The Cider House Rules (Black Swan)

Another excellent piece of work by John Irving. If your an oldie and retired like me and didn't have time to read Irvings work back in your working days, this is a good one to catch up on. You won't want to put it down.

Dr. Larch is one of the most interesting and memorable of his characters. Often Irving's novels make one want to go out read other authors referred to in the story (Dickens, Bronte, Gunter Grass in particular), and this book is no exception. For me this was another example of a book that has not been (maybe can't be) successfully turned into a movie (in contrast to "Garp"). Highly recommended.

I like it when really good books written decades ago are released in ebook format by the store. Cider House Rules is one of these, and I quickly bought it. John Irving is a renowned author and this is one of his very best books. For me it's a literary novel that is very readable just for fun. The movie was good, too.

I had forgotten how well this book is written. The characters draw you in and you feel part of the story. It was great to read it again at an older age. I'm sure I have a different perspective now than I did when I was younger.

The best of Irving-ever controversial, constantly thought-provoking. Credible characters faced with difficult choices make for 'must' read moments. Read " A Prayer for Owen Meany" to get the real taste of Irving.

I really enjoyed this book. The reader is presented with both sides of the abortion debate without the book being overly political or preachy. Great character development. You really feel for the people in the book. No one is perfect so the story resonates as truth. No storybook ending but quite fulfilling nonetheless.

I missed the movie when it came out several years but I read the book and liked it so I rented the movie and liked it too, but not as much as the book. So glad I got to read this book and would recommend it to my friends

John Irving is an artist with words. His magical descriptions brought to life in my mind a place I've never been, at a time when I had not been born. I grew to love the characters as much as they loved one another. This is one of this books that you obsess about when you aren't reading it, and that you can't put down when you are.

A classic book that explores many social issues. The hero of the story comes to a conclusion about abortion (after much soul searching) -- but the book is not preachy and presents both sides of the issue.

It is always interesting to read a famous novel for the first time many years after publication. Lives, and backgrounds change. What may have been shocking when this first was published is less so now.

The book took several delicate subjects and made the reader analyze his/her feelings regarding each. I recently checked the video out of the local library and I was somewhat surprised that it followed the book fairly close.

This book is a wonderful read; engaging and well written. What is remarkable about it is that the writer is able to depict men so well; how they think, how they behave. All the motivations and emotions are covered with each male character which was especially appealing to me because I actually believe that after reading this book not only had I felt a sense of accomplishment in reading such a wonderful story, but I had a sense that I understood men better, too. Highly recommended.

Amazing crafted work, one of the best books I have ever read.I am still thinking about the breadth of the characters I lived with while I was reading and am still living with now! Also some clear non judgmental ways of looking at the question of abortion woven within the histories and ideals of the characters in the novel in such a way that it is easy to see how we can have differing views and in our own way they are all "right".

This is a wonderful book with fabulous characters and a solid story about the right of women to choose and the necessity of their choices. As the book indicates these issues will always exist and women need safe venues for these services. John Irving delivers a warm and kind book about great characters that have made difficult life choices.

This was my second time reading "Cider House"and I enjoyed it twice as much as I did the first. It is as near perfect as a novel can be. The characters have depth, each one's story important and interesting. Even the characters I didn't particularly like, I found myself caring about. That is amazing writing! I'm sure some day I will read it again and like it three times as much.

This book challenges & evokes such deep human emotions in oneself...it forces the reader to dig down & reflect upon his/her own trials & tribulations throughout life & becomes a journey along the way; a path that we can all relate to at some point.
While reading it I could empathize & sympathize w/ most every character in the book & felt like a part of me was in each one. I laughed, I cried, was elated, but also quite sad at times....all components of living real life!!

The Cider House Rules has all the usual quirky characters you expect to find in an Irving novel. It is a love story on many levels and it highlights the complexity of human emotions and the choices we make. Underlying it all are the subjects of abortion and orphans... and what it means to do God's work.

Cider House, the movie, is a dumbed down version of the excellent book. The movie shortens the time span of events, simplifies characters, and evades the complexities of issues that are confronted in the novel. Particularly annoying is the representation of Candy, who becomes an annoying woman who can't be left alone instead of a woman challenged by the dictates of heteronormative monogamy. Read the book.

I thoroughly enjoyed how John Irving develops the characters so fully during the course of the book. I especially enjoyed Homers relationship with Dr. Larch and his fight against his inner conviction not to perform abortions. A superb novel.