Rating: 
Summary: A major disappointment from one of my favourite authors.
Review: Although this book starts off quite promisingly and quite thrillingly I found it quickly descended into a contrived and finally uninteresting story. The plot twists were unbelievable and the characters motivations were, at times, ridiculous. Unfortunately, after the last two superb books: A Prayer for Owen Meany and A Son of the Circus, this was a major disappointment.
Rating: 
Summary: One of Those Books That You Don't Want to Finish!
Review: I've been an avid fan of John Irving since first reading The World According To Garp. This new book is by far my favorite since Garp. Irving is a master at making human tragedy the center of his characters lives. Reminiscent of Garp, a tragic car accident features prominently in the story. My only main fault with the novel was that Irving doesn't often write from a woman's point of view, and although his Ruth character was multi-layered, his obsession with her breasts was unrealistic. The novel was all the more interesting because all of it's main characters were writers. Getting to read the character's work added only added to the novel.
Rating: 
Summary: Entertaining story, but difficult to relate to characters
Review: The story and writing style were wonderful. Many scenes in the first part were hilarious. The discussions about writers and the chapters describing the characters' books and showing how the characters' incorporated their life experiences into fiction were fascinating. Structurally, too much time was spent in the second part describing Ruth's stay in Amsterdam. Although the characters were interesting to read about, the focus was on their actions, rather than their psychology. As a result, as much as I enjoyed the book, I never formed an emotional bond with the characters.
Rating: 
Summary: What a dissappointment
Review: Long ago I read The Hotel New Hampshire and fell in love with Irving's superior storytelling. I looked forward to each new novel, and treated myself to A Widow as soon as it came out. I had planned to attend a reading in Boston, but was not able to make it. Lucky for me! Irving refused to sign books. That certainly explains a lot, in my opinion. I hope Mr. Irving comes back to us soon and replaces this pompous imposter.
Rating:
Summary: Please don't bother with this one
Review: "A Widow for One Year" was my first John Irving book, and it might be my last. While I thought the plot was interesting (at first), it quickly went downhill from there. Irving cluttered up the novel with extempraneous details and subplots that did nothing to help me to the end. If anything, they were deterrents along the way. I didn't love, or even like, any of the characters. And Hannah was a nightmareÑI found myself wondering why Ruth (or anyone) would ever be friends with her. It was such an effort to finish the book that I vow never to force myself to read such drivel again. The only thing that I looked forward to in this book was finishing it so I could start a new oneÑby a different author.But, I hear "A Prayer for Owen Meany" is well worth the read. However, the next Irving book I pick up will be from the library, as I can't bear to spend more money on anything that has the slightest chance of being so mundane.
Rating:
Summary: A return to early Irving themes, a lesson in writing a novel
Review: Irving again creates a group of unforgetable characters, and then lets them have it right between the eyes. This book is worthy of at least two readings, one for the story itself (which has an unexpected and satisfying ending), and one to marvel at the writing. Indeed, since many of the characters are writers in the process of writing, the second reading this book could substitute for a weekend writer's seminar. Irving deftly shifts time throughout the novel, layering insights into characters and circumstances. He successfully creates fully realized men, women, and children. His characters are multi-dimensional, but never "break character" to artificially move the plot forward. Haunting family photographs, both real and imagined, become a character in their own right. Use of stories within the story show how writers weave personal experience into their work--making it understandable why readers so often want to know more about the personal lives of their favorite authors. Irving writes about issues that are uncomfortable, events that are painful. Some may be turned off by such subject matter or the slow beginning, but the novel is so satisfying that the effort is well worth it. The unabridged audio version receives an A+ for production values, outstanding narrator.
Rating: 
Summary: Great fun, like watching a not very serious accident develop
Review: I have always liked John Irving's books, and I liked this one. He is a storyteller, with magician's tricks, a tough guy moralist, a clinical anthropolgist about sex, and a tragedian with a sense of fun. He has done all this before, about seven times, but it was a treat to watch him do it again. I do think he was a little hard on Trollope.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful, yet not quite Garp or Cider House
Review: As with typical Iriving, Widow starts of a little slow, and ends possibly a little week, but the middle is fantastic. The story is classic John Irving in that it pushes the limits of plausability, but does not cross the line of pretentiousness that Owen Meany does or just plain ridiculousness that circus crosses. It is much closer to the excellence of both Garp and Cider House. Its true strength lies in its characters and the development of our true interest and concern for them. A Widow For One Year is a return to John Irvings best works.
Rating:
Summary: Best book since "Owen"
Review: Once again, I am enamoured by Irving's central characters. Though they display the characteristics that all of us wish we *didn't* have, they are lovable. This is Irving's best work, second to "A Prayer For Owen Meany".
Rating:
Summary: WOW
Review: Does Mr. Irving have a wonderful imagination, or what? Where does he come up with these stories? i found A Widow to be funny, moving, and interesting all at the same time. Although i do wonder why Mr. Irving has such a fasination with large breasts, I try not to be insulted, being a woman myself. Other than that I have zero complaints about this wonderfully captivating story. This may be his best one yet!!!
|
