I watched The Cider House Rules movie based on this book when it first came out and simply loved it. Such a beautiful, well-shot, well-acted movie! I immediately put the book on my TBR and promptly forgot about it for the next 20-odd years.
I was in the right mood for it when I saw it in the library – craving a long, meandering read.
About the Book
Raised from birth in the orphanage at St. Cloud’s, Maine, Homer Wells has become the protege of Dr. Wilbur Larch, its physician and director. There, Dr. Larch cares for the troubled mothers who seek his help, either by delivering and taking in their unwanted babies or by performing illegal abortions. Meticulously trained by Dr. Larch, Homer assists in the former but draws the line at the latter. Then, a young man Wally, brings his beautiful fiancee, Candy, to Dr. Larch for an abortion, and everything about the couple beckons Homer to the wide world outside the orphanage.
~ Synopsis from GoodReads
My Review
I said I was in the mood for a meandering book, but damn, is this book meandering! It took me ages to finish because my heart kept getting full of emotions, and I needed to take a break to keep calm and continue. His prose has a way of pulling you in, even when describing the most effed-up thing possible.
It’s interesting how my point of view regarding the story changed over the decades. When I saw the movie, I focused on Homer Wells – the young main protagonist. When I read the book, almost 20 years later, it was all about Wilbur Larch. This time around, I wasn’t a big fan of Homer. He didn’t have much of a personality.
My heart! I just fell in love with Dr. Larch after this musing of his!
Here in St. Cloud’s we have only one problem. His name is Homer Wells. We have been very successful with Homer. We have managed to make the orphanage his home, and that is the problem. If you try to give an institution of the state, or of any government, anything like the love one is meant to invest in a family – and if the institute is an orphanage and you succeed in giving it love – then you will create a monster; an orphanage that is not a way-station to a better life, but an orphanage that is the first and last stop, and the only station the orphan will accept.
I also didn’t remember the movie being so political. This book is a strong advocacy for abortion rights – and there are some details about abortion procedures that may be a little too much for the squeamish. Reading this book now, it sucks that these rights are still up for debate, but I think John Irving creates a timeless argument for protecting those rights.
I also love the references to Jane Eyre, David Copperfield, and Great Expectations. Love a good metaplot.
The one plot I didn’t think aged well was the rape/incest of Rose. While it’s critical in the sense it makes Homer change his mind about abortion rights, it also gives off some racist undertones.
Another thing I disliked was the whole time leap of 15 years that happens in the book. I hated the way Wally, Candy, and Homer lived. It was so passive and awful. I thought Wally was a great character, and the story of his survival was interesting to read, so it was sad to think he lived for 15 years knowing his wife and best friend had a child together and lived all in the same house. Again, I don’t remember this plot being this awful in the movie, but I guess life experiences change how you perceive things.
What stands the test of time is the wonderful writing. Throughout, I was writing out bits and pieces from the novel.
Good night, you princes of Maine, kings of New England.
I will remember all those sweet orphans and the lovely characters from this book for ages to come!
