (intentional though it is) felt a little gratuitous.
A good read and happy be able to visit Irving's world again.
Favorite quotes:
"What great thing is there for two human souls, than to feel that they are joined for life - to strengthen each other in all labor, to rest on each other in all sorrow, to minister to each other in all pain, to be one with each other in silent unspeakable memories at the moment of the last parting?" - yes, it's from George Elliot but it's in THIS novel, too!
"Harry didn't believe that the world (or human nature) could be changed. Harry's job was to understand and accept the existing world; maybe he made the world a little safer, he'd like to think."
"Eddie wrote familiar, autobiographical novels - all of them variations on an overworked theme..." - The irony of this quote is too perfect, Mr. Irving. Is this in response to critique that your stories follow the same variation of a theme found here: https://sexdrugsandliterature.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/images.jpg
The book description claims it's a story Ruth Cole and the people around her but I would argue with that statement. I think this is Eddie's book and everyone else is in his universe. With that said, part One of the novel (the first 200 pages) is undoubtedly my favorite. His story, set in the late 50s, feels a lot like Irving's writing in Owen Meany and Cider House. I loved it and had this tone remained throughout, A Widow would surpass Garp for on my list of Irving favorites. The portion in Amsterdam, especially regarding the Red Light District, grew tiresome. After reading through it, I understand that the build up and is probably necessary, but the language and sex (intentional though it is) felt a little gratuitous.
A good read and happy be able to visit Irving's world again.
Favorite quotes:
"What great thing is there for two human souls, than to feel that they are joined for life - to strengthen each other in all labor, to rest on each other in all sorrow, to minister to each other in all pain, to be one with each other in silent unspeakable memories at the moment of the last parting?" - yes, it's from George Elliot but it's in THIS novel, too!
"Harry didn't believe that the world (or human nature) could be changed. Harry's job was to understand and accept the existing world; maybe he made the world a little safer, he'd like to think."
"Eddie wrote familiar, autobiographical novels - all of them variations on an overworked theme..." - The irony of this quote is too perfect, Mr. Irving. Is this in response to critique that your stories follow the same variation of a theme found here: https://sexdrugsandliterature.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/images.jpg
caitlin21521's review
3.0
Difficult to read. I loved Garp & Cider House Rules, which seems to be a general consensus for the majority of Irving's readers, but this book did not hit the same note with me that those two did. It didn't even read like it was written by him. Some aspects of the book were interesting, and I quite like them, such as Ted Cole's stories for children & the way that he told his stories. I also liked following Harry for the short time we knew him before he actually met Ruth. What I didn't like, except for the entirety of the red light district section, was the middle of the novel. It was hard to get through; I simply didn't care about Ruth or Hannah or even Eddie. It was nothing to do with a "recycled theme", it was that Irving's characters weren't rich and full of life in this novel like they usually are. They all seemed like vapid characters, difficult to know and understand and it was hard to see what they could be like.
What I did find interesting were the responses that Ruth received about her novels, particularly on the issues of childbirth and abortion -- that she had never had a child, been pregnant or had an abortion so how would she know what it was like? Clearly, Irving has been criticized for these same reasons (particularly regarding The Cider House Rules) and perhaps this was his thinly veiled retort.
What I did find interesting were the responses that Ruth received about her novels, particularly on the issues of childbirth and abortion -- that she had never had a child, been pregnant or had an abortion so how would she know what it was like? Clearly, Irving has been criticized for these same reasons (particularly regarding The Cider House Rules) and perhaps this was his thinly veiled retort.
yangyvonne's review
5.0
Ruth is 4 when her parents separate, switching back and forth in the main home over the summer. Her father hires 16 year old Eddie as his assistant, but really to be his wife's young lover. This happens, which begins a life-long obsession for Eddie. At the end of the summer, Marion leaves Ruth (haunted by memories of her 2 deceased teenage sons) and doesn't see her for 41 years. The b book follows Ruth between 40 and 45 to tie-up these open ends.
A good story that is bogged-down by porn. Irving can't seem to leave the erotic alone, which detracts from the human interest and deep psychology in the story. The Harry character is ridiculous - why would Ruth jump into a 2nd marriage when the 1st took her so long to agree to?
A good story that is bogged-down by porn. Irving can't seem to leave the erotic alone, which detracts from the human interest and deep psychology in the story. The Harry character is ridiculous - why would Ruth jump into a 2nd marriage when the 1st took her so long to agree to?
tuff517's review
4.0
Loved that the minor characters were so well developed, and how I was able to "be" wherever the characters were, as well. Fantastic story.
marysues's review against another edition
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
heidibrianne's review against another edition
2.0
I'd have to agree with some of the other reviews of this novel that the first section of "A Widow For One Year" is the most cohesive and moving. This is probably the reason it was the basis for the movie "The Door In the Floor," starring Jeff Bridges and Kim Basinger, which I had seen and enjoyed several years ago. This is the first John Irving novel I've read, although I've seen the other two notable adaptions of his books, "The World According To Garp" (which I loved) and "Cider House Rules" (which I was indifferent to). My conclusion is that Irving is hit and miss. The latter sections of "A Widow For One Year," about 3/4 of the book, become increasingly far-fetched and mildly grating. Also, the seemingly endless self-referencing to writing and authors is overkill. Had Irving written a novella rather than a long novel and simply stuck with the first 1/4 of this book, it would have been far more successful. It's rare but in this case Hollywod got it right with their pared down adaption.