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The Cider House Rules

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The Cider House Rules

By: John Irving
Narrated by: Jared Zeus
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'The reason Homer Wells kept his name was that he came back to St Cloud's so many times, after so many failed foster homes, that the orphanage was forced to acknowledge Homer's intention to make St Cloud's his home.'

Homer Wells' odyssey begins among the apple orchards of rural Maine. As the oldest unadopted child at St Cloud's orphanage, he strikes up a profound and unusual friendship with Wilbur Larch, the orphanage's founder - a man of rare compassion and an addiction to ether. What he learns from Wilbur takes him from his early apprenticeship in the orphanage surgery, to an adult life running a cider-making factory and a strange relationship with the wife of his closest friend... Classics Coming of Age Family Life Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Heartfelt Thought-Provoking Feel-Good
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One of those listed 'must read' titles. Glad I did, but it was a long'un.

This felt overlong, the story was more slight than the running length, but as I was listening to this as a new audiobook version, I didn't mind as it helped pass long drives and walks. The narrator managed the voices of several very old and young character, male and female, well, without their own gender and age intruding on the listener.

With two main characters, the first part mainly gives us the life of Dr Wilbur Larch, abortionist, while the rest is more on his protege and surrogate son, Homer Wells (almost always referred to by his full name).

Over two generations, Larch and Wells both live and work at an orphanage. Women unable to care for their children leave them there, or beg for abortions (illegal operations at the time). Homer Wells is one such child, and grows up bounced around at less-than-happy foster homes, meaning he is raised with Larch and under his medical supervision. Later leaving the small world of his childhood, his journey brings him full circle back to his childhood ‘home’.

Some memorable characters, the time and place is quite strongly portrayed and easy to picture, there's a lot of poverty, hardship and pain. But there's also a good dose of love. Strong themes, which may upset, but I thought they were handled realistically.

Glad I’ve read it, but I’m also glad it was an audiobook that I could follow while doing other things. Ponderous in places.

With thanks to Nudge Books for providing a sample Audible copy of this new edition.

One of those listed 'must read' titles.

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What a great book! It doesn’t really fit into any main genre. It is simply a good story, well told. The book is strong at the beginning, middle and end and is well paced throughout, developing plot and characters naturally and believably. There are some complex relationships that are interesting and the narration is excellent. Some books are hard to keep track of the characters but that is not the case here. Each character is well defined and separate. I really enjoyed this and will now read more by this talented author

Excellent

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I have enjoyed and reread this book many times over the last 40 years. This reading is wonderfully delivered with elegance, understanding and emotion.
If you have half a heart as you listen to this you will have both a gentle smile and a gentle tear throughout.

Modern masterpiece

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I always thought that "A prayer for Owen Meany" read by Joe Barrett is the best audiobook ever, but after lisgening to this, I'm not so sure. It is right up there with the prayer. Fantastic narrator also. Maybe it is just that John Irving is best as audiobook, if the narrator knows what he's doing. Highly recommended! Such a wonderful story!

Beautiful

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An amazing read. Gentle yet powerful. With an exceptional ending. A longer listen than most but never boring

Perfect

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