After two producers, four directors, thirteen years, and uncounted rewrites, the movie version of John Irving's acclaimed novel, The Cider House...
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Sep 03, 2010
Johnvano
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John Irving describes the 14-year process of bringing his novel, "The Cider House Rules" to the screen. An interesting look at the differences between novel and screenplay writing and the concessions made by each form. "The Cider House Rules" is a well-made and entertaining film, I never read the book but am sure it lines up with the best of Irving's works. The story is Irving's chance to develop his views on abortion--those being that it is a compassionate practice for mothe
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Aug 17, 2009
Christen
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Read this very quickly. I was interested in it more for his discussion of his grandfather's career in obstetrics (and writings pertaining thereto), and the history of abortion in the U.S., and while the discussion there is brief and wanting, it was interesting. The Writer Writing About Writing stuff -- which comprises the book as a whole -- would probably be off-putting to most people, but as a fiction writer I was interested in his (surprisingly non-diva-like, at least for the most part) discus
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Aug 17, 2009
This book was enjoyably short, a kind of read in one sitting book. It was not all that interesting, it basically reinforced the fact that John Irving doesn't believe in being edited and that there was a lot of strife and many, many years put into the making of The Cider House Rules the movie. Not a bad book though, I think I am going to have to go watch the movie now.
Dec 15, 2008
Will
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Irving recounts his experiences with the filming of his books. He provides considerable detail, particularly, for the transition of Cider House Rules from novel to film. It is a very nice look into the process of translating from novel to screenplay. He provides many examples of the decisions that had to be made and why they worked, or didn't.
Sep 14, 2010
Sherry
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This John Irving memoir is about making one of my favorite books into one of my favorite movies (The Cider House Rules). Irving discusses the long process of going through four directors, choosing the cast, writing the screenplay, and editing scenes. It was great to get a behind-the-scenes look at an author adapting his novel to the screen.
Oct 19, 2009
Fionnuala
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Repetitive, dull and self-aggrandizing. Can't believe this is the same JI who wrote Garp, Owen Meany etc. I learned nothing about movies, nothing about JI and nothing about the process of adapting novels to the screen. One of the laziest books I've read in a long time. At least it's short.
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Apr 28, 2010
Ladydream
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Irving tells about Irving and it's enjoyment right from the start. The book is about his experience of his books being made into movies. He writes most about Cider House Rules and his grandfather who was an OB and a proponent for the pro-choice movement. Very exciting stuff. And I'm not usually a bio fan.
Feb 27, 2010
Deandrea
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Yeah, I like his writing, but I don't think I like him. This was an interesting look at a the movie-making process for a book I read and a film I saw, but in my opinion it was pretty poorly written. Choppy, disjointed, wandering.
Aug 11, 2011
Some good stuff about the differences between each version of his script, and the types of notes he got from producers/directors. But you do need a strong stomach for some of the medical details.
Aug 03, 2011
Amanda
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Recommended.Irving's books are always translated into film as well as they can be. The Door in the Floor, The World According to Garp, The Cider House Rules.Thought provoking and well written.
Mar 07, 2011
Jeroen
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Irving is a masterful writer and that, more than any insights he provides to the filmmaking business, makes this worth a read.
Apr 16, 2010
Alison
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He takes himself a bit too seriously, but it's got some fascinating stuff in it.
Dec 13, 2009
Steve
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Worth a read to see how the movie business works, but it's nothing substantial.
Mar 26, 2011
Celeste
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As a huge Irving fan who could not wait for the movie The Cider House Rules to come out, I found this account of John's writing of the screenplay for the movie fascinating. I still find myself thinking of this book when I see movies adapted from novels I have read. Irving describes the choices and changes that he struggled with in bringing his novel to the screen and answered to some extent one of my burning questions about the film; why no Melony. This book is probably best appreciated if one h
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Jan 24, 2011
Katy
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I read this in one sitting, which is something I never thought I'd say about something by John Irving. It's insightful, indeed. The books he's turned into movies have been pretty hit or miss. I watched The Hotel New Hampshire right after I read this and he was right, it's basically god awful. But then you see where he had really terrible ideas about The Cider House Rules and how turning a book into a film is really quite difficult. This would have been a perfect book to read on a flight.
Jun 22, 2011
Stacy
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Interesting perspective from Irving on the similarities and differences in writing a book and a screenplay. Great insight into the the industry with glimpses into Irving's personal life.
Feb 24, 2011
Laura
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This book is more than a memoir. Irving writes with passion and intelligence about his grandfather, a famous obstetrician in the 1940s, and how that inspiration gave birth to Irving's novel "The Cider House Rules". He also details the lengthy labour of love to get the book made into a film, one which would eventually win several Academy Awards. But most compellingly, Irving writes about the political history of abortion in the United States. A fascinating read.
Mar 10, 2008
Stephanie
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I was afraid that this book would be boring, and initially decided to read it only because it was the last John Irving book I had to read in my quest to consume everything he has written. But it was actually very good. Irving writes as delightfully about his own life as he does in his novels. And now I have finally finished all of his books!
Sep 10, 2007
Julie
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Irving talks about the differences between writing a novel and a screenplay, primarily concerning The Cider House Rules, but he also touches on his other work. Interesting to hear about the choices that were made and the reasoning behind them.
Apr 24, 2008
Adam
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This is a biograpy of sorts. It focuses a lot on his wrestling time in high school and college and the people he met and worked with along the way. Not a full biography by any means but an intimate look into johns earlier history.
Jan 09, 2011
Reading this book is like inviting John Irving over for dinner and talking long into the night. If you are a fan of his books and their resulting movies you will love it!
Dec 16, 2009
Guy
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Somewhat interesting and even fun, if full of the usual self-congratulation that Irving seemed to start finding necessary a few years ago.
Mar 23, 2007
Riley
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Admittedly, it was a pretty dumb idea to read this without having read any of John Irving's other books. Oh well.
Feb 10, 2012
Feb 10, 2012
