The Cider House Rules

How can anyone not love a book that simultaneously tells a deeply moving and compelling story and explore the abortion debate with humor and evenhandedness? John Irving is my favorite author and while a prayer for owen meany is my favorite Irving title, "The Cider House Rules" is right up there. I love how deeply Irving knows these characters and how gradually he reveals their quirks and idiosyncracies. He knows and loves them so much, the reader can't help but love the ether-imbibing Dr.Larch and his surrogate son, the orphan Homer Wells. Irving is a consummate storyteller.