Rating: 
Summary: Heartwarming... Realistic... In-depth... Beautifully written
Review: This review is based on the paperback version 1985
The movie debut a few years back was great, excellent actors represented the characters, cinematography and technical details were solid.
The book is a lot more involved, with more in-depth events in the story that are left out of the movie.
However, readers are missing out on a lot of John Irving's writing talent if they fail to read the book. A reader grows to know Irving's players in a way not many authors create and allow the reader to absorb each character -- some readers put the book in a negative light by stating that the characters and issues are unrealistic... Whoa! That is definitely NOT the case. The issues existed then as they exist now and are in our sight always.
The setting is State of Maine, an orphanage named St. Cloud's -- Dr. Wilbur Larch, orphan Homer Wells, and the relationship of their bonding. All characters deserve and are allowed compassion enhanced with understanding. Sub-plots are woven gracefully into the story assisting the main essence of the theme. John Irving gives credence to issues in The Cider House Rules: abortion, friendship, family, love, loyalty, humor to laugh to, and tears to cry with. John Irving has ecome one of my top ten favorite authors. John Irving was born in Exeter, NH, resides in NY, and has also authored "Hotel New Hampshire" & "The World According to Garp"... and more.
Rating:
Summary: Very moving and superbly crafted story
Review: You can't evaluate "The Cider House Rules" on the basis of the plot: to say that the book is about an orphan who grows up in an orphanage run by an abortionist, meets a young couple (there for an abortion), leaves with them, and falls in love with the woman, is to miss about 90 percent of what makes the book special.I've only read one other book by John Irving ("The Hotel New Hampshire"), but it seems to be the case that his novels are so incredibly character-driven. As you read the books, you get the sense that he is so attuned to the people who populate his world that he could write novels centered on any of them. Now, you are probably aware that the book is somewhat about abortion. Indeed, Irving clearly has a point to make about the pro-choice vs. pro-life debate, and it's pretty clear which side he's on. But at the same time, to say that the book is "about" abortion is like saying that "Casablanca" is about World War 2. Clearly, abortion is inextricably intertwined with the plot and the characters, but the novel is not about abortion; rather, it's about characters who have to make life decisions, including about abortion. One final note: for better or worse, I tend not to have much patience for "literature." I've read some Dickens, but would never do so for fun. My idea of great literature is "Cryptonomicon" by Neal Stephenson. But . . . I absolutely loved reading "The Cider House Rules" and I was never bored.
Rating:
Summary: MAGICAL READING
Review: Re-released to coincide with the Miramax film version of Irving's popular book, The Cider House Rules has lost none of its power to haunt. As the world now knows Irving is both an artistic and ingenious writer as he displays in this story set some years ago in St. Cloud, a sparsely populated Maine town. At bare bones it is the life of Wilbur Leach, founder and director of an orphanage. The doctor performs abortions. It is also the story of Homer Wells, an orphan who is never adopted. Treat yourself again to the mesmerizing magic of John Irving.
Rating:
Summary: Great story, but don't miss out on the meaning!
Review: Before long, John Irving will be read widely at schools and colleges; his books are great and have been compared to the masters of literature. The Cider house rules is a fun and easy novel to read. But what some readers missed out on was the central meaning, the message from the book. Such great writers like John Irving write books for more reasons than just to entertain, but they write books to teach the world something. Some readers have placed John Irving in the group of, "senseless" writers. But reader please be aware that John Irving's books do have themes and messages, I have only read this one and I can see how easily some readers can get lost in the story and miss out on the idea behind the story. What I thought Irving was trying to say is that someone's father does not necessarily have to be biological. Your father doesn't have to be the person that made your mother pregnant. Homer Wells, and Dr. Larsh have some father-son qualities that pointed this out to me, but we must always look beyond the characters problems and think of the UNIVERSAL meaning of the book, and I believe what Irving was trying to say is that things can always be replaced by other things, it is an excellent story and meaning, good and thought provoking, an all around FIVE star book!
Rating:
Summary: Very moving and superbly crafted story
Review: You can't evaluate "The Cider House Rules" on the basis of the plot: to say that the book is about an orphan who grows up in an orphanage run by an abortionist, meets a young couple (there for an abortion), leaves with them, and falls in love with the woman, is to miss about 90 percent of what makes the book special. I've only read one other book by John Irving ("The Hotel New Hampshire"), but it seems to be the case that his novels are so incredibly character-driven. As you read the books, you get the sense that he is so attuned to the people who populate his world that he could write novels centered on any of them. Now, you are probably aware that the book is somewhat about abortion. Indeed, Irving clearly has a point to make about the pro-choice vs. pro-life debate, and it's pretty clear which side he's on. But at the same time, to say that the book is "about" abortion is like saying that "Casablanca" is about World War 2. Clearly, abortion is inextricably intertwined with the plot and the characters, but the novel is not about abortion; rather, it's about characters who have to make life decisions, including about abortion. One final note: for better or worse, I tend not to have much patience for "literature." I've read some Dickens, but would never do so for fun. My idea of great literature is "Cryptonomicon" by Neal Stephenson. But . . . I absolutely loved reading "The Cider House Rules" and I was never bored.
Rating:
Summary: MAGICAL READING
Review: Re-released to coincide with the Miramax film version of Irving's popular book, The Cider House Rules has lost none of its power to haunt. As the world now knows Irving is both an artistic and ingenious writer as he displays in this story set some years ago in St. Cloud, a sparsely populated Maine town. At bare bones it is the life of Wilbur Leach, founder and director of an orphanage. The doctor performs abortions. It is also the story of Homer Wells, an orphan who is never adopted. Treat yourself again to the mesmerizing magic of John Irving.
Rating:
Summary: Irving Rules
Review: Once again, John Irving has scored with an intriguing and heartfelt tale of love and family. The Cider House Rules brings together the notion that family is borne of those who love us and those who accept us as we are. Homer Wells is a character of almost accidental existence--as an orphan, he stands out to those in the orphanage as different. And Homer is different. His life and his passions emerge as he grows into an independent being. Homer is the epitome of every person who's ever felt rejection. John Irving takes great care in weaving an intricate plot and bringing passion and reality into a bittersweet conclusion.
Rating:
Summary: Loved it
Review: I just loved this big long book. I couldn't wait to return to it. He presents both sides of very difficult topics like abortion. I am looking forward to reading another Irving book.
Rating:
Summary: John Irving¿s Finest Literary Achievement
Review: I have a Love/Hate relationship with John Irving's body of work. The Cider House Rules is scores on so many different levels-premise, plot, character development, dialog, and originality. One of Irving's most delightful qualities is the ability to take a fiber of premise, twist it with a thread of profound thought; and through the miracle of language knit together an awkward group of word to craft a remarkable and sturdy quilt upon which his reader may contemplate. In *A Prayer for Owen Meany*, he did something like this in comparing late 20th Century America to the sad story of Marilyn Monroe Irving succeeds on several levels in *The Cider House Rules* by mixing the Right to Life and Abortion debate with 1940s black-white race relations, ménage-a-trois, incest, addiction, all different varieties of love, and the art of apple growing. I don't believe in re-telling the story in a review, but if you can imagine an author pouring all those ingredients into a mixing bowl and coming out with a Great American novel, you will find that John Irving pulls *The Cider House Rules* out of the oven delicious and fully formed. Irving's books are seldom cheerful. *The Cider House Rules* is no exception. However, it is a well-balanced juxtaposition of image, event, morals and humor that does not bog down under the heavy weight of its controversial ingredients. For every negative image or event, there's a couple of laughs or bright spots to balance things out. Irving performs this balancing act especially well in his sensitive presentation of the abortion issue. His characters successfully debate both sides of the argument and allow the Reader to make his own conclusions. His presentation changed the way I feel about abortion. I am richer because I gave him the opportunity. As is usual with Irving's books, *The Cider House Rules* abounds with vibrant and fully fleshed characters. Among them: the enduring and complex Dr. Larch, ever-useful Homer Wells; the secretive, efficient Mr. Rose; Melony's seething and angry passion. Michael Caine received a well-deserved Oscar for his portrayal of Dr. Larch in the feature film. But if you have seen only the movie, bear in mind that the screenplay very effectively truncates the story within the book, covering only a few of the subplots. The book and film stand apart from another, each as true works of art. Something you don't often see happen with film versions of quality novels. I enjoyed just about every page of *Cider House Rules*. It has an intellectual depth seldom found in books today. If you have even a passing interest in experiencing this candid and sensitive allegory of American Life and values, you will find your time and intellect richly rewarded.
Rating:
Summary: DELIBERATELY DETAILED!
Review: You can never say the John Irving, doesn't give you your money's worth. I just finished C.H.R and I will say that it is a heavier read,and more complex than GARP, But that is not to say it wasn't grand. I have yet to find a writer who can spread words like warm butter, his sentences roll off the tongue with ease.
I haven't seen the movie yet and I will look for it now and to compare notes. I loved this novel, the characters are so vivid and real, the settings, even down to the smells are so clear in this book. It reads like a thousand page novel, but in only 600 pages. There is so much vivid and important detail that it is simple amazing. Irving is one great writer. His story's are so rich. I hope he will write more and more.
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