This paper considers how John Irving's novels are challenging, infuriating and fascinating by examining three of them, particularly
"The Cider House Rules," but also "A Prayer for Owen Meany" and "The World According to Garp." It shows how each of the major themes in each of the books leads to one or more particular argument that the author is endeavoring to make. It discusses how the themes range from
activism to
abortion to religion to love and how John Irving uses epic novels spanning lifetimes to bring these themes for the forefront of the reader's consciousness.