• The Cider House Rules

  • By: John Irving
  • Narrated by: Grover Gardner
  • Length: 24 hrs and 5 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (3,405 ratings)

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
The Cider House Rules  By  cover art

The Cider House Rules

By: John Irving
Narrated by: Grover Gardner
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $46.79

Buy for $46.79

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

From one of America's most beloved and respected writers comes the classic story of Homer Wells, an orphan, and Wilbur Larch, a doctor without children of his own, who develop an extraordinary bond with one another.
©1985 John Irving (P)1999 HarperCollins Publishers, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Witty, tenderhearted, fervent, and scarifying." ( New York Times Book Review)
"Gardner understands and conveys the book's sly humor and comprehension of human foibles." ( Los Angeles Times)
"John Irving's best novel....He is among the very best storytellers." ( Philadelphia Inquirer)

What listeners say about The Cider House Rules

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    2,233
  • 4 Stars
    791
  • 3 Stars
    239
  • 2 Stars
    87
  • 1 Stars
    55
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    2,036
  • 4 Stars
    565
  • 3 Stars
    142
  • 2 Stars
    44
  • 1 Stars
    19
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1,932
  • 4 Stars
    560
  • 3 Stars
    191
  • 2 Stars
    69
  • 1 Stars
    44

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great Story

Irving, never fails to effectively weave his political agenda into a wonderful story of life that tugs at the hearts of those least effected by the issue.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A terrific Tale

Although a long story, and hard to keep track of the unimportant characters if you are operating heavy machinery (I was), it's story line was gripping and made me want to go back to work so I could listen to more.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Exquisite character development.

I was saturated in this novel.
It is a telepathically sensual read. Every person in this book is a dear friend. I find myself dedicated to Homer and Dr. Larch. And... protective of Saint Cloud's.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent

I've read/heard much from John Irving, and this one finally overtook Owen Meany as my favorite. I was unimpressed with the main character at first...stick with him. Rarely have I thought back to a novel as often as I've considered this one. Compassionate to both sides of the abortion debate, it's a good book even if you have already decided on your stance.

Also, the voice of the narrator is lively enough that I didn't find my attention drifting, as it sometimes does...

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

23 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Abortion

For those who enjoy play-by-play descriptions of before and after babies are aborted, this book is for you.

A PRAYER FOR OWEN MEANY it ain't. But OB/GYN residents are sure to enjoy hearing about the how and why of abortions -- over and over again.

Yogi Berra might say: "It ain't over and it don't seem like it ever will be." .

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

A well-written entertaining novel

I wouldn't call this Great Literature: I doubt if I'd consider reading it again, for instance. But it is still first rate literary entertainment. I especially like Irving's wry humour. The narration is very good.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Excellent Story

This is a great story but we found the medical detail at times tiresome and distracting. This book may be a bit much for some listeners.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Entertaining & Important

What a storyteller Irving is and the reader enhances the experience. Also some important women's history.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

To be of use

I still think Irving's best novel. Full of irony and humor, it's major point of emphasis remains Dr. Larch's insistence on the useful life. Whether you are prolife or prochoice, Irving lays out the issues on both fronts and forces the reader to think.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Not for the squeamish

Excellent performance, plotting, character development, and use of analogies.

The details about medical procedures are tough to listen to. This is a book for which one would like have a bit of Dr. Larch's ether before undertaking some sections.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful