The Cider House RulesThe Cider House Rules
Score Classic
What it's about
Homer Wells is an orphan who is never adopted, so he grows up at the orphanage in St. Cloud's, Maine, as the apprentice of its doctor, Wilbur Larch, a kind, ether-addicted man who delivers babies and, secretly and illegally, performs abortions. Homer disagrees with him, leaves to work on an apple farm, falls in love, and spends years deciding what's right.
Why it's worth reading
It was a #1 New York Times bestseller, and the film won Oscars. It's a big, humane, funny and moving novel about choices.
You'll love it if you liked
A Prayer for Owen Meany
East of Eden
To Kill a MockingbirdGood to know
Abortion is central, discussed openly from several sides. It's long and leisurely.
By the numbers
- Readers75 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller50 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #66 of the 116 historical novels we rank
- #281 of the 762 classics we rank
- #908 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Moving, Thought-provoking
More by John Irving
A Prayer for Owen Meany
The World According to Garp
The Hotel New Hampshire
A Widow for One YearIf you like this, read next
War and Peace
Ragtime
The Power and the Glory
The Magnificent Ambersons
My Brilliant Friend
A Tale of Two CitiesExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is The Cider House Rules worth reading?
Yes. It was a #1 New York Times bestseller, and the film won Oscars. It ranks #908 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 73.9 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Cider House Rules about?
Homer Wells is an orphan who is never adopted, so he grows up at the orphanage in St. Cloud's, Maine, as the apprentice of its doctor, Wilbur Larch, a kind, ether-addicted man who delivers babies and, secretly and illegally, performs abortions. Homer disagrees with him, leaves to work on an apple farm, falls in love, and spends years deciding what's right.
How long does it take to read The Cider House Rules?
About 15 hours (598 pages), or about 4 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Cider House Rules?
If you liked it, try A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving, East of Eden by John Steinbeck or To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.