Historical September 1985 report or notice. Original dates, prices and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
The Cider House Rules by John Irving, Morrow, 1985. (4th on bestseller list) Although the book deals with more than the polemics of abortion, the subject is certainly a theme. Dr. Wilbur Larch, an ascetic doctor who founded an orphanage circa 1890 which lasted into the 1950’s has a favorite orphan, Homer Wells.
As Homer grows up, Larch teaches him obstetrical and abortion procedures and he becomes very skilled.
However, at age twenty, Homer announces that he will not do abortions since he feels it is murder.
He leaves the orphanage to work with some wealthy apple growers along the coast of Maine.
One might say the apple is a symbol of carnal temptation since Homer with his friends Candy and Wally become a strange kind of threesome in a Jules and Jim sort of way. Homer becomes manager of the orchard business and as the years go by the plot takes many interesting twists and turns.
As in the World According to Garp and The Hotel New Hampshire, Irving has created a whole new cast of outrageous characters in Cider House Rules as well as comical names such as Fuzzy Stone, Snowy Meadows, and Rose Rose.
One could observe that Irving is something of a cartoonist in print.
As with all his books, I found myself laughing out loud at some of the ludicrous situations. Except for a rather flat ending, the book is highly entertaining and bound to make one think. Flambards by K.M. Peyton (trilogy) Penguin Books, 1980.
Before I read the book, I had seen the Masterpiece Theatre series and it haunted me so much that I had to find the book and read it.
The story is set in England before World War I. Christina Parsons had been an orphan since the age of five and lived with one aunt and another in the suburbs of London until her Uncle Russell sent for her to live at Flambards. Christina was to come into a fortune at age twenty-one and since Uncle Russell had two sons Christina’s age, he hoped to make a match since Flambards was in terrible disrepair. Flambards was out in the country, a large and rambling mid-Victorian house with bay windows, and surrounded by a flower garden. Beyond the house were the stables and woods.
The cousins Mark and William were very different. Mark was a horseman who loved hunting. William’s passion was flying and through him we learn a great deal about the early days of aviation.
As the years go by, Christina is drawn to the slender young man, William and she falls in love and marries him rather than the handsome, robust hunter Mark.
In the last part of the book, Christina returns to Flambards and becomes a mother.
She uses her fortune to restore the estate to what it once had been.
She also takes an orphan child in named Tizzy and eventually finds the happiness and fulfillment she always sought.
The book ends very happily.
The characters in the book are well drawn as is the English countryside.
This is a story that would appeal to any age but since it discusses the importance of good and moral values and because it has to do with the lives of young folks, I would also recommend it to young adults.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, September 1985.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1985_09.pdf, printed page(s) 5; PDF page(s) 5.
