The Cider House Rules

Written by John Irving

Narrated by Grover Gardner

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

 

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. 

 

"Entertaining and affecting . . . A truly astounding amount of artistry and ingenuity." - San Diego Union

 

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

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperAudio
• Release date: Jan 4, 2005
• ISBN: 9780060790035

John Irving

John Irving was born in Exeter, New Hampshire, in 1942. His first novel, Setting Free the Bears, was published in 1968, when he was twenty-six. He competed as a wrestler for twenty years, and coached wrestling until he was forty-seven. He is a member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in Stillwater, Oklahoma. In 1980, Mr. Irving won a National Book Award for his novel The World According to Garp. In 2000, he won the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay for The Cider House Rules. In 2013, he won a Lambda Literary Award for his novel In One Person. Internationally renowned, his novels have been translated into almost forty languages. His all-time bestselling novel, in every language, is A Prayer for Owen Meany. A dual citizen of the United States and Canada, John Irving lives in Toronto.

Reviews for The Cider House Rules

[deckla_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I'm a big fan of Irving and I loved this book. Clear, well researched writing, filled with humor and compassion, dealing with profound issues of culture and American life (yes, abortion). And--he can write believable women characters. After the books the movies are always a disappointment. A master and a feminist to boot. I'm only tossing the mass-market paperback because I have it in trade paper too.

[brakketh-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I have very much enjoyed my introduction to John Irving over the last year or two. Slightly bizarre tales with fascinating characters spread throughout. Found Homer's journey from orphanage to orphanage with a long stop-over in the middle enthralling.

[emscape · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Homer grows up in an orphanage that is also a secret abortion clinic. As he grows, he struggles with his feelings on this topic, as events in his life cause him to view things in different ways. Many reviewers have said it better than I, but this is a very important read. The topic is just as relevant now as it was during the time period in which the book was set. The characters are well drawn and have very genuine motivations, feelings and faults. Highly recommended.

[drfuriosa · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

There is an interesting ethical question that encompasses the book, and Irving develops it fully. Unfortunately--I think--he also develops about ten other stories that somewhat relate to the book, kind of. It's a big, sprawling epic that is huge for the sake of being huge. I don't yet know if this would rate higher for me on a re-read, but I do know that reading it was a SLOW, methodical process, and it's a daunting story. I don't know that the triangle is a serviceable part of the plot, just as the Mr. Rose storyline felt rushed and tacked on at the end.

I'm exhausted now.

[pwjone1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

One thing you can say for a John Irving book: It's either great, or it's not. The Cider House Rules is one of his great ones. For one, there's no bears in Austria, vultures in India, or anything like it, and it's set in New England, a place Mr. Irving understands perhaps too well. Cider House is the story of an orphan, growing up, assisting the other main character, a doctor, in deliveries of unmarried women, and other associated activities. We see the orphan then mature and leave the house, not agreeing to everything the doctor is about, but then going out into the world, experiencing the broader life, richer and poorer, learning to do real work. He grows up, learns to love, experiences real life, but that love and experience then seem to lead him, inevitably, inexorably back to where he came from, to resolve issues and his life direction ultimately. The characters all seem very real, with good points and flaws, and the plot line driven by how they interact. Not ultimately a totally happy story, but a very real one, and in the end a satisfying one. You empathize very much with these characters, their directions and decisions, and feel with them both pain and joy.One word on the movie. It's pretty true to the book, but my suggestion would be to both read the book and see the movie. They each add layers, and are both well done. Not at all like Hotel New Hampshire, one of Mr. Irving's good books, but a really very awful movie. Perhaps this is because Cider House is of more moderate length, with fewer characters, and therefore ultimately something that could reasonably be made into a film. But of the Irving books, World According to Garp, Hotel New Hampshire, and Cider House are at the top, while the Cider House movie is probably the best to date.

[briandewey · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Irving, John. The Cider House Rules. Ballentine Books, New York, 1985. This book is a big, sweeping tale. Irving self-consciously copies the major literary works of the 19th century in this story of the 20th. It's got the immense swath of time, the enormous ensemble cast, an orphanage, etc. Overall, I was quite impressed. One failing, that I think keeps me from being more impressed by the book, is the shallowness of Irving's portrayal of Candy, the centerpiece of a fifteen-year love triangle. Since I didn't understand Homer's attraction to her, the final third of the book lacked the requisite emotional punch.

[abbeyhar · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The first of my summer rereads.
I don't remember this being a book I disliked ( read in high school) , but I don't remember it being one of my favorite Irvings either. I sure couldn't put it down, but am not more sure what I thought of it this time. He describes situations and emotions beautifully , but I felt that there was too much (and also not enough) going on with the plot. There are some elements of the whimsical which don't seem to jive, or seem a little too heavy handed. But it is certainly one I will think about for some time, and likely even read again in another ten years.

[holadayb · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

One of my favorite's by Irving. And actually, the movie wasn't too bad!

[katie_h_11 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I just finished reading this novel, and it is so phenominal that I'm almost speechless, and I'm sad that it is over. The story is engrossing, rich, moving, tragic, and satisfying, and the imagery is extraordinarily powerful. The plot takes place during the first half of the 1900's in rural Maine, and tells of Dr. Larch, an obstetrician, founder of an orphanage, abortionist, and ether addict, and his favorite orphan, and heroic figure, Homer Wells. Irving develops the characters superbly, such that the reader comes to know and love all of them, even those with significant flaws. The abortion issue is handled perfectly; while it becomes obvious what Irving's opinion is, he presents both sides of the issue objectively and refrains from preaching on the subject or becoming overtly political. Normally I recommend reading a book before seeing the movie adaptation, but in this case, the movie is excellent, so by reading the book first, one may not appreciate the film as much as one should. Irving is a storyteller on par with Dickens, and I'm going to add his other works to my future reading list.

[andorion-259107 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

4.5 stars.

An extremely bizarre, but acutely observant book. The author couches in humour and absurdity some rather profound statements about 20th century America.

[renzomalo · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The typically verbose Mr. Irving does not fail to deliver on his pro-abortion/socialist tale about Homer Wells, an orphan at St. Cloud's Orphanage in early twentieth century Maine. Through 560 some odd page – and with his agenda on his sleeve – Mr. Irving spins an engaging, believable story that presents a strong case for universal abortions (i. e. they should be legal and the state should pay for them) along with a somewhat balanced but tepid counterpoint (i. e. it's a human life and it has a soul). That being said, it is nonetheless pro-abortion scree from start to finish. Contraception is mentioned, of course, but seemingly in passing. Still, it’s an engaging, well-crafted story, and no small trick there. Had it been otherwise, it would have found its way back to the library in a heartbeat. Last note: The book is rife with his irritating dialogue attribution and sexual references, ranging from oral sex to copulation and masturbation to beastiality. Then too there’s the obligatory character who decides to become – wait for it! – a novelist but one who hasn’t yet become world famous. Pity! All we would have needed to complete the “Irving cycle” would be to have one of them be a wrestler with a pet bear. Still, four stars.

[yourotherleft_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Cider House Rules is the tale of Dr. Wilbur Larch, his orphanage that also serves as an underground abortion clinic, and Homer Wells, the orphan that failed to find a home. I loved Dr. Larch's character, equally committed to housing and finding good homes for orphans as he is to offering mothers a safe place to go for the less legal alternative. He's a little rough around the edges but with a heart of gold. The orphanage at St. Cloud's is populated by a totally rich cast of characters from the nurses that assist the doctor to the orphans themselves to the couple that comes seeking an abortion that is the family that will finally "adopt" Homer. This book, to me, read a little like Dickens, with numerous well-drawn characters fanning out in all directions. As in my experience with Dickens, The Cider House Rules gets a little slow in the middle while Irving is lining up his characters just right for the final denouement, but as with Dickens, the payoff is perfectly executed and beautifully satisfying.

[koalamom_1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Long, boring at times, couldn't figure out where Irving was going at first - probably made a good movie when they cut it down to the main story line. Finished it, but struggled.

[cecilturtle · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Years ago, I discovered A Prayer for Owen Meany and loved it. I've read other books by Irving since, always happily but never with the same degree of passion. This novel carried the same passion. Discussing abortion is not easy, but Irving masters the topic: discrete, passionate, convincing, respectful, he does a tremendous job of bringing his point across without dismissing the seriousness of the decision and its implications.The storyline itself is delightful, full of ambiguities and deep emotion, tact and subtlety. It carries, of course, Irving's trademark humour and stamp of tall tales. It's compelling and intrinsically novelistic: there's just no putting the book down. A book that will stay with me for a long time.

[hockeycrew_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

One of my favorite books, it deals with abortion in a time when orphanages were overflowing with unwanted children and girls were dying from hacks claiming they can help them. The book also deals with migrant workers and incestuous rape.Those who loved the movie can enjoy this book separatly. The sub-plots are quite different from the movie and each has it's own ambiance.

[elkehannover · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Inhaltsangabe:Homer Wells ist eine Waise und er wächst mit vielen anderen Kindern im Waisenhaus von St. Cloud’s in Maine auf. Drei Paare haben versucht, ihn zu adoptieren, aber er kommt immer wieder „nach Hause“.Dr. Larch und die Schwestern Angela und Edna ziehen Homer groß. Sie bemerken sehr schnell, das er einfach nach St. Cloud’s gehört und somit ist er nicht nur ein Waisenkind, sondern fast der Sohn für Dr. Larch. Der Arzt ist nicht nur asexuell, sondern auch noch äthersüchtig und nie um eine Ausrede oder Lüge verlegen.Dr. Larch hilft in dem Waisenhaus jedoch nicht nur Kindern auf die Welt, sondern führt auch unentgeltlich und illegal Abtreibungen durch. Er unterweist Homer in die Geburtstechniken und zeigt ihm auch, wie eine Abtreibung vorgenommen wird. Dennoch lehnt Homer es strikt ab, weil er der Meinung ist, das es bereits ein Leben ist.Selbst als Erwachsener lebt Homer noch in St. Cloud’s, als er Wally und Candy kennen lernt. Candy läßt in St. Cloud’s eine Abtreibung vornehmen. Homer verliebt sich in sie und ist bereit, in die Welt hinaus zu gehen. Er hilft auf der Apfelfarm von Wally und lernt sehr viele Dinge über das Leben und über die Liebe. Und seine Devise heißt stets abwarten!Wally geht freiwillig zur Armee und wird in den zweiten Weltkrieg geschickt. Als alle glaubten, Wally wäre tod, trösten Candy und Homer sich, was auch nicht ohne Folgen bleibt. Schließlich bekommen sie das Kind – „Angel“ und dann trifft plötzlich die Nachricht ein, das Wally doch noch lebt. Und wieder heißt es für Homer „abwarten“. Er braucht ziemlich lange, um zu merken, wo er wirklich hingehört.Mein Fazit:Dieser Irving lag mir etwas schwerer auf dem Magen. Der Anfang und das Ende des Buches sind klasse, ganz nach Irving mit seinen Irrungen und Wirrungen (und irgendwie laufen alle Fäden auch da zusammen … in den Wirrungen). Die Mitte des Buches wurde meiner Meinung nach zu weit ausgeschmückt. Das hätte ruhig um ein paar Seiten gekürzt werden können.Dennoch habe ich stellenweise lachen müssen, wie der Autor skurile Situationen beschrieb oder den Personen einfach verschrobene Charakterzüge gab. Es ist wirklich ein Wunder, das man da nicht durcheinander kommt. Einfach herrlich. So etwas kann auch nur Irving, der den Leser in eine ganz andere Welt entführt. Dabei hat er sich nie angemaßt, irgendetwas zu beurteilen. Er stellte die Dinge einfach dar und das so köstlich einfach.Ich freue mich auf den nächsten Irving, den ich hoffentlich bald lesen werde.Anmerkung: Die Rezension stammt von Januar 2007.Veröffentlicht am 16.02.16!

[jaapberk · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Wonderful book, wonderful picture

[hamiltonpam · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book was a sure thinker. I enjoyed it to the end!!

[andyray_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

the societal ADHDs are going to hate this one, calling it "boring." But for us who love to take our time and enjoy the deliciousness of excellent prose, this is another winner for Irving. He manages to make this "non-choice" believer change to a "well, maybe" position, while entertaining the hell out of me with his world, especially the apple picking orchard. (here there are some minor characters that could be explored much more deeply)! The only reason it doesn't get the full five stars is for an unevenness in this work I didn't feel in Garp or New Hampshire.

[msaucier818 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I had very low hopes for this book as my wife had recommended to me with one of those faces that she was not sure if I would like it. I was very pleasantly surprised as I loved every word. I love Irving's writing style and he develops his characters better than anyone. Some of the ideas are a bit sexual in nature, but they work and he describes them in a way that puts you into the mind of the young people who are working through them. I would recommend this book to all and am looking forward to reading more works by this author.

[harey_3 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I can't imagine how John Irving was able to weave such a engrossing tale single handedly. There are so many well developed stories within the story and then it all comes full circle in the end. Amazing...

[jd234512 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

While this one started off a little slow for me, it was only a matter of time before Irving drew me into the world of Homer Wells. This was truly a large story into a world that is unknown to many. The obvious point of interest in this book is "abortion" and whether or not it is or isn't "God's work." He does a great service to the huge conversation of a controversial topic but allowing us to get so immersed into these characters rather than a generalization. While this is generally what is responded to in reviews, much can be said of a wonderful development of characters and really feeling an understanding of a setting, whether it be St. Cloud's or Ocean View. It's hard to think about moving on after spending so much time in these places, yet there is always another great story awaiting!

[foof2you · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is an emotional story, a great read. Really hated that the story ended. Movie does not do the book justice.

[bookomaniac-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

In ons dagelijks leven worden we constant geconfronteerd met regels, afspraken, en conventies; een heel aantal daarvan zijn formeel (en hebben de vorm van wetten of reglementen), maar de meesten zijn informeel. Het is een belangrijk onderdeel van een proces van volwassen wording om die regels te ontdekken en er mee te leren omgaan. Het is ook een nooit eindigend proces, want het is een frappante vaststelling dat er behoorlijk wat tegenstrijdigheid zit tussen de formele en informele regels, tussen maatschappelijke conventies en hoe mensen daar in de praktijk iets heel anders mee doen. Meer nog, als je een coherent leven wil leiden, dan kan je niet anders dan regelmatig een regel te breken of op zijn minst “op te rekken”, en heel soms kan je een leven juist inhoud geven (“de held van je eigen bestaan worden”, zoals Irving in navolging van Dickens schrijft) door in te gaan tegen de regels. Dit is in essentie waar het om draait in deze roman. De “regels van het ciderhuis” slaan op het papier dat jaarlijks wordt opgehangen in het verblijf van de zwarte plukkers in een appelbedrijf in de Amerikaanse staat Maine, het bevat een lijstje vermaningen. De ongeletterde plukkers zich zich niet bewust van die geboden en houden er een hele set eigen regels op na. Pas na enige tijd krijgt de echte hoofdfiguur van deze roman, Homer Wells, dit door. Homer is opgegroeid in de beschutte omgeving van een weeshuis dat geleid wordt door de eigenwijze dr Wilbur Larch, die er bevallingen doet van ongewenst zwangere vrouwen, maar ook – illegaal uiteraard – abortussen, hij combineert dit “werk van de Heer” met een toenemende verslaving aan ether. Larch leidt zijn favoriete wees Homer op om bevallingen uit te voeren en ontwikkelt ook erg vaderlijke gevoelens voor hem; maar Homer weigert abortussen te doen, want volgens hem heeft een foetus van bij de conceptie een ziel; hij betwist wel niet het recht van vrouwen om te kiezen voor een abortus; de worsteling met de regels dus. Homer belandt op het appelbedrijf in Maine, waar hij in een driehoeksverhouding terecht komt, en een zoon krijgt; ook in deze zaak komt er een worsteling met de regels aan te pas. Voor het overige komen ook thematieken als racisme, incest en vooral de positieve en negatieve aspecten van liefde aan bod. Ik had wat moeite om het eerste derde van de roman te doorworstelen: maar heel langzaam legt Irving de puzzelstukken op tafel, en pas dan krijgt het verhaal wat vaart. De klassieke Irving-ingrediënten ontbreken dit keer (beren, circustoestanden en extreme gebeurtenissen); alleen de prettig gestoorde Dokter Larch en de gewelddadige wees Melony zorgen voor absurd-hilarische toestanden. Het verhaal maakt dus wat minder capriolen dan andere Irving-werken, en wellicht lag het me daarom beter. Bovendien maakt het op een subtiele manier duidelijk hoezeer we in dit leven voortdurend moeten klaarkomen met de “regels”: diegenen die ons opgelegd worden, en diegenen die we ons zelf opleggen. Irving brengt dit allemaal op een heel ingenieuze manier aan, vanuit een zeer groot levenswijsheid en met een ongelofelijk milde, tolerante opstelling ten aanzien van de zwakheid van de mens. Heel opvallend is zijn strijdbaarheid rond het thema abortus: Irving gaat zeer gedetailleerd in op hoe en waarom die gebeuren en laat zijn opinie duidelijk blijken; maar via Homer geeft hij ook ruimte aan het andere standpunt. Prachtig!

[junipersun · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The orphans were read to nightly from David Copperfield, and this is a David Copperfield type of story. Homer Wells needs to find his way in the world after a 1/2 book of growing up in a backwoods Maine orphange in the 1940's. The director of the orphanage performs abortions for women who choose, trains Homer as a doctor, and Homer abandons that path due to his prolife stance (altho, of course, this was way before "prolife" was an battleground term.)I can't call it plodding, but there was so-o-o much. I had seen the movie over 25 years ago and thought I should read the book also since a free copy fell in my hands. I'm glad to be done with it.

[bardin_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Quite simply, the greatest book ever written... period. If you haven't read this book, you are missing out on a truly exceptional book in all respects. Read it now.

[mikedraper · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Dr. Wilbur Leach becomes a physician in the early 20th century. He sees two women die from illegal, botched abortions and decides to provide medical abortions for the women who seek them. He also sets out to inform women of the dangers of having an abortion from an untrained person.When he becomes associated with St. Cloud's Orphanage in Maine, his reputation spreads and women wanting abortions or just to give birth and leave their children to be adopted, come to St. Cloud's.Homer Wells is born at that facility. He's loved by the entire staff for his sweet disposition and helpfulness.He is placed into a number of adoptions but none of them take. Each time, he returns to St. Cloud's, the place where he really considers that he belongs. He remains there as he grows up and becomes Dr. Leach's assistant.This detailed story, tells of life in Maine in the early 20th century. It tells of the life of the people after the mills closed, the water pollution, and the sad way of life of so many of the poor people dwelling there.One of the author's themes is for the protagonist to give back to society and they seem to be congradulated for it. However, this novel also describes the painful moments such as, the adoptions that are done for the wrong reasons. We also see the continuous stream of women taking the train to the orphanage to seek an abortion. There is never counseling for these women or an attempt to give them an alternative to taking the life of the child within them. Where Dr. Leach is viewed as a kindly, angelic man, he really is taking lives of the children in their mother's wombs and nothing is said of that or that he is an ether addict. He became addicted to ether as a result of the gonorrhea he contracted after his father took him to a prostitute as a right of passage into adulthood.The story is a classic. Homer Wells is one of the most empathatic character is literature and will be remembered rondly, long after the book is finished.

[crystalee_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is the novel that got me hooked on John Irving! Much less bizarre than his other works (which are all bizarre in a good way!), The Cider House Rules manages somehow to be an informative treatis on abortion, a compelling love story, and an examination of human nature at the same time.

[kakadoo202 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great writing. Interesting characters. Good ending.

[chrisblocker · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Russo. King. Rash. Updike. Doctorow. Irving. I'm beginning to notice a similarity amongst east coast writers (mostly from New England) who are usually male and born in the 1930s, 40s, and 50s. They like narratives. They like description. They like slow build up. And all of these likes show how much they love being wordy. I wonder how many of these authors grew up on Dickens? The more I read of these authors, the more I'm convinced that I'm not a fan of the style. The problem for me is that most of these writers write really good stories. In order to find the story, however, one has to dig through a considerable amount of wordage. It's not the wordage that bothers me (I enjoy Tolstoy after all) so much as the style of wordage: descriptive narratives do not turn me on. At all.So now I have to decide—do I always let my personal dislike for the style taint my opinion of the book? Should I grant a little leniency to the era that brought us such great stories? Perhaps a little, but I doubt any of these authors will ever see five stars from me. (So take that you prize-winning multi-millionaires who were published before I was born!) So, wordiness aside (wordiness that includes too frequent mentions of “pubic hair,” “vuval pads,” and that unforgettable “pony's penis” *shudder*), The Cider House Rules is a good story. It had its moments of beauty. Many of the characters were interesting and memorable, though there were certainly a fair share of two-dimensional stock characters (again with the Dickens). The plot was structured well, but heavy-handed at times. I liked the story, but I would've liked a condensed version better—sacrilege, I know.I've heard many good things about several of Irving's stories, so I'll certainly give him another go one of these days. I hope to find a similarly good story, but without so much padding. It's a long shot, but it doesn't hurt to hope.