A Widow for One Year

A Novel

By: John Irving

Narrated by: George Guidall

Ruth Cole is a complex, often self-contradictory character — a "difficult" woman. By no means is she conventionally "nice", but she will never be forgotten.

Ruth's story is told in three parts, each focusing on a crucial time in her life. When we first meet her in the summer of 1958 on Long Island, Ruth is only four.

The second window into Ruth's life opens in the fall of 1990, when Ruth is an unmarried woman whose personal life is not nearly as successful as her literary career. She distrusts her judgment in men, for good reason.

A Widow for One Year closes in the autumn of 1995, when Ruth Cole is a 41-year-old widow and mother — and about to fall in love for the first time.

Richly comic, as well as deeply disturbing, A Widow for One Year is a multilayered love story of astonishing emotional force. Both ribald and erotic, it is also a brilliant novel about the passage of time and the relentlessness of grief.

©1998 Garp Enterprises, Ltd. (P)1998 Random House, Inc.

Critic reviews

“By turns antic and moving, lusty and tragic, A Widow for One Year is bursting with memorable moments.” (San Francisco Examiner-Chronicle)

"Wisely and carefully crafted...Irving is among the few novelists who can write a novel about grief and fill it with ribald humor soaked in irony." (USA Today)

“Deeply affecting . . . The pleasures of this rich and beautiful book are manifold. To be human is to savor them.” (Los Angeles Times Book Review)

Captivating

I'm fairly new to Audible books and remain impressed with the way the narration maintains the images I create when I read the stories in print. This is my third Irving Audible book. The World According to Garp and Last Night in Twisted River were very good, too. The Cider House Rules is up next.

Wow!!

Great book like most Irving books.
Loved every aspect. If you like J.I you would like this book. Audiobook is excellent

It's not Owen Meany but its good!

Like many other listeners I've sometimes struggled with Mr. Irving but when he's good he's soooo good! Not his absolute best for me but well worth spending my credit. I loved the dry humor from beginning to end & it's an unusual & interesting story line. I tried Son of the Circus & could not finish it so I'm a little gun shy but found this one rewarding.

Good, but not his best.

I love John Irving. And I really enjoyed this book overall. The narration was terrific and well suited for this story. One thing that kind of irked me was Irving’s almost obsession with breasts in this novel. A few other reviewers had pointed this out and I assumed they were probably being prudish. But no. Incessant commentary on everyone’s breasts. It’s almost embarrassing. Super juvenile.
I think more of the average male reader than to think this is the way they think.
If you can get past that, (which is A LOT) the book is really enjoyable.

Amazing Performance, Very Good Throughout

George Guidall brought this novel to life with his well deserved award winning performance. He kept me engaged in what the characters were feeling and thinking -- he really brought them to life. This a rare instance where the performance out did the story. I enjoyed the story, but as others have mentioned, it is really three different stories connected by threads and parts of the stories pace better than others. John Irving is a master at making characters so original, so fresh, you feel that they must be real.

I never want John Irving books to end.

I love everything this man writes. They have everything from heartache and tragedy to sharp humor. I just want to inside his books and I cry when they are over not just because of the story but because there are so few authors that make me feel this way. Steinbeck comes to mind, one of my other favorites. I rarely give 5 star reviews because I think they should only be given out rarely. I am disappointed when mediocre books get 5 star reviews since they are not worthy. They have to be perfect in every way. I feel this a perfect novel.

Unevenly engaging, but I remembered it well from reading it

I think I read this book 25 years ago when it first came out and I was amazed that I could still recall some of the scenes very vividly. However, I found it was a little repetitive in parts and like other readers I got bored of the breast fixation. I don’t know if it’s only female readers who feel that way.

I thought that the reader did a good job although he mispronounced some words. Or maybe it’s an American pronunciation and I’m Canadian.

Third time through

I wish I could tell John Irving how much I love this book. This would be my “desert island book” without question.

Gripping story

So many twists & turns! Great voice inflections. Captures the intensity of loss, grief, love & quirky humanity!

Returning to Amsterdam

John Irving has a fascination with the red-light districts of Amsterdam, detailed in another novel "Until I Find You." This setting and the author's exploration of many controversial sexual themes keep his books lively, entertaining, and engaging. His tight control of the narrative is also an hallmark of his method. I have enjoyed all but one of John Irving's books and would welcome audiobook versions of all of older works. We have too few of his many great works.