A review by phunkypbj
A Widow for One Year by John Irving

3.0

I would have given it a 3 1/2 had I the option. There was so much I loved in the the book--it's complexity, I really felt like I had lived with the main character, Ruth, for an entire life. I loved the moments of sweetness (the fingerprint in the ketchup, the jaded, worldy Hannah breaking down--and of course the final sentence). I, however, had trouble with all of the coincidences (which is, I know, a very common criticism of Irving's writing). I also thought, at times the subplots and stories were a little too much--he always came back, but I did feel like he strayed too far occasionally. Anyway, this is the first novel by Irving I've read, so it has definitley gotten me interested enough to look further.