Rating: 
Summary: A delight for lovers of books, the makings of an author.
Review: Irving's novels rarely miss for me, and Widow for One Year is no exception. While I did not find myself as emotionally entralled as with my two Irving favorites (Garp and the Cider House Rules), I found plenty of enjoyment nonetheless. Although Irving frequently sets the stage for his characters developing as writers, Widow explores the histories and psyches of several characters' development into all sorts of authors. From the bestselling protagonist to her morbid children's story writing father, all sorts of writers are explored. As an avid reader, I loved the typical Irving slant to the behind-the-scenes worlds of novelists and their novels.
Rating: 
Summary: The same book that Irving has been writing since Garp.
Review: This book contains all of the usual devices that led me to stop reading John Irving after college. It was only at the insistance of a neighbor that I read it at all. The formula-Take a few reasonably well developed though quirky characters, then kill or maim them or their loved ones in ways designed to play on the darkest fears of the reader. The structure of "A Widow for a Year" is the same one we have come to know from all of Irvings other offerings. While the storytelling is workmanlike, what we have here is a combination of the morbid fascination of looking at a car crash combined with a story with hooks that keep the reader turning the pages. In the final analysis, the experince is a bit like watching an episode of Jerry Springer.
Rating: 
Summary: Worthwhile, but not his best
Review: While this novel has its share of interesting characters and plot developments, I think there is a major flaw to it that distracted me from beginning to end. As the author tells us, this is Ruth Cole's story. The trouble is, Ruth is the least interesting of all of the characters in the book. Her entire life is about living in the shadow of a tragedy that took place before she was born. While she endures a tragedy of her own as an adult (she is, after all, the widow in the title), it pales in contrast to the pervasive, haunting events that plagued her family years before.For those of you who have already read the book, think about Ruth's parents, and her brothers. Think about Eddie, and how the events of his summer as Ted Cole's assistant forever changed and shaped his life. Think about the detective who shows up late in the story to investigate a murder. Think about the victim and the murderer. I found all of these characters far more interesting than Ruth Cole. In the end, Ruth Cole is no Garp or Homer Wells, the main characters from my 2 favorite John Irving novels. This book is still worth reading, but it's not his best.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting, but too long and too expansive
Review: As Irving often does, this book flirts with being a pornographic novel...it is extremely profane and at times very sexually graphic. The premise is unique and done well, especially at the beginning and the end. The middle section is long and quite tedious. I still feel that his "Prayer for Owen Meany" is his best effort. I have not recommended this book to any of my friends, even though there are a few good things about it.
Rating:
Summary: A disappointed fan
Review: I am a fan of John Irving, but I was disappointed by this novel. The characters and their reactions were not believable. As always, Irving's characters were described vividly. Their situations were unique and interesting. However, I was unable to feel for the characters or understand their behavior. I did not become involved with these characters as I have with past Irving novels.
Rating: 
Summary: J. Irving's most grown up novel yet.
Review: With "A Widow for One Year" John Irving delivers his most grown up novel yet. His main character, a woman for the first time ever, is much more believable than the main characters in his previous novels. The book introduces the reader into the life of Ruth Cole. Three phases of her life are described. The reader gets to know the main features of her early childhood, the most dangerous moment of her life when she is a 30-something year old novelist and finally her life as a remarried widow with her child. John Irving has created a novel for grown ups. It differs a lot from all his previous novels, but nevertheless the reader is once again confronted with numerous details that all find a conclusion in the end. I think the book is a real pleasure to read and I recommend it very much.
Rating:
Summary: An excellent novel with a simple/complicated plot
Review: I have read all of John Irving's books, and I was a bit disappointed, when I tried to get through "A Son of the Circus". "Widow", however, thrilled me from the beginning and I was reminded of Irving's great works, like "Garp" or "Cider House Rules". Mr Irving is an expert in creating the right atmosphere for each setting. His open, but also delicate handling of the sex-theme appeals to me. His characters are portrayed very cleverly and memorably. I enjoyed reading the book very much.
Rating:
Summary: A great story I was unable to put down.
Review: An excellent story whose high-points have already been well described in the previous 124 reviews. I would rank it second only to "Owen Meany."
Rating:
Summary: Obviously contrived at every juncture but a good read.
Review: Irving is a good writer. In much of his earlier work he had something to say about the human condition, but not here. In "Widow" he tells a series of stories that almost seem fantastical but there is sex and a good deal of Hotel New Hampshire humor that keeps the pages turning. The reader is never without wonder at what Irving has in store for us. One thing is certain, however, Irving is full of himself as a writer. He knows he is a good story-teller, and he lets us know mainly through Ruth, the successful writer around which many of the stories revolve, just how to write the crowd-pleasing novel. Readers are treated like his admiring audience. He is not attempting to win us over. In the far too many pages, we sense that we are being used. Unfortunately, Irving depends nearly exclusively on sex to keep the pages turning. In that regard Irving's novel represents the vacuous quality of 90s morality and not the society that created the rules of the cide! r house. None of his major characters has admirable qualities. They represent upper class nonchalance and social irresponsibility. I do not feel any brighter or more enlightened for having read the book, but I was entertained much of the time.
Rating:
Summary: A magnificent exploration of grief, love and family
Review: John Irving's "A Widow for One Year," perhaps his best work since "The World According to Garp" 20 years ago, concerns itself with familar John Irving territory - a dysfunctional family caught in a sea of grief resulting from a terrible tragedy. Anyone familar with John Irving knows that dysfunctional families is Irvings forte and "A Widow for One Year" demonstrates, without a doubt, that Mr. Irving may have no equal when writing stories of this nature. There are many levels to this novel, none of which can be appropriately discussed for this review. Ruth is the central character in Mr. Irving's novel. We are introduced to her at age 4 and continue on with her until Ruth is in her 40's. Ruth's story centers around her mother, Marion, who abandons her and her father at age 4 - Marion cannot cope with the tragic death of her 2 sons as well as the unhealthy relationship she has with Ted, her husband. Ruth, Ted and Marion, as a unit, wer! e dysfunctional. With Marion gone, Ted and Ruth are dysfunctional. And, as each get older, both Ruth and Ted try to manage with their own demons and dysfunctions. The sight alone of Ruth, at age 4, witnessing her mother having sex with the assistant her father hired to help him is enough to leave Ruth scarred. Interestingly, the novel focuses not only on Ruth, but also the assistant, Eddie and the father Ted - all of whom become writers. Infact, all the characters in this work are writers which makes this work highly personal. There is an interesting passage when Mr. Irving talks about imagination versus reality - can a writer imagine what is real? This alone could be discussed at great length and it is just one of the many areas which Mr. Irving explores that result from his personal encounters. Perhaps that is why "A Widow for One Year" is extraordinary - it appears not only highly personal but tackels an arena Mr. Irving knows well. Perhaps the one flaw ! in this work may be the ending which appeared to be too exp! ected, too easy. Nevertheless, this book should be a definite candidate for the National Book Award. Brillantly written and conceived, Mr. Irving writes about issues to be discussd amoung scholars and writers for years - perhaps placing this book in what one may call, "the classics."
|
