The Cider House Rules

"It was slow going for me, but I finished the book feeling like I read an important story, one that will linger in my head for a long time. "

"I really enjoyed this, this book was quite the journey. I had no idea what being in an orphanage was like, and now I have a small nugget of an idea. I liked all the medical talk throughout the book, and I think that my time in school helped me understand most it. Very interesting. I think that the movie even inspired me to find a doctor bag, and I found the best one and I get so many compliments on it."

"John Irving is uh-mazing"

"This is a very engrossing book. Honestly, after reading, I couldn't stop thinking about it. It left me depressed. Unfortunately, many of the social issues that the book addresses from the early 1900s (unwanted children, rape, incest, abuse, misogyny, poverty, right to choose, etc) I still see play out in my daily work in psychology and social work today. These are realities of our life that most people want to ignore. There are some very disturbing themes and the overall tone of the book is not optimistic. That being said, it offers an insightful and very balanced approach to some of the biggest debates of our time and is not one of those books that you can read and just put away and forget about. Characters are very interesting and well-developed. At times it is slow, due to the great detail, but epic in its scope, like Dickens. I recommend to anyone who likes to think about deep moral issues, or works with women and the "lost" children of our generation. If you have seen the movie and think that is was "dark" or "deep," know that after reading the book, the movie seems quite whitewashed and optimistic."

"Great book if you want a detailed story "

"Absolutely! No question!"

"I love John Irving’s writing style. I read this decades ago and have reread it. The story and the characters stick with you. It’s a beautiful story, filled with flawed people that care about women and children that would otherwise have no one to help them. "

"Yes, the left behind series was surprisingly good"

"⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Compelling storytelling guides you through the life of Homer Wells. Charcters are likable and defined in their peculiarities. Controversial subjects are presented in a light, matter of fact manner so even if you feel strongly about them, they do not overpower the enjoyment of the story. "

"It opens your mind up to be more understanding of what you haven't experienced and accept situations, not judge them. Unless you're perfect book reminds me to remember it could be me walking in those shoes. Thought provoking. Movie of it out also!"