"There was the mouse-crawling-between-the-walls sort of sound, and the sound-like-someone-trying-not-to-make-a-sound sort of sound, and the whole range of sounds between those sounds -- the-opening-of-the-door-in-the-floor sort of sound, and the absence of sound that the moleman made when he held his breath."

My friend told me about John Irving many, many, many years ago. He is his favourite author. I love reading people's favourite authors. They are normally their favourite for a reason. I finally read A Prayer for Owen Meany about 6 years ago. I absolutely loved it. It is one of my favourite books. I think the story is perfection. I immediately emailed my friend to thank him for telling me about Irving and apologized for waiting so long to delve into his stories. I couldn't wait to read another.

6 years later, I am finally picking up another book by John Irving. Again, why did I wait so long? It's complicated, like all things that you immediately fall in love with. Was it a fluke? Will I be totally disappointed? Will it ever compare to the first time?

A Widow for One Year, in a nutshell, is a story about Ruth Cole and her family. We meet her when she is 4 years old and then again as an adult. She is the child her parents had while they are still grieving for their two sons who had died in a car accident 10 years before. Ted is a famous children's book author. He is also a womanizer and drinker, among other things I will not elaborate on. Marion is his beautiful, inconsolable wife who has hung pictures all over the house of her lost sons. Marion will not allow herself to love Ruth for fear of losing her too. What happens when Ruth is 4-years-old will shape the rest of her life.

There are things I hated about this book. It wasn't the perfect story of Owen Meany. (Number one being the character of Hannah, Ruth's so-called best friend. I won't spoil anything by getting into details but really? Really??!! Let's just say no redeeming qualities whatsoever. At all. Did I mention, !!HATE HER!!, and not in the love-to-hate-her way either. Rather in the I-can't-wait-to-see-her-get-her-comeuppance sort of way.) Fortunately, there are many more things I loved about this novel. I was immersed in the Cole's story from the beginning, which for me is the mark of a great tale. The writing is excellent, there is suspense, there are creepy, spooky, scary bits, there are funny bits, there are books-within-books, there is undying love.

I can see why Irving is my friend John's favourite. I look forward to delving into another one and I'll try not to wait 6 years 😉