This book is one of several that John Irving has written.  It was the basis of the movie, "The Cider House Rules" starring Michael Caine.

This book deals with the story of a doctor, Dr. Wilbur Larch, that runs an orphanage in Maine.  A couple of major points with Dr. Larch is his addiction to ether (an old way of putting people under during surgery) and the fact that he would perform illegal abortions.

It is also about one of the unfortunate orphans, Homer Wells, and his life. Homer has a typical orphan life-going from foster family back to orphanage to foster home.  Homer does end up leaving the orphanage with a couple who had come for an abortion to work in an apple orchard.  Homer has a few love relationships and ends up with a son.

This is a book regarding relationships during the 1930s through 1950s.  It deals with the relationships between Dr./orphan, orphan/orphan, whites/blacks, orphanage /government bureaucracy.

This book was a good read even though it does get slow in the middle.Irving's writing jumps from person to person at times but it is easy to follow along.