A Widow for One Year

Rating:
Summary: I couldn't put the book down!
Review: This was the first of John Irving's books I've read but it will definately not be the last. I didn't know who John Irving was until i saw him about 5 months ago on Rosie O'donnell, i then ran out and bought the book and finished it in less then a week! I became so involved with the characters i was wondering during the day what they were doing and i had to rush home to pick up my book. I actually cried on the last page which for me is rare, and if a book can do that for me, it's got to be good! Keep up the good work John Irving I look forward to reading more of your work!

Rating:
Summary: too sad to be enjoyable
Review: and is too sad to see that I'm not very original because for me "A Prayer for Owen Meany" and "The Cider House Rules" are superior novels.Sin embargo,John Irving is a very good writer and "Widow For One Year" is a good book even thought I liked the first part better than the second part,but I confess that I skipped the part of the final driving test,I don't have the stomach for that kind of details. I loved all the characters,specially Eddie, but I didn't like the way that Irving treated the subplot of their work,I thought it was very obvious.

Rating:
Summary: Starts great,but fades in the middle.
Review: A Widow For One Year looks at the long term affect (into the next generation ) the tragic death of two teen age boys has on a family. When the novel begins it is 1958. The boys have been dead several years and we are spending the summer in the Hamptons with Ted and Marion(the boys parents),Ruth(their four year old daughter) and Eddy , a 16 year old student who comes to work for Ted and Marion for the summer. This first section is brilliant-one moment hilariously funny and the next heartbreakingly sad. It reminded me of Anne Tyler's writing at its best. When th narrative leaps forward many years(too many) we all but lose sight of Ted, Marion and Eddy and the story loses much of its charm. I felt the ending was good but overall the novel does not deliver on the promise of the great first third.

Rating:
Summary: Loved the beginning - lost me at the end...
Review: I am a true fan of John Irving. I was, however, disappointed with "A Widow for One Year". I found the beginning of the story (first third of the book) to be entertaining - but I thought the storyline really went down hill for the reaminder of the novel. I didn't care about Ruth and I thought the portrayal of Eddie was ridiculous. Additionally, I thought far too much time was spent in Amsterdam - focusing on "My Last Bad Boyfriend" (horrible title!). Finally, I wanted more from the ending. I remain an Irving fan, but would not recommend this book - especially to first time Irving readers.

Rating:
Summary: A John Irving fan is born
Review: A Widow for One Year was the first John Irving book I have read. The story was compelling and the ending statisfied. The characters were well drawn. It was the scars they carried, both physical and spiritual, that made each of them real. Ruth's finger, and the pain of her familiy's loss that she carried with her through her adulthood, were defining components of her character. As she grew and explored, those scars were always there. The same was true of Eddie's obsession for Marion, Ted's anestheisizing sexual extravagance, and Marion's grief. A successful book has two components, the reader and the writer. It is the reader's responsibility to pick up the book at the right moment to read it. It is the writer's responsibility to entertain, to inform, to bewitch. I judge myself lucky to have picked up this book, at the right moment in my life. Now I have old Irving books to read for the first time, and the hope of new Irving books to come.

Rating:
Summary: Interesting and unusual characters.
Review: Although I haven't read many of John Irvings novels, I found this one to be full of very interesting characters. However not all of the characters are likeable people (this I suppose makes them more believable, particularly with their failings)The many stories within the story only added to each characters complexity. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Rating:
Summary: The Old John Irving is back!!!!!!
Review: A Widow for one Year is John Irving at his best, reminiscent of Garp and Hotel New Hampshire. I was disappointed with Son of the Circus and Ms Piggy Sneed, but this new book has restored my faith in the author, and I can hardly wait for his next masterpiece. Ruth and Eddie came alive on the pages; Ted's scene in the garden of his lover was great, and the detective deserves a book of his own. It's wonderful to know that John Irving is alive and well and oh, so terrific!

Rating:
Summary: Irving's Widow for One Year is one of Irving's finest!
Review: I have read all but one of John Irving's novels. A Widow for One Year ranks up there with my two favorites: Cider House Rules and A Prayer for Owen Meaneey. Ruth, Eddie, Marion, etc. are characters that will stay with me for a long time. It is such a pleasure to hear Irving's voice again. It is rare to have an author who is consistently brilliant! The ending brought me to tears.

Rating:
Summary: IRVING WRITING FROM ANOTHER PLANET
Review: JOHN IRVING HAS ALWAYS BEEN MY FAVORITE WRITER SO IT ISN'T EASY AT ALL BEING OBJECTIVE ABOUT HIS WORK. STILL I BELIEVE HE HAS AGAIN WOVEN A FANTASTIC SPIDERWEB OF GREAT CHARACTERS THAT MADE GARP, MEANY, CIDER HOUSE RULES AND YES DEAR READERS SON OF THE CIRCUS SUCH GREAT BOOKS TO READ. JOHN IRVING IS IN HIS LIFETIME ALREADY A LEGENDARY WRITER WHO NOT ONLY MAKES YOU WANNA CRAWL INTO HIS BOOKS BUT ALSO MAKES YOU FEEL BOOKS ARE THERE TO ENJOY AND EXPLORE. THIS IS A STORYTELLER WRITING ON THE TIP OF HIS TOES WITH A GREAT KNOWLEDGE AND MOST OF ALL A SENSE OF HUMOUR A LOT OF BOOKS LACK IN THIS FIN DE SIECLE ERA. THANKS FOR WIDOW FOR ONE YEAR MR. IRVING, THANKS FOR MAKING MY LIFE AND SO MANY OTHER LIVES A LITTLE BIT EASIER... YOUR WORDS ARE SOLID GOLD ON PAPER. GREAT BOOK, FANTASTIC PLOT, BIG ENDING.... WHAT THE HELL DO YOU WANT MORE ??? RONALD DE SCHRIJVER FROM BELGIUM RONALD (THE WRITER) that is my name translated from Dutch to English

Rating:
Summary: Good, but not Irving's Best
Review: Sorry to say this is not one of John Irving's better novels. But then again, how could anything top "The Cider House Rules" and "A Prayer for Owen Meany?" This one was just a little too slow moving for me though, although I enjoyed the happy ending. Plus, I knew Mr. Irving was a little sex-obsessed, but this book crosses the line! Next time I read I'm going to make a note of how many usages of the word "breast" I find.