Rating: 
Summary: This novel deserves no less than five stars.
Review: It seems that many reader reviewers have missed the mark. "Widow" is, in fact, a masterpiece - which is not unusual for Irving. His characters (including minor ones) are richly developed and far more interesting than most real people. While several reviewers have complained that the novel is too long, my only complaint is that it is not long enough. I could have continued to live in the world of Ruth, Eddie, Marion, et al for many more chapters. Irving, as usual, is a storytelling, picture-painting genius!
Rating:
Summary: Irving has won my heart!
Review: This is the first John Irving book I have been able to get through without feeling like I need to own a bottle of scotch after finishing it. The character of Ruth is so well developed I felt like I knew her! While some of the secondary characters left me wondering why Ruth associated with them, it still does not dissuade me from giving this book five enthusiastic stars. I'm going to give the other books another try!
Rating: 
Summary: wandering story whose characters lack substance and interest
Review: I found the book tedious and almost defensive in its insistence that the novelist is a misunderstood creature. If that is part of his content, I found little to convince me that I should make the effort to understand. I found the characters neither not rich or memorable. The feeling I got was that he had the pieces of three unfinished novels written and decided to publish them without even reading the proofs.
Rating:
Summary: Disappointed
Review: I have loved all of John Irving's other books. I was excited to read this one, but I was quite disappointed. The storytelling and the plot are usual Irving style, but Ruth's (the main character) relationship with Hannah as well her lovers are surprisingly superficial and unbelievable. Irving's usual ironic humor is missing, and there doesn't seem to be anything taking it's place.
Rating: 
Summary: Made me want to read all of Irving's work...
Review: This was the first John Irving novel I read. Since finishing it I have read Garp, Owen Meany and Cider House. I would have to say that Widow is my favourite. It was the incredibly detailed and complex (Ruth) characters that made it such an intriguing read. I can't believe the people that are carving this book... It makes me laugh when people say how poorly the book was written and they have trouble putting coherent, error-free sentences in their reviews.
Rating:
Summary: My first Irving book and loved every page of it!
Review: My first Irving book and loved it. Can't wait to read another one of his books. Only wished Hannah ended up with Eddie!
Rating:
Summary: An Addict for Three Days
Review: In the Summer of 1998 John Irving may just have been one of the most brilliant authors alive...
Rating: 
Summary: Good book but could drag.
Review: I liked this book but it had a tendency to drag on and on. I tried to quit reading it several times and even read a different book entirely before completely finishing this one. I do like the intracies of the characters.
Rating:
Summary: Don't give up, readers. Ending is truely Irving.
Review: I almost gave up in the middle, but I am glad I didn't. This is a great love story. The ending is truely Irving. However, unlike Garp, this novel lacks his detatched, sarcasm on the world. Garp made me realize how crazy and unpredictable can this life can be, but this book is more about human emotions. I was hoping to share Irving's view on cometemporary America. I miss that very much. The point is: there should be more than Diet Coke to illustrate America in 1990's!
Rating: 
Summary: A disappointing book with unlikable characters
Review: By far one of the most nonsensical books I have ever read. The characters, while intensely detailed, are unrealistic and entirely unlikable. Ruth is an angry, convoluded woman who is only interesting as a child. Her relationship with Hannah is only slightly more unrealistic than the far-fetched love affair between Eddie and Marion. That we are to believe the "love" between a 16 year-old boy and a 39 year-old woman survived a 37 year estrangement is ridiculous. The only hihglight of the book is the tragic story of the two boys' accident. However, beginning Eddie and Marion's sexual encounters with Eddie's physical resemblence to Marion's dead sons is disturbingly unnecessary.
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