Book Review: Cider House Rules

Cider House Rules is a Bildungsroman book written by acclaimed American author John Irving which was originally published in 1985. Set in a pre and post-World War 2 setting, the novel tackles with heavy moral themes relating to its two central characters Homer Wells and Dr Wilbur Larch.  The book was well-regarded and became a New York Times Bestseller and even went on to receive an Academy award-winning movie adaption written by Irving himself. 

The narrative of Cider House Rules follows the life of an orphan by the name Homer Wells.  Born and raised in an orphanage in the small logging town of St Cloud’s, Maine; Homer lives through his early years trying and failing to be adopted by the many families he is taken in by.  Despite his best intentions, Homer always ends up coming back to St Cloud’s under the caring authority of its overseer Dr Wilbur Larch. Not only an experienced obstetrician, Larch also takes upon himself to offer the services of abortion to any women in desperate need of it due to it being outlawed and frowned upon by general society.  Growing up under his tutorage, Homer Wells comes to learn the skills Dr Larch has to offer and offers up his own services to the women that come to the orphanage.  Despite their endearing relationship however, Homer soon leaves the orphanage and begins to define a life of his own but the shadow of St Cloud’s still looms throughout his life as Homer struggles to escape a duty  he isn’t sure he wants.

The moral core of this book is easily its most profound quality.  The way in which John Irving ties the entirety of this narrative together around its central characters and the complex themes is nothing short of masterful.  Homer Wells and Wilbur Larch exist in unison to one another and their personal relationship is layered with so many deep and complex emotions.  Wilbur is a man who witnesses the cruel injustice of the world and sees it as his moral duty to fight against it, no matter the hardships that he may face in doing so. Homer Wells in comparison understands the logic and perspective of that aspiration but struggles with the idea that he wants for something different.  The entirety of the books core is about how much Wilbur imprints upon Homer his knowledge and values and how much Homer struggles to realise them in the span of his early life. 

A strong narrative is only capable through well-defined characters and besides Wilbur Larch and Homer Wells, Cider House Rules also consists of a plethora of other wonderfully realised supporting characters.  There’s a rich sense of depth behind all of the people who exist within the confines of this story.  John Irving goes out of his way to give every character, big or small so much time and definition that you feel the weight of their own subplots as they find themselves in conjunction with the main plot. That devotion to fully defining these characters makes the quality of its narrative all the more notable because you feel truly invested in these characters and their dynamics when they interact with one another.

In terms of tone and pacing, the book makes no qualms about taking its time and relishing every page with detailed description. I’m usually opposed to this as it easily projects the authors self-interest, but you never get that impression in Cider House Rules. John Irving gives the clear impression that every word he writes for every sentence, for every paragraph, for every page all feels totally one hundred percent justified. Tonally the book embeds itself within the reality of the times it’s set in, it never leans too much into one kind of emotion either, it’s a wonderfully constructed balancing act with dives into all kinds of emotions and themes with artful grace.

It's clear from my time reading Cider House Rules that John Irving deserves the well-regarded reputation he’s garnered over the years.  There are few authors who have captured my attention this easily and had me as engrossed in such a bulky book so easily.  I think that reflects the quality of Cider House Rules though, its story is one of heart and complex emotions that seeks to tackle the blunt cruelty of a world through the lens of the ordinary people who live within it.  Their journeys may take them to different places, but their paths will always cross from time to time and it’s through their relationships this story is able to really leave a beautiful impression.