Monday, 2nd December 2002, 7:54pm
An opinion by:
Johanna
The Cider House Rules by John Irving
The thing that struck me most about this book was the extraordinary amount of research the author must have gone into to write it. In The World According to Garp Irving's main character was an author, so that was not too much to read up on, although there was still a lot of other specialised parts like the Austrian Circus. In The Cider House Rules there are pages and pages describing with great care the obstetrical procedure performed in abortions and delivering babies. Not to mention the emotional insight into orphans and the life within an orphanage. A great task, but I can't help thinking that Irving has many interests. He certainly has with an ability to empathise that is damn close to reality. These factors combined create a prose that spells out the most graphic information in a soft calming voice. Irving is like the nurse who stands by patting your hand while the ether renders you unconscious. Magic, if a little difficult to read on your lunch break munching delicately on a salami sandwich (not to mention the size of the book).
The character of Larch (played by Michael Caine in the film) is one of Irving's martyrs, paying the price of man's sins. He devoted his life to the orphanage, St Clouds, and performing safe illegal abortions for women who had no-where else to go. Larch is an Ether addict, the drug used to sedate his patients, and his masking of his pain adds to the surreal-ness of the place. I liked how Irving explains the needs of an orphan, and how the Doctor provided for them.
"For everything that promises to last, to stay the same, the orphan is a sucker"
"Here in St. Cloud's" [wrote Dr Larch] "security is measured by the number of promises kept."
Anyone who has experienced disappointment as a child can identify with Irving's description of an orphan's plight. I loved the way the Doctor gave them stability because he knew that was what they wanted more than anything. He gave them answered promises.
"Every child understands a promise - if it is kept - and looks forward to the next promise."
I liked this way of looking at it. The imagery of the old orphanage had its own meaning and character:
"Each corner of the old house held something to be learned and then counted upon."
As I'd seen the film first, I was judging it as I read. Although the endings were quite different, and the character of Melony, one of the orphans, was completely changed, I think it was well understood and well acted, despite Hollywood's inevitable saccharine coating.
Not as good as Garp, but I got all the way to the end and still want to read more Irving!
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