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Summary: An incredible book, keeps you up at night reading it.
Review: The detail of characters was very in depth. You actually feel like you know them. Once you get into the story, it is very hard to put the book down. I finished it in 5 days. I haven't read any of J. Irvings other books, but I plan on it.
Rating: 
Summary: Not his best, but even so-so Irving is pretty good...
Review: This story-within-a-story novel is not on a par with some of John Irving's other work, such as "The World According to Garp" and "A Prayer for Owen Meany." Even so, it was an engaging read.Irving's style is evident, with the most outrageous things happening to his characters. There is a murder, a philanderer is chased and nearly stabbed by one of his paramours, death and almost death by carbon monoxide poisoning, gum stuck in the most unlikely places...It almost makes you breathless, just keeping up. I wish the characters had been a little more sharply drawn, particularly Eddie. However, still a book I would recommend.
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Summary: Thank you, John Irving
Review: After hearing mixed reviews for A Widow for One Year, I wasn't sure it would meet my "Irving expectations." Fortunately, it met and exceeded them. Not only was I entertained by the story from start to finish, I was amazed at the creativity and eloquence of the writing. Although they are two very different novels, I loved this book almost as much as Owen Meany. I've recommended Widow to all of my friends--it was fantastic.
Rating: 
Summary: I knew it wouldn't be Owen Meany and was STILL disappointed
Review: John Irving seemed to be presenting his story of Ruth Cole as if from a great distance. His narrative seemed often to be building up to something - as if it were all deep background -- that never happened. Astounding coincidences aside, the narrative was so sparse, so clinical (and pretty crude)that it was really difficult to relate to any of the characters. For example, it was hard to imagine why Ruth Cole and Hannah were "best friends" as they acted like they only hurt and annoyed each other. They didn't seem to understand or to comfort each other. It was as if Irving said they were best friends, so they were, but there was no reason to believe. I did like the narrative devices that Irving used, including Ruth's postcards and journals as a chapter, and one of her short stories. It enriched what was otherwise a sparse narrative. In all, the first section was the most compelling, the rest... not so much.
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Summary: Proof that a man can write a real, interesting woman
Review: A Widow for One Year is on the same level as The World According to Garp and A Prayer for Owen Meany. Irving has a unique gift for making you laugh harder than you though possible, and then feeling bad for laughing at what turn out to be terrible misfortunes and tragedies. He has a true narrative gift, other reviewers claimed that he could be hard to follow, but I would vehemently disagree. If you have a the combination of a sense of humor but require more than a chuckle from novels, if you're daring to look for some sort of "literary value" than John Irving's latest is sure to please.
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Summary: It just went on and on and on...
Review: I started this book with such high hopes. Unfortunately, what a bore! It took all of my strengths to muddle through to the end. I wish I would have given up earlier and not wasted my time. Parts of the story were intriguing, but overall a dud! I am not recommending this book to anyone that I know.
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Summary: Coincidences of life and age
Review: It was Harry , the retired policeman the chosen one ! . The coincidences of life and the ages are always present in this book . For two persons to meet each other , one has to get together two dimensions :time and space . Both persons heve to be in the same place and at the same time . Ruth says , when she's contemplating the stars , that her next book would be about fortune . She's fascinated by the amount of facts in one's life where probability plays such an important role . Marion eats alone , ordering her wine by the glass and eating her meals with a novel . And adds that eating with a novel is not eating alone . And fantasy and magic are revealed in the relationship between Ruth and Harry , where love is made during the day and loud reading during the night . As a friend of mind has said how many books are written inside this book . So many characters of the book are writers and reflect on their books their own experiences , sometimes the same ones seen from different perspectives . As Durrell in the Alexandria Quator . And above all , Ruth Cole , if existed , would be a very interesting woman . Lucky Harry , if he existed too !
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Summary: I could not put it down!
Review: This book starts out slow, and may lose you at times, but I really enjoyed it. Stick with it...because the story is really interesting. I could not wait to sit down and read more! I am excited to read more of Irving now!
Rating: 
Summary: Dull and lifeless after the first 100 pages
Review: Mr. Irving starts off strong, with interesting well drawn characters. However, after the first section, there is nothing that's either interesting, compelling or particularly well written. It's my guess that Mr. Irving started a pretty good novel and either to explain or excuse his purient interest in prostitutes, tried to steer his good opening into a trite story about and unlikeable writer and her purient interest in prostitutes. I guess if nothing else, this book helped Mr. Irving explain to his wife and the IRS why he needed to hang out in Amsterdam's red light district.
Rating:
Summary: next book..
Review: I found this book to be too long for the actual story it told. It went on and on and on and by the time I was finished I was totally unsatisfied. Blah-blah-blah-blah-blah...finish it already. I loved Owen Meaney but this was a major dissapointment.
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