I just finished the book for the second time. I read it first as a teenager and it’s surprising to me just how differently the book hits when you’re older.
It was somehow a slow motion Rollercoaster. Have any of you felt differently about it on a second read?
What was your favourite part of the book? When I was younger I was focused more on Homer. This time around my heart was with Doctor Larch.
Sorry if this seems erratic, but I’m VERY deep in my feelings right now. 🥲
by towalktheline
12 Comments
Ya know, this sub doesn’t really talk much about John Irving. A Widow For One Year was amazing, and Last Night in Twisted River was a comfortable read (not fantastic either).
I only ever watched Garp and Cider House rules as movies but Cider House rules seems like a nice coming-of-age book!
I haven’t read Cider House Rules. I enjoyed Garp and Hotel New Hampshire, although I read them when I was younger so I’d say a lot of it went over my head. I have a few others by Irving on my shelf but would like to revisit these two first. Will have to add Cider House Rules to my TBR – “slow motion rollercoaster” got me!
I like that description of it. it’s a very even, closely-told book imo and I think it’s my favourite among the later, “mature” Irving novels. less overtly different than Owen Meany but imo just as good.
Irving has always been a bit of a theme-reuser (bears, wrestling, Austria). a couple of very small motifs still recur here. Irving has always had a pretty conflicted view of women, especially “powerful” ones – he tends to overplay them into “scary vagina dentata” turf. and it does show here as well. he ends up making candy out to be a bit of a cold, controlling bitch and of course there is also mellony.
but at the same time I never doubted the sincerity of his advocacy, and this is one of his most impressive books in that regard. I recall having a great crush on Homer in my 20’s, but you’re right about Dr Larch.
I’ve read most of his books at least 2-3x (same with his movies). I definitely feel like different characters speak to me each time I read.
I love Cider House rules. Probably my second favourite Irving book, after A prayer for Owen Meany, and before a Widow for a year.
Irving has characters that stay with you for a long time and Homer Wells is one of them (but Owen Meany is the most extraordinary).
I just reread Owen Meany and it did not hit the same way as the first reading at all. It was nowhere near as funny (I guess because I sort of remembered what was coming) and also not as “good”, it was one of my very favourite books the first time around. This time I really found myself much more focused on his criticisms of US foreign policy, war mongering and specific politicians, and it made me think a lot about why this book has been banned (the whole faith reason for banning seems to be a cover I think).
Anyway, I was planning on rereading more John Irving, but I realize I will need to do it slowly with long breaks between the books. Overall it was not at all the experience of the first time (which was much better)
Until I Find You was my first Irving. I loved it. Cider House, Meany and Garp are favs too
I adore The Cider House Rules. There are a lot of criticisms I could levy at it but if you want a richly-told, deeply engrossing, decades-spanning story, this is the book for you. “Good night, you princes of Maine, you kings of New England” is a top-tier quote and Dr. Larch is one of my favorite heroes in fiction.
I read it first very young, and I disliked Melony, thought she was a terrible person. When I read it older, she was my favorite character.
Cider House Rules is one of my all time favorite books. A Prayer for Owen Meany is my favorite. John Irving is a fantastic writer.
Cider house was my first Irving book, it definitely hit hard and left an impact. Since then I’ve read most of his collection and cider house is still in my top 3. Definitely check out his final book, the last chairlift I believe from 2022 , I was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed it.
So far they have , I’m about to start last night in twisted River but there’s something about the way he writes that gets me every time!