John Irving's Latest Novel Falls Flat in 'Queen Esther'
American novelist John Irving has always been known for his sprawling, epic novels that tackle big social issues with humor and empathy. But with "Queen Esther", his latest novel, it seems like he's lost some of his magic.
The book returns to the world of Irving's 1985 classic "The Cider House Rules", which is widely regarded as one of his best works. Set in an orphanage in Maine, the novel explores themes of abortion, belonging, and identity with wit and warmth. But while "Queen Esther" shares some DNA with its predecessor, it fails to deliver a similarly satisfying reading experience.
Instead, the novel follows the story of Esther Winslow, a young Jewish girl adopted by a wealthy couple in New Hampshire. As she grows up, Esther becomes embroiled in the Zionist movement and eventually finds herself at the center of a complex web of intrigue. But unlike Irving's earlier work, "Queen Esther" doesn't really explore Esther's character or her experiences in depth.
Instead, the novel seems to focus more on the story of Jimmy, a young man who is born to Esther and becomes a key player in the Zionist movement. Jimmy's journey takes him to Vienna, where he becomes embroiled in a world of espionage and counter-espionage. But as Irving's obsessions with themes like self-mutilation, wrestling, and prostitution begin to creep back in, it starts to feel like we're being hit over the head with familiar tropes.
One of the biggest problems with "Queen Esther" is that it feels like a novel that's been engineered to check off certain boxes. Irving has always been a writer who wears his heart on his sleeve, but here he seems more interested in ticking off his various obsessions than in crafting a genuinely compelling narrative.
And while Irving's writing is still engaging and witty, there's something about the character of Esther that feels underdeveloped. We're given glimpses of her life in Palestine and Israel, but they feel like convenient plot devices rather than genuine explorations of her experiences as a Jewish woman living in a tumultuous world.
In short, "Queen Esther" feels like a disappointment from a writer who has once given us so much joy. But if you're looking for a novel that truly stands the test of time, read "The Cider House Rules" instead. It may be longer, but it's also more nuanced and compelling – and it's still one of Irving's very best works.
Ultimately, "Queen Esther" feels like a reminder that even great writers have off days. But with Irving's latest novel, we can't help but wonder what could have been if he had taken a more subtle approach to his themes and characters. As it stands, "Queen Esther" is a solid but unremarkable addition to Irving's oeuvre – one that fails to live up to the high standards set by his earlier work.
American novelist John Irving has always been known for his sprawling, epic novels that tackle big social issues with humor and empathy. But with "Queen Esther", his latest novel, it seems like he's lost some of his magic.
The book returns to the world of Irving's 1985 classic "The Cider House Rules", which is widely regarded as one of his best works. Set in an orphanage in Maine, the novel explores themes of abortion, belonging, and identity with wit and warmth. But while "Queen Esther" shares some DNA with its predecessor, it fails to deliver a similarly satisfying reading experience.
Instead, the novel follows the story of Esther Winslow, a young Jewish girl adopted by a wealthy couple in New Hampshire. As she grows up, Esther becomes embroiled in the Zionist movement and eventually finds herself at the center of a complex web of intrigue. But unlike Irving's earlier work, "Queen Esther" doesn't really explore Esther's character or her experiences in depth.
Instead, the novel seems to focus more on the story of Jimmy, a young man who is born to Esther and becomes a key player in the Zionist movement. Jimmy's journey takes him to Vienna, where he becomes embroiled in a world of espionage and counter-espionage. But as Irving's obsessions with themes like self-mutilation, wrestling, and prostitution begin to creep back in, it starts to feel like we're being hit over the head with familiar tropes.
One of the biggest problems with "Queen Esther" is that it feels like a novel that's been engineered to check off certain boxes. Irving has always been a writer who wears his heart on his sleeve, but here he seems more interested in ticking off his various obsessions than in crafting a genuinely compelling narrative.
And while Irving's writing is still engaging and witty, there's something about the character of Esther that feels underdeveloped. We're given glimpses of her life in Palestine and Israel, but they feel like convenient plot devices rather than genuine explorations of her experiences as a Jewish woman living in a tumultuous world.
In short, "Queen Esther" feels like a disappointment from a writer who has once given us so much joy. But if you're looking for a novel that truly stands the test of time, read "The Cider House Rules" instead. It may be longer, but it's also more nuanced and compelling – and it's still one of Irving's very best works.
Ultimately, "Queen Esther" feels like a reminder that even great writers have off days. But with Irving's latest novel, we can't help but wonder what could have been if he had taken a more subtle approach to his themes and characters. As it stands, "Queen Esther" is a solid but unremarkable addition to Irving's oeuvre – one that fails to live up to the high standards set by his earlier work.
. I've always been a fan of his work, especially 'The Cider House Rules' which is like, totally iconic in my mind 
. But "Queen Esther" feels like he's phoning it in rather than putting in the effort to craft a compelling narrative 
.
, but this time around he seems to be more focused on checking off his own obsessions (self-mutilation, wrestling, prostitution...it feels like we're getting hit over the head with these themes, tbh) 
.
. We get glimpses of her life in Palestine and Israel but it just feels like convenient plot devices rather than genuine explorations of her experiences as a Jewish woman living in a tumultuous world 
.
. He's got the skill to create complex, nuanced characters and stories but sometimes it feels like he's just going through the motions 
.
. And don't even get me started on Jimmy, the "plot device" that takes up most of the book 
. It just feels like Irving is trying to check off boxes with his usual obsessions rather than actually crafting a compelling story 
. I mean, come on, can't he do better than this? 
Still, if you want a more balanced read, I reckon "The Cider House Rules" would be the better bet 
and Esther character feel like cardboard cutout 
dont get me with all the spy thriller vibes 
cant help but think "cider house rules" still stand tall 
. Esther's character feels so underdeveloped - what happened to the depth we saw in characters like Hallett and Daisy in The Cider House Rules? 
It's a shame because I was really hoping for something more from Irving, but it seems like he didn't quite hit the mark this time 
.
seriously though, esther's character feels so flat it's like she's just a prop to move the plot forward 
and don't even get me started on jimmy, dude is like the most boring protagonist ever 
at least in "the cider house rules" irving was trying to tackle some tough themes with humor and empathy, but here he's just phoning it in 
I was expecting something epic and life-changing, but "Queen Esther" feels like a lazy rehash of old themes 
Jimmy's story is meh and the espionage stuff just feels like Irving trying too hard to be edgy 
. The story's just kinda meandering and doesn't really delve deep into Esther's character or her experiences as a Jewish woman living in Palestine & Israel 
. I mean, I love Irving's humor and wit as much as the next person 
, but sometimes less is more, you know? 
.
.
, but I just finished reading "Queen Esther" and I gotta say, it was a bit of a letdown for me too... 
. Esther's character just didn't resonate with me either... I mean, I get what Irving was going for, but it felt like we were supposed to care about her, but instead she just kinda existed in the background while Jimmy stole the show 
. Still, it's not all bad, his writing is always engaging and witty 
. And Irving's writing is still witty and engaging, don't get me wrong 
.
. His writing is still witty, but it can't make up for the lack of development in key characters. 'Queen Esther' feels like a disappointment from someone who has given us so much great work before.