The lives of Eddie, Marion and Ruth are not nearly as far-fetched as the lives of many of the characters known to Irving fans. They are, however, no less interesting. And the tragedy that he somehow manages to turn into smiles is there as well. While the book is purportedly all about Ruth Cole, the daughter of Ted and Marion Cole, it's really about four different writers, their odd, yet believable, lives and how knowing each other affects their lives and their writing. While I found "A Widow for One Year" to be a slightly slow start, it's worth the effort to get through the first 50 pages or so....from that point on, I couldn't put it down! If you're a John Irving fan, don't expect the usual Irving "weirdness." But do expect a tightly written, humourous, sexy and captivating read.