What readers think of A Widow For One Year, plus links to write your own review.

Sure, the book was a little predictable..but getting there was the most fun I've had in a while. The characters are so well developed and loveable and the story is fascinating. I whole-heartedly reccomend this book.

As in on all the other Irving novels he always walks that fine line with his deaths of children.
He laid a full table and sent the guests away satisfied (rewiew from wallowa_woman).
I would recommend it to his fans and to iniciate those who are new with the author.
As a spanish teacher studying english I can't say more.
Thank you.

Well, I found this book not so much interesting as another books by Irving, which I have read. For me, the best one is The Son of a Circus, i suppose this book is far better then A Widow for One Year.

Definately too long and drawn out. I almost gave up on it half way through. I didn't care for any of the characters...I could not get emotionally involved or attatched like I usually do when reading a good novel. I didn't feel that any of the characters had grown or accomplished anything. I felt they were the same characters at the end as they were in the beginning with little or no growth. It was very disappointing to read the entire book and there was no forward motion within the characters...only time moved forward but the characters remained stagnat.

The immoral stuff is just too tempting. It can understood as a cover up to the main themes of the story. Quite frankly, this book is very fast paced, and if you are perverted and want to satisfy your ego, this book is perfect to fullfil your sinful desires.

Okay. Is it just me? ?
This is the first Irving novel that I have read, and quite frankly. . . I fail to see what all the hoopLa was about. I found this novel to
be trite and predictable instead of the treasure trove of complexity that I had hoped--or was told--it to be.
All in all, based on this site's five-point scale, I'd rate it a 2.5. (We'll round it to three). There were *definitely* moments of some humor and intrigue, to be sure; but the general simplicity of the novel--in its characterizations, language, plot, etc.--disappointed me.
((shrug)) As this is my first Irving novel, perhaps another work of his might better reflect the reason for the magnitude of this author's following. Then again... this wouldn't be the first time a widely acclaimed, bestselling popular novelist fails to impress me.
--D--

This is my first John Irving book. I'm sorry, but it is surprising to me that this book was written by a 77 year old man. It reads more like the inner world of a 27 year old man. The female characters are not believeable - except perhaps for the elusive Marion. She was smart she disappeared in the middle of the first of the three part story. None of the characters kept my sympathy for very long, the one character who had promise was Eddie - and he made impotent by the author because ... he didn't drink or he respected women? This indeed is self-indulgent writing with little depth and, like the characters, no courage. Does John Irving always write such unbelieveable women characters?

This is the first book of John Irving that I have read and I found it very disappointing. Frankly I couldn't see what is the purpose of the book. With all the main characters of the book being writers especially very mediocre ones I fail to see what the writer wanted to convey. None of the characters are likeable. and there is an utter sense of boredom to the whole book despite a quick pace. Totally pointless.