The Cider House Rules

The Cider House Rules by John Irving

 Before I start this review I'd just like to make something clear. The unabashed acclaim that the majority of books in this blog receive is not in such quantity because I'll read anything and find it difficult to criticise a book, perhaps the most personal piece of work one can make. But it is merely due to the fact that in fact I am too picky. Within the first few chapters I can rigidly decide whether I'm going to like a book or not, and if I feel I won't then I ditch it with immediate effect. To give some sense of magnitude for every book I read there's probably two or three half read books lying around somewhere sombrely collecting dust. Okay, now that's sorted I shall begin.

I was recommended 'The Cider House Rules' by John Irving by a very friendly gentleman at Waterstones who termed it the book for those who love to read. Ever so willing to prove my genuineness as a reader I was quick to take the challenge (oh how sad it is that I care so much about outward show). Now coming from someone who had never heard of John Irving or indeed the Oscar-award-winning film adaption of the book itself, at first I was rather put off by how odd and random the theme and storyline were. The book centres itself around the orphan Homer Wells who has presided for the best part of 20 years at the St. Clouds orphanage in Maine, California. Homer's had his share of unsuccessful adoption attempts and eventually it was agreed by Dr Larch (the drug dependent head of the place) and his two devoted colleagues Nurses Angela and Edna, that Homer must stay and be of service. This orphanage is also a birth and abortion clinic (the latter act being illegal at the time of the story) and so Dr Larch decides to teach Homer the practices of midwifery and abortion with the hope that he'll become a doctor later in life. I'm becoming increasingly concerned that I'm giving away too much of the plot in these reviews so I'll leave it there except for saying that one day a beautiful young couple comes to the orphanage requesting an abortion and they take Homer away with them. The book itself is largely unpredictable as it covers the issues ranging
from abortion to an almost legitimate love affair to the Second World War and a horrific case of child
abuse within its 600 or so pages.

There are a couple of characters who so moved me that I feel inclined to comment about them. The first, the patriarchal Dr Larch, is a solitary figure who's devoted him life to the orphanage. Addicted to the drug ether (this addiction occurred when the drug was obligatory as a pain killer for a sexual infection Larch had in his younger years), it is under it's influence that we most get to see Larch. Larch is continuously composing a massive volume called 'The History of St. Clouds', where hewrites distorted histories about current and former orphans and even writes their futures before they've even lived them. He calls abortion the Lord's work as in both giving birth to and aborting a baby some sort of deliverance is performed. In birth a baby is delivered whilst in an abortion one delivers the mother. Dr Larch is an intriguing enigma with a hint of Weltschmerz about him  and Irving in his afterword speaks of how one of his colleagues criticised the original draft claiming Larch should be the main character not Homer. Another character who at times repulsed me and who at other times almost brought me to tears was the brash, loud and violent Melony. A fellow orphan to
Homer whose also been at the orphanage for almost 20 years, she forces Homer to make a pact with her saying he'll never leave her. Homer and Melony share a fascinating relationship at times it's
sexual, at times it's hatred and at times it's for mere moral support. If you've been reading this article you'll realise that Homer does break this pact and for the huge share of the book Melony searches for him to take her revenge. Melony is an easily dislikable character, even though one knows sympathy should be offered up to her. By the end of the book I felt as if I'd reached an epiphany of sorts with her, I saw underneath her tough armour and saw a very vulnerable person. The last character I feel inclined to mention is Mr Rose (in the hope that I'm selling this book enough for some of you to want to read the book, I'm going to leave him as a mysterious question mark). However what I will say is that he's a prime example of how one can't judge someone merely on face value.

As with most books I do have one minor criticism, this being how a period of15 years is skipped in the book during which many secondary characters die. This leaves many previous background storylines cut off in mid swing. I'm hesitant on whether I will watch the film adaption, yes it's been acclaimed, apparently Michael Caine as Dr Larch is incredible. However many personalities are distorted and Melony was cut from the script. I know, I was appalled.

The Cider House Rules evoked true twangs of pain in me as it's tale progressed. Although I did see the humour in it I'd classify it as miscellaneous. If you're looking for a slightly left wing, refreshing read and you love to read, I'll recommend it strongly.

Birdsong

BIRDSONG BY SEBASTIAN FAULKS

Rather fittingly for the centenary of WW1 I chose to read Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks, definitely one of the easiest reads I've had in a long time. The tale of war (obviously), love and destruction follows the life of Stephen Wraysford, a daring youth originally sent to Belgium to conduct research for his textile company. Wraysford stays with the much respected Azaire family and commences a passionate affair with Madame Azaire (Isabelle). After the explosive revealing of this affair and Isabelle's subsequent deserting of him, we rejoin Stephen as a commander of a battalion in WW1 and experience the trauma that came with the war, nowadays as Faulks highlights in his introduction, a war forgotten perhaps due to guilt or in it's presumed pointlessness compared to its far more devastating successor. There are few great books about WW1 as it's either remembered in a more statistical manner,which forgets emotional side of things,  or seen as the funny war. Birdsong was thus thoroughly successful in bringing out the horrifying conditions of trench warfare and  more importantly how operose the soldiers became, placed in a dream-like state becoming killing machines instead of people. We also follow the discovery, by Stephen's granddaughter Elizabeth, of his journals and she gradually discovers what the war was really like. Whilst this in its own would be too obvious in Faulks using a character merely to illustrate his opinion of how we've all seemed to have forgotten the war, the backstory of her affair helps make Elizabeth an actual person than a statement. Perhaps the most significant criticism I can find of the book is whether Stephen's affair with Isabelle (a key part to the plot), in all it's lustful glory, takes over from the actual warfare side of things. This is only a meagre criticism as the affair also adds a more human aspect to the book itself, making the war a less alien experience. With the vast assortment of characters, many who end of dying (which evoked genuine sadness in me), as well the rich description of the Belgian and French countryside I was able to understand all the acclaim Birdsong has received; but by far the greatest star of the book is Faulks vivid emotional description of all trauma war brings.