The Cider House Rules

By: John Irving

Narrated by: Grover Gardner

Adapted into an Academy Award-winning film and one of John Irving's most beloved novels, The Cider House Rules is the story of a kind but complex doctor and the conflicted young orphan he takes under his wing.

“A novel as good as one could hope to find from any author, anywhere, anytime. Engrossing, moving, thoroughly satisfying.” —Joseph Heller, author of Catch-22

In the quiet, rural landscape of Maine, the St. Cloud's orphanage stands as a refuge for the unwanted. It is run by the eccentric and compassionate Dr. Wilbur Larch, a man who is both a saint and a sinner in the eyes of the world. He serves as an obstetrician, delivering babies for women in need, while also providing illegal abortions, a service he believes is his moral duty.

Among the orphans is Homer Wells, Dr. Larch’s devoted protégé. Trained in medicine by Larch, Homer is destined to take over the orphanage. However, Homer is fundamentally opposed to performing abortions, creating a deep conflict between his beliefs and his loyalty to his mentor.

Seeking to forge his own path, Homer leaves St. Cloud's to work an apple orchard for the wealthy Worthington family. There, he builds a new life and falls in love, but he cannot escape the pull of his past or the complex questions of right and wrong that Dr. Larch instilled in him. This epic tale explores the intricate nature of found family, the unpredictability of love, and the profound choices that define who we are meant to be.

©1985 John Irving; (P)1999 HarperCollins Publishers, Inc.

Interesting and entertaining.

This book is much deeper than I remembered from reading it years ago and also seeing the movie. Irving creates 3-dimensional characters and places them in a compelling story to examine the question of whether it's better to be unwanted or unborn. Really well done, including the narration.

Wonderful

Any additional comments?

My second favorite Irving book. (Owen Meany, #1.) Anyone who thinks abortion is a black and white issue should read this book. It is as relevant to today as it would be to the time about which it was written.

A beautiful, emotional novel.

Deep, moving, compelling

What made the experience of listening to The Cider House Rules the most enjoyable?

I found myself predicting what would happen, and then getting it wrong most of the time. The constant surprise kept me listening. Irving does a great job of showing his characters' motivations, and showing their flaws as well as their strengths.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Dr. Wilbur Larch is the best character in this book. I constantly found myself trying to evaluate his character. He is at various times pigheaded and incredibly stubborn, while at the same time kind, loving, and devoted to his cause. He is also an incredibly skilled doctor, who always believes in doing the right thing.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Warning: This book is, at times, not for the squeamish. I have a fairly high tolerance for graphic descriptions, and I found myself wincing and saying "eeewwww" at a couple of different parts that describe Dr. Larch's adventures as an obstetrician in the early 20th century.

I also love this book because it tackles the delicate subject of abortion, and does it admirably. Irving clearly feels strongly about the subject (I won't tell you what position he takes, because I want you to read this book), and he presents a great case for his point of view.

Best of the Best

I read this book every ten years or so, and I always want to read it again right away. The Compelling, sympathetic, eccentric characters live in my heart between reads.

Great Book

Lots of truth in it. Great performance. I would recommend this book to anyone.