The Cider House Rules

By: John Irving

Narrated by: Grover Gardner

Length: 24 hrs and 5 mins

Publisher's summary

From one of America's most beloved and respected writers comes the classic story of Homer Wells, an orphan, and Wilbur Larch, a doctor without children of his own, who develop an extraordinary bond with one another.

©1985 John Irving (P)1999 HarperCollins Publishers, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Witty, tenderhearted, fervent, and scarifying." ( New York Times Book Review)

"Gardner understands and conveys the book's sly humor and comprehension of human foibles." ( Los Angeles Times)

"John Irving's best novel....He is among the very best storytellers." ( Philadelphia Inquirer)

Too Long

I started this book and it seemed interesting and fun, especelly with so many odd quirks in people. Characters and relationships grew and grew. But the book went on and on and on. With five hour left to listen, I just quit.

Right

A really wonderful story. This was my second Irving book (the other being Garp). Wilbur Larch and Homer Wells were both great characters with interesting ideologies. The ending was beautiful and made me tear up while listening.

abortion

ABORTION
Sometimes we underestimate things. One of the things I underestimated was John Irving’s “The Cider House Rules”.
It was an interesting novel and they made a movie about it. It was an excellent movie. Movies never quite make it, never give as much as reading and no one reads; might be the origin of prevailing ignorance.
But when I contemplate abortion it pops into my mind. Then, I think, wow, this is one fine, complicated piece of writing. Just when I was thinking there was no good literature left in America I realize, like all good literature, that John Irving captures the question of abortion in all its intricacies and more. The realization of how good “Cider House” is astonishes. Does he even know how good it is? Does any writer, I am talking writers of real literature, literature that reaches another dimension in the telling of the story, know from whence it came, the 5th dimension. Hemmingway describes it as “Writing the story as true as you can, and you get more.” Every true story has wisdom; it’s people that obfuscate that kill understanding. Basically, they don’t want to understand, they want to pontificate and control. They hate truth; they hate the advancement of wisdom; they are divorced from wisdom. You know what that means; they are divorced from the wisdom of the universe, divorced from inspiration. In affect they are blind and as such a disfigurement on human potential.
When you find a nugget, you must follow the vein. I am going to read everything John Irving wrote.

Complex and wonderful

I love the characters, their complex lives and internal struggles. Irving does not shy away from difficult issues and beautifully weaves them into his story. I even enjoyed his author notes. TY for a great story with social issues that have unfortunately become relevant once again.

Will be adding this to my favorite list

Wonderfully told and wonderfully read! The story drew me in from the beginning and did let go !!! I'll listen to this again!!!

Fascinating

This book was recommended to me and I had my doubts but once I started listening I couldn’t stop.

Wonderful

As often happens in my reading, I am curious of how the title was chosen. Although the Cider House and their rules were significant to this story, the orphanage was much more central to its theme. Regardless, this was wonderful to listen to.

I have not read anything of John Irving's before. And if it weren't for the movie getting such high praise, I probably would not have read this one. But I am glad I did. The characters are wonderful. I did not have trouble following who is who despite the large number of people introduced into the tale.

The subject sounds a bit more controversial, to be sure, than it is. But it is presented powerfully simple. I am pro-life, but I am also a nurse and need to offer all options. Just because I do not agree with abortion doesn't mean I rule over you. I can only hope there is a place like this one for those who need it.

The atrocities presented in this tale are numerous: class differences, prejudices, addictions, harsh realities of life all of them. But they are told in such a way that they are neither repulsive nor shocking.

And I did see the movie after listening to this. I am amazed it was rated so high, as it should be banned for desecrating such a wonderful tale. This selection is well worth your time and money.

Great, but not his best

After finishing A Prayer for Owen Meany and enjoying it so immensely, I thought I'd try listening to another book by John Irving. I'd read The World According to Garp several years ago, but was dissuaded after reading so many negative reviews of the audible version. There were many positive reviews for Cider House Rules, so I gave it a go. I remember enjoying the book when I'd first read it and enjoyed the movie as well.

It's a really good book. The story is very unique, with many components that make you think about things you wouldn't normally, i.e. the life of an orphan, people with convictions so strong that their lives are centered around them, the many different types of relationships that exist and some of the not so common ways people express love. I appreciated the technical medical details of obstetrics and also enjoyed one character's perspective of WWII. The topics of pregnancy, abortion and adoption were much more intriguing for me this time, not having been a mother when I first read the book.

It's a great piece of writing, but does not entertain as much as Garp or Owen Meany. I guess I'm forever spoiled! The narration was good, though the narrator sounded a bit like he was speaking in the 1950's or 60's. You may enjoy this book more if you haven't already read (what I consider to be) Irving's best.

Captures the magic of Owen Meanie

Ah, does Irving have the power to move me... If you are a militant pro-lifer, you should probably stay away-- although I would love for you to read this to help you understand why there needs to be a separation of church and state. Never predictable, narrated well, characters both flawed and thought-provoking, and a plot that moves right along, this book itself is a "prince of Maine", a "king of New England."

BETTER THAN THE MOVIE

Of course the book is always filled with greater detail than a movie version but the book was head and shoulders above the screenplay (which wasn't bad).. Grover Gardner's performance was great as always. I don't know if his accents are authentic but his delivery always makes whatever he does interesting and believable