The Cider House Rules
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4.5 • 234 Ratings
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- $14.99
Publisher Description
Adapted into an Academy Award-winning film and one of John Irving's most beloved novels, The Cider House Rules is the story of a kind but complex doctor and the conflicted young orphan he takes under his wing.
“A novel as good as one could hope to find from any author, anywhere, anytime. Engrossing, moving, thoroughly satisfying.” —Joseph Heller, author of Catch-22
In the quiet, rural landscape of Maine, the St. Cloud's orphanage stands as a refuge for the unwanted. It is run by the eccentric and compassionate Dr. Wilbur Larch, a man who is both a saint and a sinner in the eyes of the world. He serves as an obstetrician, delivering babies for women in need, while also providing illegal abortions, a service he believes is his moral duty.
Among the orphans is Homer Wells, Dr. Larch’s devoted protégé. Trained in medicine by Larch, Homer is destined to take over the orphanage. However, Homer is fundamentally opposed to performing abortions, creating a deep conflict between his beliefs and his loyalty to his mentor.
Seeking to forge his own path, Homer leaves St. Cloud's to work an apple orchard for the wealthy Worthington family. There, he builds a new life and falls in love, but he cannot escape the pull of his past or the complex questions of right and wrong that Dr. Larch instilled in him. This epic tale explores the intricate nature of found family, the unpredictability of love, and the profound choices that define who we are meant to be.
Customer Reviews
an excellent read
i have been reading irving novels since seeing “the world according to garp”— i eventually went back and read the first three novels “setting free the bears” (personal favorite), “the water-method man” and “the 158-pound marriage”— his books are not light reading— he obviously puts a lot into his research and writing and the reader should be willing to do their part— after several tries across decades, “last night in twisted river” had me pulling the rest of my hair out as his characters traveled back and forth across the north-east but it was worth it at the end of the book— “the cider house rules” was the same— a second read of this book and i did not remember a lot of the story— like many of his books this one also comments to me of my own actions, thoughts and beliefs across the decades—
Something, please, happen…
About 1/4 thru book that seems endless. Odd incidents depicting odd values, repetitive & strung together in a way that moves the story forward at a plodding pace. I don’t usually leave a book unfinished but I am putting this dying dog down
Loved It.
I absolutely loved the movie, which was my introduction to this book. I soon learned of several plot lines that the movie omitted, most likely to focus on the core plot lines. Overall, this is a enjoyable novel that I couldn’t put down by the time I reached the last few chapters.