Rating: 
Summary: Better than GARP, but no NEW HAMPSIRE or OWEN MEANY
Review: I found CIDER HOUSE to be a very entertaining, enriching novel. I did feel that classic Irving attachment to the characters, but I didn't find the characters themselves as fascinating, funny, sad, tragic, etc, as the characters Irving created for HOTEL NEW HAMPSHIRE and OWEN MEANY. Plus, I felt the pace of CIDER HOUSE tended to drag about halfway-to-3/4's of the way through. It was not as biting as HOTEL and didn't pack the emotional punch of OWEN. Still, a fantastic book. Of the four I've read, I would rate OWEN first, HOTEL NEW HAMPSIRE second, CIDER HOUSE third and GARP fourth. Can't wait to pick up another one!
Rating:
Summary: MUST READ!
Review: The Cider House Rules was an exceptional display of John Irving's talents. I was sure that I could never find as good a novel as A Prayer for Owen Meany, but this is a close second. The characters invite you into their lives and make you a first row spectator as they continue to grow and change. For those who haven't read this novel, or have given up early on, I challenge you to give it a try -- you may learn something!
Rating: 
Summary: IF I COULD RATE THIS HIGHER THAN FIVE STARS, I WOULD!
Review: The Cider House Rules truly touched my soul. Irving's writing allowed me to become attached to, and sympathise with all of the main and secondary characters which is very uncommon in many modern novels! Being a fairly long novel, it is understood that some people couldn't finish reading this novel, but every page, every word of this story is needed to experience rewarding climax of this Irving novel. A beautiful story! Very different from any Iving novel i have read, but his talent for telling a story shines through his words.
Rating:
Summary: Irving is Required Reading For Life
Review: Last night I stayed up until 4:30 finishing the epic John Irving novel, "The Cider House Rules." When you read a John Irving novel, you hold life in your hands. When I finished the book, last night, I held something dead---the story was over, and the characters that I had gone through so much with, would no longer experience something new. I would contend that John Irving creates more realistic characters than any other novelist I've read; so much so, that I will remember these characters (and the characters from "Garp") as if I were remembering real people. Often, when I finish a book, I question what it has done for me. The problem I had with Thomas Harris' "Red Dragon" (which I read before this), is that although the storytelling was brilliant, it left me feeling cold and disturbed. "Cider House" and "Garp" left me feeling full, and excited about life, and aware of the framework that exists in the world. John Irving so often pulls back from his characters, telling you how they die or how they were born, that you often feel the impulse to view your own life that way. You too will have an ending. But before you do, I strongly suggest that you read a John Irving novel. Either "The World According to Garp," "The Cider House Rules," or (the Irving book I will read next) "A Prayer For Owen Meany" (which many contend is his best). I loved "The Cider House Rules," and I'm sad that it's over. I might even say that "Cider House" will stay with me for a long time, to which Homer Wells might reply: "right."
Rating:
Summary: Still my favorite book by Irving!!
Review: I first read "Cider House" as part of a lit course during my junior year of college & I haven't forgotten it since! It was the first book I'd read in a long time that I had to force myself to put down so I could sleep &/or get my other coursework done. An intricate story, symbolism, wonderful characters & events, this book should be on the list of all college professors who teach American Lit courses. I have since read "Owen Meany" which, while outstanding, was just not as interesting as this one. To me, it's a wonder that Irving hasn't been awarded the Pulitzer for American fiction. I'd say he has all the prerequisites for such an honor!
Rating:
Summary: THE CIDER HOUSE RULES "RULES THE WORLD"
Review: THIS INCREDIBLE CLASSIC BOOK CAN ONLY BE SAID THANKS TO. IN A WORLD WHERE LIARS AND CHEATERS RULE THIS BOOK SHOWS US WHAT REAL HUMANISM MEANS. HOMER WELLS IS SIMPLY ONE OF THE FINEST IRVING CHARACTERS EVER TO HAVE SEEN DAYLIGHT. DR. WILBUR LARCH IS NOT OF THIS EARTH. WE CAN ONLY HOPE THE MOVIE WILL BE AS GOOD AS THE BOOK. BUT... MR. IRVING WROTE IT HIMSELF, SO, IT SHOULD BE ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC. THIS NOVEL IS THE BRIGHTEST, GREATEST, HEARTWARMING CREATION FROM ANY WRITER I KNOW. THIS BOOK DOESN'T MORALIZE, IT JUST SHOWS HOW PEOPLE CHANGE, AND COINCEDENCE IS THE KEY FACTOR IN ANY IRVING BOOK, BUT WHAT IS COINCIDENCE ???? OUR FAITH LIES IN THE LITTLE UNKNOWN CORNERS OF THE BRAIN. MAY OUR BRAIN CELLS KEEP ON EATING IRVING NOVELS FOR EVER AND A FEW DAYS. LIFE IS SERIOUS, IRVING IS FUN. RONALD
Rating:
Summary: Not his best, and some more comments. Still good, though!!!!
Review: Firstly, I do realize that his probably wasn't as good as Garp, and maybe not as good as Owen Meany, however, I thought it was extremely well written and the plot and characters were, once again, amazing. I loved the ending, everything coming together as it did... Bravo, Mr, Irving!!! Those of you who gave it lower ratings, alright, I respect your opinions, except those of you who didn't bother to finish it. Icky to you. Let's put forth a little more effort, shall we?
Rating:
Summary: Can't wait for the movie
Review: I hadn't read any John Irving until Mirimax films approached me to use my bed & breakfast to shoot some scenes of the upcoming movie, The Cider House Rules. I purchased the book and was instantly taken into a world I knew nothing about. Irving grabs his audience with the offbeat subject matter. He keeps his audience with his endearing characters. I hope the movie does justice to this beautifuk book.
Rating:
Summary: Irving at his best
Review: Although I read them years ago, Garp and New Hampshire have been two of my all time favorites, but I had never read The Cider House Rules until this week. What a treat it was! In the best John Irving fashion, the author, while at times making the absurd appear commonplace, squeezed our hearts with a story that showed us some of both the best and worst of what we are. He made me ask myself just what are the rules that govern my life.
Rating:
Summary: This is my favorite book ever.
Review: I have not found many books in this lifetime that I would take with me everywhere I go... this is one of those for me. The first copy of The Cider House Rules that I ever held/read belonged to a friend- that friend did not get his book back for over a year. I told my mother about it, she fell in love with it too (she has her Masters degree in Education and teaches Gifted & Talented English classes, so Mom really does know best), and she then told my aunt. My aunt has her Masters in Education too, and she loved it and recommended it to her friends. I imagine they probably love it just as much. I hate to re-read books, but I feel no guilt about having read this one ten times.
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