I've read this more than once and can say it is my favourite J Irving novel. It has a tapestry of warmth to it.

The Cider House Rules rules! … and so does its author, John Irving.

There is not a lot that I can say about this book that would likely stir much interest in most people. It’s a long book. Most of the important events it describes transpire very slowly over many years, even decades. Nearly all of the characters are generally run-of-the mill, with little to endear them to the reader.

Incredibly, for me, these seeming shortcomings actually contributed to making this probably the best work of fiction I have read in a long time. This is a story about real people, living in the real world, dealing with real problems and the real complexities of life and relationships.

The controversial subject of abortion, which is central to this story, is also likely to dissuade many people from reading this book—as it did for me for a long time. But I am so glad I finally talked myself into it.

Just a couple of short passages that I found intriguing and enlightening (highlighting is my own):

n  … but Dr. Gingrich was not so interested in the outcome of the situation in St. Cloud’s as he was fascinated with his secretive study of Mrs. Goodhall’s mind, in which he found such a complex broth of righteous delusion and inspired hatred.n

- - - -

n  “It’s hard to want to protect someone else, and not be able to,” Angel pointed out.

“You can’t protect people, kiddo,” Wally said. “All you can do is love them.”n

This is a pretty hefty novel, but so worth it!
It covers an expanse of characters' history - the main one being Homer, a young boy brought up in an orphanage his entire life. The orphanage is connected to a hospital where secret abortions are performed.
Homer becomes assistant to Dr. Larch and learns the trade, before having a moral struggle, and chooses to leave the orphanage to live with a couple who have recently visited.
He moves to their farm, where they grow apples to make cider and Homer's life changes for ever.
I love this novel, it is one of my favourites and put Irving's books at the top of my list.
Anyone who has an interest in American history and in depth character studies - go for it, you won't be disappointed!

I don't know how Irving does it. Again, in this book nothing spectacular happens. We just follow some very human characters in their everyday lives, with all its ups and downs, with its beautiful sides as well as its sad ones. But I just loved to read this, mainly because I cared for the characters. Most of them are so kind and warm, they have so lovable quirks and their passion sometimes leads them to make stupid mistakes. It's easy to connect with them and in my opinion, that is the particular beauty of this story.

Homeras Velzas savo dienas leidžia Sent Klaudo prieglaudoje. Jį prižiūri daktaras Vilburis Larčas. Jis dirba nelengvą, tačiau labai reikalingą darbą. Priima gimstančius kūdikius bei pasirūpina tais, kurie nėra laukiami. Laikui bėgant Homeras tampa jo mokiniu, o kiek vėliau ir padėjėju.
Homeras taip ir nesurado tikrų namų bei mylinčios šeimos, o paguodą jam visuomet teikdavo prieglauda. Ši vieta jam tapo jo namais. Vis dėlto jis nusprendžia išbandyti šį tą naujo ir palieka prieglaudą. Tik kur jį tai nuves?

John Irving yra neabejotinas talentas. Jis kuria be galo vaizdingą pasakojimą, kurio centre - veikėjai. Nors ir netobulas, tačiau Vilburis Larčas sužavėtų kiekvieną. Jo atsidavimas savo profesijai bei našlaičiams tiesiog pasigėrėtinas. Jis Homerą mylėjo lyg tikras tėvas. Pats Homeras taip pat neeilinė asmenybė. Be galo protingas bei žavus jaunuolis.
Nors šioje knygoje džiaugsmo bei linksmybių nebuvo daug, tačiau skaitydama šią istoriją ne kartą šypsojausi. Irvingas apie sunkius dalykus pasakojo šviesiai bei teikiančiai viltį. Mano akimis ši istorija tikrai galėjo būti ir keliais šimtais puslapių trumpesnė, tačiau nepaisant to skaityti buvo tikrai įdomu. Džiaugiuosi, jog pagaliau susipažinau su šio autoriaus kūryba ir viliuosi ateityje persjaityti ir daugiau jo knygų.

Had I never read this book or not watched the movie, I would have missed
out on something special. Looking at the reviews below tells me I'm not so wrong. There
are many written that are alike; no need for another.
This was such a great book by a great author.
Irving also starred in the 1999 movie.

Неймовірна книга, яка занурювала мене в свій настрій і атмосферу без поспіху, без штучності. Найкраще в ній, як автор прописав героїв. Кожного ти відчув і зрозумів. І це почуття гумору

Rating: 5* of five

My very favorite John Irving book is a $1.99 Kindle Daily Deal today. So very worth the tiny cost.

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.

Mi sono avvicinato a questo libro senza saperne assolutamente niente. L'unica cosa che sapevo era che ne era stato fatto un film, che mi pare fosse stato passato spesso in TV ma che non avevo mai visto.

È stata quindi una sorpresa scoprire che il libro ruotava intorno a un orfanatrofio nel Maine, al suo direttore (il dottor Larch) che oltre a occuparsi degli orfani offriva anche gratuitamente aborti a chi li richiedesse, malgrado l'illegalità della cosa, e ovviamente a Homer Wells, uno degli orfani.
Un orfano che il destino voleva rifiutato da tutte le famiglie adottive e quindi destinato a rimanere all'istituto, dove si sarebbe occupato dei bambini più piccoli e sarebbe diventato l'assistente di Larch.

Homer che poi "prende il volo", spinto dal dottore (una figura più paterna di molti genitori) a seguire una giovane coppia benestante giunta lì in cerca di aiuto.
La storia di amicizia e amore con Wally e Candy è complicata e dolorosa, con diversi "colpi di scena" non propriamente imprevedibili che però non guastano la lettura.

La condizione di orfano e la vita nell'orfanotrofio, la questione etica dell'aborto (il lavoro di Dio e il lavoro del Diavolo), la lealtà e l'amicizia, il rimorso e la colpa.
La condizione delle persone di colore nel Maine nel secondo dopoguerra.
Mister Rose con il suo lavoro di coltello, la giovane Rose Rose calamita di uomini e guai.
Angel Wells, con la sua vita idilliaca e improbabile.
Il patriottismo idealista di Wally.
Il dottor Stone.

Molte tematiche che erano attuali negli anni cinquanta-sessanta-settanta, e che assurdamente restano oltremodo attuali pure adesso.

Un libro lento e vasto, che parte piano ma che poi entra sotto la pelle.

Digital audiobook performed by Grover Gardner

From the book jacket: Irving’s sixth novel is set in rural Maine, in the first half of the 20th century. It tells the story of Dr Wilbur Larch – saint and obstetrician, founder and director of the orphanage in the town of St Cloud’s, ether addict and abortionist. It is also the story of Dr Larch’s favorite orphan, Homer Wells, who is never adopted.

My reactions
I love Irving’s writing, and don’t know why this one languished on my TBR for so long. I saw the movie back when it first came out (1999), but never read the book. The movie left out a lot and compressed the timeline.

The span of the novel is about 70 years, taking Dr Larch from a young man to his death in his 90s. Much changes in the world, and yet his little corner of the world sees little difference. Pregnant women come to give birth, their children coming into the care of the orphanage, with every effort made to place them in loving families. Other women come seeking an end to their pregnancies, and Dr Larch accommodates them with compassion and skill.

What I really like about the novel is how the characters are portrayed. The reader gets a clear idea of how Dr Larch came to his decision to perform abortions, the social and moral responsibility he felt he owed the women (and girls) who came to him for help. The reader also clearly understands why Homer makes a different decision, how he struggles to love this man who is like a father to him, once he makes that decision. And the reader watches the painful separation that all parents face when they send their offspring out into the world to make their own way. How a parent’s hopes and dreams may not always be embraced by that child.

Grover Gardner does a fine job narrating the audiobook. He sets a good pace and manages to differentiate the many characters.

Believe it of not, I didn't know the plot of this book before I dove in. I feel like I should have had some idea given the popularity of the book and the Academy Award winning movie adaptation, not to mention (as I learned) the somewhat controversial nature of the themes. I pulled it out of my to-read pile because I was looking for a well-written, engaging fiction novel, and I felt like John Irving would be able to deliver on these requirements. He definitely did, but this also ended up being a really timely read given the recent US Supreme Court ruling to overturn Roe v. Wade.

The story takes place in the World War II era and is a coming of age story of the orphan Homer Wells. Homer Wells grows up in an orphanage under the father-like care of Dr. Wilbur Larch, an obstetrician who is also a secret abortion provider. It is important for Homer Wells to be "of use" so he trains as a medical assistant under Dr. Larch, but their relationship is strained due to their differing views on abortion. Even after Homer Wells leaves the orphanage to pursue a path away from obstetrics, complex situations surrounding unwanted pregnancies, a patient's choice, and the need for abortions continue to follow him throughout his adult life which causes him to constantly reassess his beliefs on the subject.

John Irving is a masterful and imaginative storyteller, and The Cider House Rules is no exception. Given the central themes of the book, I found this to be a really thought-provoking read, but it was also fun and profoundly engaging. And the book comes with the cast of colorful, eccentric characters that are expected of John Irving. It's the reason I keep come back to his books. From the main characters to the orphans and nurses to the patients, there's all kinds of whimsy and neurosis and vivid backstories to keep you on your toes. I loved them all, but I admit I was a little surprised when I finished the book and realized that Melony, a strong female orphan with a very challenging personality, had become one of my favorite characters.

Clearly, I was not disappointed in my choice to finally read this one, and this story is going to stick with me for awhile. I will always keep coming back to Irving for his fantastic storytelling and unforgettable characters.