This is one of the most incredible novels that I've read.
Beginning pre world war II and set in an orphanage called St. Cloud in Maine, this is the story of Homer Wells. Homer is a young man who has grown up in this orphanage with Dr. Wilbur Larch, the head of the orphanage, a physician, obstetrician and abortionist.
With just a few nurses to assist him, Wilbur runs the underfunded orphanage full of unwanted children, and secretly provides abortions to women to stop the flow of unwanted children in the world. Wilbur develops a special bond with Homer, seeing him much as a son, and trains him to be his predecessor.
One day a young woman, Candy, and her fella, Wally, show up for an abortion and befriend young Homer who admires and longs for their carefree, worldly lifestyle. While Homer loves Wilbur and his fellow orphans, he decides to leave with them to discover the world on his own.
Having nowhere to go, Homer goes to work on Wally's family apple orchard and lives with the other migrant orchard workers in the "Cider House".
Having become best friends with Wally and developed a crush on Candy, things change dramatically when Wally is called to enlist in the war. When Wally is shot down, Homer and Candy develop a romantic relationship, but when Wally is suddenly returned injured, everything changes again. Both Candy and Homer care deeply for Wally so they know their relationship must end.
After his love affair and friendships with Candy, Wally and his fellow workers, Homer has had enough of adventures and eventually returns to St. Cloud's to take his place as the next doctor and caretaker of the the orphanage and the many unwanted children. While he finds abortions distasteful and morally objectionable, he agrees to continue with Wilbur's work, believing that the many women with no where else to turn must receive the safe care that they need without fear in order to avoid so many more orphans and unwanted children in the world.
A remarkable story!
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