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Content snapshot
Flag an inaccuracy →What's in this book, at a glance — five things readers want to know before they start.
Violence
Some
A rape subplot involving a father and daughter; some physical violence
Language
Barely any
Mild language
Sexual Content
A lot
Abortion depicted in detail throughout; rape and incest are plot elements; adult sexuality
Substance Use
Some
Ether use by Dr
Emotional Intensity
A lot
Explores moral complexity around abortion, paternalism, and the question of who makes the rules for others
What this book is about
Homer Wells grows up at St. Cloud's orphanage under the tutelage of Dr. Larch, a dedicated physician who delivers babies and provides abortions — illegal but necessary. When Homer ventures into the outside world and works an apple orchard, he encounters a world that forces him to reckon with his values. Irving's most politically engaged novel, about the right to choose and who gets to write the rules.
Notes for sensitive readers
Reader-flagged moments and themes that may affect your experience.
Detailed depictions of abortion procedures
Father-daughter rape as a plot element
Incest themes
Substance abuse by a sympathetic character
Reader Verification
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