Status
Available
Call number
Call number
F Irv
Genres
Collection
Publication
Ballantine Books (1990), Edition: Reissue
Description
In the summer of 1953, two 11-year-old boys--best friends--are playing in a Little League baseball game in New Hampshire. One of the boys hits a foul ball that kills his best friend's mother. Owen Meany believes he didn't hit the ball by accident. He believes he is God's instrument. What happens to Owen after 1953 is extraordinary and terrifying. He is Irving's most heartbreaking hero.
Media reviews
"Owen Meany" is as sappy as a book can get without having a title like "Coddled By The Light" or "Sauntering Towards the Light" or "Picking Posies in the Fields of the Light," but it's never nauseating or treacly or overly wholesome. It's a nice good fun read, like a quiet vacation. Irving isn't
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wrangling us with extremes, here -- he gives us a break. You've been beat up enough, he says. I'll do the work for you this time. The result is merciful, healthy, warm and gladdening. Show Less
The characters capable of representing such scepticism don't look good on paper, while the book puts all its efforts into promoting a belief in belief. But a belief in belief is something this book lams into elsewhere: the Americans' propensity for decisiveness in the absence of policy. On the
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green award of the Gravesend Academy, it may seem innocent enough; in the jungles and deserts of international trouble spots, it looks fatally naive. Show Less
Mr. Irving shows considerable skill as scene after scene mounts to its moving climax. But the thinking behind it all seems juvenile, preppy, is much too pleased with itself. There is something appropriate in the fact that so much of the book takes place in and around a New England academy. The
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heavily emphasized ''religious'' symbols at the center of the book - the contrast to American aggressiveness offered by the clawlessness of the armadillo, the armlessness of the Indian founder of the town, even John Wheelwright's imbecile joy at being mutilated as still another symbol of his sacrifice of sex to right thinking - all this reminds this long-tried teacher of all the ''Christ symbols'' his students find in everything and anything they have to read. Show Less
Diminutive Owen Meany, believing himself to be God's instrument, unlocks life's mysteries for his closest friend in this imaginative mix of humor and tragedy.
From Booklist, Copyright © American Library Association. Used with permission.
From Booklist, Copyright © American Library Association. Used with permission.
John Irving’s A Prayer For Owen Meany is yet another Irving book that absolutely held my attention, and had me racing to finish it. Irving, perhaps because of his own dyslexia, takes pains to write clearly and readably. He avoids labyrinthine construction. He earns his right to describe things by
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keeping the action moving. Show Less
Subjects
Original publication date
1989
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User reviews
LibraryThing member jayne_charles
This is a book I found tough to read, but it's worth ploughing through. It really improves as it progresses and adds up to a highly satisfying and memorable whole.
It has all the hallmarks of an Irving novel that I like - fantastically original, smart characterisation and some great witty prose.
This book is a bit like climbing a tree - hard work, rather monotonous at times and you might occasionally get poked in the eye, but it's worth the slog because the view from the top is tremendous.
It has all the hallmarks of an Irving novel that I like - fantastically original, smart characterisation and some great witty prose.
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Unfortunately it has all the ones I hate too - first and foremost a tendency to get snagged up on some issue he clearly thinks is fascinating/hilarious/profound and then bang on about it for fifty or so pages ad nauseam. For example....the pageant was quite funny but went on way too long, as were all those bits about Hester in the future, and the religious bits in Canada.This book is a bit like climbing a tree - hard work, rather monotonous at times and you might occasionally get poked in the eye, but it's worth the slog because the view from the top is tremendous.
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LibraryThing member ctpress
I am doomed to remember a boy with a wrecked voice— not because of his voice, or because he was the smallest person I ever knew, or even because he was the instrument of my mother's death, but because he is the reason I believe in God; I am a Christian because of Owen Meany.
A brilliant opening
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sentence of A Prayer for Owen Meany that encapsulate the essence of the story and immediately grabs our attention.This is a story of a beautiful and lasting friendship - about growing up in the 50's and 60's in a small fictional town in New Hampshire. About the loss of childhood - a tragic death - and more than anything about faith and God's providence - that nothing happens without a reason.
Owen Meany is one of the most fascinating characters I've met in a long time in fiction - an unlikely angel or savior, a dwarf-like-prophet with a wrecked voice who weighs almost nothing. Definitely something transcendent about his place in this story - when he speaks it's always in CAPITAL LETTERS which of course grabs our attention - like a prophets voice. At one point he's called THE VOICE due to his column-writing in the school-paper.
The narrator John is Owens best friend - and the story alternates between events in the present (1980's) and his memories of childhood. We meet Johns mother, her new fiancé Dan (a man with such a tender wisdom), the strict grandmother (with a weakness for tv-watching) and Hester - John's beautiful seductively cousin - and a lot of other persons (this is a 700 plus pages brick).
This is my first Irving - so I can't compare it to his other writings - Irvings world is quirky - so many memories weave into each other effortlessly - many strange, absurd and funny incident's and clever observations. But for some reason I wasn't deeply moved by the story - hence the four stars and not five.
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LibraryThing member Katie_H
This is the second novel I've read by Irving, and he is fast becoming one of my absolute favorite authors. His style of prose is similar to Dickens, with a rich and finely crafted text, very complex characters, stunning imagery, and recurring symbolism, and Prayer does not disappoint; it is a
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literary masterpiece. This is a coming-of-age epic, with present and past merging to illustrate the loss of innocence of two boys and a country. The book is narrated by Johnny Wheelwright as a prayer for his lost best friend, Owen Meany. Owen was the smallest person he ever knew, with a voice that sounded like a permanent scream, and he rightly believed that he was an instrument of God. He is the most human character you'll ever meet, yet he is unlike any person you've ever known. Even though much of the subject matter is dark, the novel is warm and often humorous. Irving is openly critical of America and Ronald Reagan in the text, but agreeing with him is not essential to one's enjoyment of the book. The heart of the novel is about friendship, growing up, heroism, predestination, and personal faith, and the climax is intense. Owen Meany is a character and friend that will stick with you, not soon forgotten. I highly recommend this book to all audiences. Show Less
LibraryThing member BobNolin
Read to page 250, gave it up. Read right after The Deptford Trilogy by Robertson Davies, and it seems a poor imitation. Irving told Davies he was his favorite living author, and kind of thrust himself upon Davies. Probably looking for affirmation. In his letters, printed posthumously, RD (For Your
JI serves up "quirky" people (a dwarf with a 'wrecked voice', in this case) and clumsy symbols (dressmakers dummy, baseball), as though these will hint at and shed light on the mysterious nature of Life and people. Instead, his books seem (to me) to be laughing at people, not with them (as RD does). Bizarreness is offered up for its own sake, without any purpose. I found it hard to believe that an 11-year-old boy would 1) remember all these details and 2) think those thoughts, say those things, at that age. The narrator (Owen's friend, now grown up and looking back) simply tells us several times that Owen "commanded respect" , that he held power over people. I didn't buy it, because I didn't see it. And I never could imagine what Owen's voice sounded like. A gravelly falsetto? This book was written before the Internet, where, if you write IN ALL CAPS, people accuse you of shouting. Perhaps that convention (seeing CAPS as yelling) makes it impossible for me to not hear him simply shouting constantly.
Owen Meany's structure is very simple, just a group of set-pieces (ready-made for filming) strung together. They weren't in the least funny. The bumbling fools and inept ministers are not humorous to me, merely sad. If I had to live in JI's world, I would be quite depressed.
Anyway, it seems this book was an attempt by JI to prove to himself (and RD) that he was a good writer, too! Look! I can do what you can do, Rob!
As they say in the comments on the web: "Um...no."
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Eye Only, pg 71) makes it clear he didn't think much of JI as a writer. RD also did not like Owen Meany. JI serves up "quirky" people (a dwarf with a 'wrecked voice', in this case) and clumsy symbols (dressmakers dummy, baseball), as though these will hint at and shed light on the mysterious nature of Life and people. Instead, his books seem (to me) to be laughing at people, not with them (as RD does). Bizarreness is offered up for its own sake, without any purpose. I found it hard to believe that an 11-year-old boy would 1) remember all these details and 2) think those thoughts, say those things, at that age. The narrator (Owen's friend, now grown up and looking back) simply tells us several times that Owen "commanded respect" , that he held power over people. I didn't buy it, because I didn't see it. And I never could imagine what Owen's voice sounded like. A gravelly falsetto? This book was written before the Internet, where, if you write IN ALL CAPS, people accuse you of shouting. Perhaps that convention (seeing CAPS as yelling) makes it impossible for me to not hear him simply shouting constantly.
Owen Meany's structure is very simple, just a group of set-pieces (ready-made for filming) strung together. They weren't in the least funny. The bumbling fools and inept ministers are not humorous to me, merely sad. If I had to live in JI's world, I would be quite depressed.
Anyway, it seems this book was an attempt by JI to prove to himself (and RD) that he was a good writer, too! Look! I can do what you can do, Rob!
As they say in the comments on the web: "Um...no."
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LibraryThing member liibooks
This is a beautiful story about John Wheelwright and his best friend Owen Meany. The book is divided in two parts. The first part is about the boys’ growing up in Gravesend, New Hampshire. The second part is about the present that in the book was 1980.
Owen is a small, underdeveloped boy with
After John’s mom died, Owen wins the role of baby Jesus and the Christmas ghost in a Christmas play at the amateur theater. Owen shocks everyone in the middle of one of the performances, when he sees his parents in the audience; he demands that they leave… He was very good as a scary Christmas ghost in A Christmas Carol, but on the final night of the performance he sees a vision; a vision of his own gravestone with the date of his death. He is convinced that the vision will become true. As Time passes he sees other visions which give more and more details of his own death. Owen starts to believe that he is an instrument of God.
When the boys were old enough they begin attending Gravesend’s Academy. Owen was an odd boy who was physically fragile, but reading the book you can see how strong he was mentally. You can easily imagine that Owen would be the boy that everybody makes fun of, but instead you find he was somewhat of an authority for all the other boys at the school. He had a column, called “The Voice”, in the school’s paper, but shortly before graduating he was expelled for helping students making fake IDs out of their draft cards.
This was a weird story, funny and sad; extremely vividly written. John Irving is a master of words. This novel is his most autobiographical. He, like John in the book, lived in New Hampshire, didn’t know his real father and even his stepfather was a professor at the University. This was my first book from Irving’s works and it’s still my favorite. The author is such a talented story teller that in one page he makes you laugh and in the next page he can make you cry. This was an amazing book, I know it’s a favorite of many people; you can’t go wrong by choosing this novel. This is a thick book (over 600 pages), but it’s fast, easy and very enjoyable an unforgettable read. This is one of those books that you don’t want to end.
Owen is a small, underdeveloped boy with
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“wrecked voice” and weirdly luminous skin. He is very fond of John’s mother who adores Owen. She even convinces his parents to let him attend the elite Gravesend’s Academy. John, who lives with his mom and grandmother, doesn’t know who his father is, but hopes that one day his mom will tell him. All his hopes are shattered one day when Owen kills her accidently with a baseball. However John and Owen still remain close friends even after this tragic event. Owen believes that everything in life happens for a reason and that his faith in God will help John to find his father.After John’s mom died, Owen wins the role of baby Jesus and the Christmas ghost in a Christmas play at the amateur theater. Owen shocks everyone in the middle of one of the performances, when he sees his parents in the audience; he demands that they leave… He was very good as a scary Christmas ghost in A Christmas Carol, but on the final night of the performance he sees a vision; a vision of his own gravestone with the date of his death. He is convinced that the vision will become true. As Time passes he sees other visions which give more and more details of his own death. Owen starts to believe that he is an instrument of God.
When the boys were old enough they begin attending Gravesend’s Academy. Owen was an odd boy who was physically fragile, but reading the book you can see how strong he was mentally. You can easily imagine that Owen would be the boy that everybody makes fun of, but instead you find he was somewhat of an authority for all the other boys at the school. He had a column, called “The Voice”, in the school’s paper, but shortly before graduating he was expelled for helping students making fake IDs out of their draft cards.
This was a weird story, funny and sad; extremely vividly written. John Irving is a master of words. This novel is his most autobiographical. He, like John in the book, lived in New Hampshire, didn’t know his real father and even his stepfather was a professor at the University. This was my first book from Irving’s works and it’s still my favorite. The author is such a talented story teller that in one page he makes you laugh and in the next page he can make you cry. This was an amazing book, I know it’s a favorite of many people; you can’t go wrong by choosing this novel. This is a thick book (over 600 pages), but it’s fast, easy and very enjoyable an unforgettable read. This is one of those books that you don’t want to end.
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LibraryThing member jmchshannon
Owen Meany is meant to be annoying; his voice, his size, and his sense of purpose, among others, all highlight Johnny's own love/hate relationship with Owen. This is one area in which Mr. Irving succeeds. Unfortunately, he succeeds so well that it truly impacted my thoughts on the book itself. A
My feelings for Owen are as conflicted as Johnny Wheelwright's are. Owen is at times so manipulative, so condescending, so righteous and so devout, I had issues with almost everything he said and did. I cannot understand why people listened to him, never questioned him and followed him blindly. Present-day John Wheelwright reflects on past events with equal parts bitterness and fond remembrance, making it difficult for a reader to discern John's own feelings for Owen. Is it true love, as his current employer and her husband thinks? Is it completely platonic? The love/hate dynamic that exists within John regarding Owen gives the reader permission to feel similarly. It is an allowance on the part of the author like no other.
As with any novel of this length, there are many feints and sleights of hand, making it nearly impossible for the reader to predict, let alone follow at times. Mr. Irving did an excellent job starting out with one story, uncovering bits and pieces of it, only to uncover the whole truth rather dramatically at the end and forcing the reader to realize just how wrong he or she was. Not only does it make the story that much more enjoyable, it makes certain scenes in the story quite horrific because one does not see it coming until much too late.
Like most people who aspire to write a Dickensian novel, including Mr. Dickens himself, A Prayer for Owen Meany suffers from a tendency towards wordiness and rambling over inane topics. When the story was on track, it was concise, intriguing, and intelligently written. Unfortunately, many times throughout the novel, the narrator veered off onto various tangents, making it quite easy to tune out while listening to this as an audio book. However, like Dickens' works, tuning out proved to be quite dangerous because even the most innocuous comment on the most random tangent became a clue to final mystery of Owen's fate.
As hinted at in the title, A Prayer for Owen Meany revolves around the idea of faith. Many of the characters either question theirs, have lost theirs, or have no doubts about theirs. As a reader, it is not a novel to be read searching for answers. In fact, I feel that because my own feelings about religion and faith are so confused, I could not adequately appreciate this key theme. As religion is mentioned on practically every page, this is a huge omission on my part and directly impacted my reaction to certain scenes.
On audio, one can get a true sense of Owen's unique voice. Joe Barrett does this to perfection, employing a high-pitched, nasal tonality that truly does grate on the nerves. The impact of "that voice" from "that boy" takes on an entirely new meaning because the listener understands completely what a character may be experiencing when faced with Owen and his voice for the first time. As for the rest of the audio performance, Mr. Barrett excels. His voice is conversationalist in tone, pleasant and soothing to one's ear, except for when voicing Owen's lines. His characterization of each of the characters is subtle yet distinct, making it easy for the listener to distinguish between Grandmother and Hester, Aunt Martha and John's mother, Dan Needham versus Reverend Louis Merrill, and so forth. His enunciation is crisp and clear, and his adoption of a faint New England accent adds to the overall experience.
In spite of, or even maybe because of, my feelings for Owen, A Prayer for Owen Meany is a fascinating book. The story itself is engaging and quite interesting. There are enough teasers and hints as to Owen's fate, that the reader is compelled to continue with the story to confirm all suspicions or suggestions. The characters themselves are all quite memorable. Cousin Hester and Grandmother remain two of my favorites, Hester as the tortured soul and Grandmother as a revered matriarch of an entire town. While I may not agree entirely with the final message regarding miracles and spiritual belief, I can respect what Mr. Irving was trying to accomplish, for no matter what one's beliefs are about faith, A Prayer for Owen Meany forces the reader to reevaluate those beliefs. Well-written and perfectly executed, it will keep one pondering the idea of faith for a long time.
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Prayer for Owen Meany is so sweeping in its gesture of heroism and true friendship, in its ideals of self-sacrifice and remorse that the reader should have some sympathy for Owen's fate and Johnny's plight. Yet, my own annoyance with Owen prevented me from truly caring.My feelings for Owen are as conflicted as Johnny Wheelwright's are. Owen is at times so manipulative, so condescending, so righteous and so devout, I had issues with almost everything he said and did. I cannot understand why people listened to him, never questioned him and followed him blindly. Present-day John Wheelwright reflects on past events with equal parts bitterness and fond remembrance, making it difficult for a reader to discern John's own feelings for Owen. Is it true love, as his current employer and her husband thinks? Is it completely platonic? The love/hate dynamic that exists within John regarding Owen gives the reader permission to feel similarly. It is an allowance on the part of the author like no other.
As with any novel of this length, there are many feints and sleights of hand, making it nearly impossible for the reader to predict, let alone follow at times. Mr. Irving did an excellent job starting out with one story, uncovering bits and pieces of it, only to uncover the whole truth rather dramatically at the end and forcing the reader to realize just how wrong he or she was. Not only does it make the story that much more enjoyable, it makes certain scenes in the story quite horrific because one does not see it coming until much too late.
Like most people who aspire to write a Dickensian novel, including Mr. Dickens himself, A Prayer for Owen Meany suffers from a tendency towards wordiness and rambling over inane topics. When the story was on track, it was concise, intriguing, and intelligently written. Unfortunately, many times throughout the novel, the narrator veered off onto various tangents, making it quite easy to tune out while listening to this as an audio book. However, like Dickens' works, tuning out proved to be quite dangerous because even the most innocuous comment on the most random tangent became a clue to final mystery of Owen's fate.
As hinted at in the title, A Prayer for Owen Meany revolves around the idea of faith. Many of the characters either question theirs, have lost theirs, or have no doubts about theirs. As a reader, it is not a novel to be read searching for answers. In fact, I feel that because my own feelings about religion and faith are so confused, I could not adequately appreciate this key theme. As religion is mentioned on practically every page, this is a huge omission on my part and directly impacted my reaction to certain scenes.
On audio, one can get a true sense of Owen's unique voice. Joe Barrett does this to perfection, employing a high-pitched, nasal tonality that truly does grate on the nerves. The impact of "that voice" from "that boy" takes on an entirely new meaning because the listener understands completely what a character may be experiencing when faced with Owen and his voice for the first time. As for the rest of the audio performance, Mr. Barrett excels. His voice is conversationalist in tone, pleasant and soothing to one's ear, except for when voicing Owen's lines. His characterization of each of the characters is subtle yet distinct, making it easy for the listener to distinguish between Grandmother and Hester, Aunt Martha and John's mother, Dan Needham versus Reverend Louis Merrill, and so forth. His enunciation is crisp and clear, and his adoption of a faint New England accent adds to the overall experience.
In spite of, or even maybe because of, my feelings for Owen, A Prayer for Owen Meany is a fascinating book. The story itself is engaging and quite interesting. There are enough teasers and hints as to Owen's fate, that the reader is compelled to continue with the story to confirm all suspicions or suggestions. The characters themselves are all quite memorable. Cousin Hester and Grandmother remain two of my favorites, Hester as the tortured soul and Grandmother as a revered matriarch of an entire town. While I may not agree entirely with the final message regarding miracles and spiritual belief, I can respect what Mr. Irving was trying to accomplish, for no matter what one's beliefs are about faith, A Prayer for Owen Meany forces the reader to reevaluate those beliefs. Well-written and perfectly executed, it will keep one pondering the idea of faith for a long time.
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LibraryThing member kishields
Disappointing. The book seemed heavy handed and I had a hard time caring about any of the characters or the central problems of faith. I remember liking John Irving a lot more when I was young. I'm not sure if it was the books themselves were better or I was a different reader.
LibraryThing member krazy4katz
This is the first novel I have read by John Irving. The prose is wonderful and evocative. For the first 25% of the book, I was confused about where we were going. Usually this is sufficient to cause suffering or make me quit reading. However, the writing was so excellent that I was happy to
The story progresses along 2 timelines experienced by the narrator, John Wheelwright. He alternates between the present (1980s) and his memories of the past (which is most of the novel) -- growing up in New Hampshire in the 1950s and '60s with his best friend, Owen Meany. Owen Meany is a tiny boy with a loud, high pitched voice and an unwavering faith in God and his own destiny. Understanding that destiny and how it influences his own life is John Wheelwright's task. As he says in the first sentence of the novel: "I am doomed to remember a boy with a wrecked voice - not because of his voice, or because he was the smallest person I ever knew, or even because he was the instrument of my mother's death, but because he is the reason I believe in God; I am a Christian because of Owen Meany."
A mixture of sad, harrowing, desperate and laugh-out-loud funny events comprise the growth of these 2 boys into men when they must decide their destinies. Or are their destinies decided for them by God? That is the question that needs to be answered. Owen knows the answer, but does John? In the background, the destiny and righteousness of the U.S. is also questioned. JFK, Vietnam and the Iran-Contra scandal are all here. How do they influence our (meaning Americans') sense of ourselves as moral beings? How should Owen and John respond to the perceived sins of their own country? It is John that gets trapped in this past. He seems unable to move beyond his connection to Owen and his American political conscience even years later when he is living in Canada. One can only hope that telling his and Owen's story will free him to live his life.
I would have given this book 5 stars except for one problem, which is perhaps mine alone. In my opinion, the best fiction allows you to believe that it could be true, even if it takes extremely unusual circumstances for that to happen (obviously science fiction gets a pass here). In this novel, if one doesn't believe strongly in Christian ideology about God, it is difficult (in my opinion) to fully immerse oneself in this novel. There is no way to make it allegorical. It is reality. Although this lost half a star for me, I still think it is a fantastic, beautiful novel.
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persevere without understanding. Slowly, the outline of the story is established. Frankly, there is so much foreshadowing in the early part, I don't know why I missed it. I think it is a book one needs to read more than once.The story progresses along 2 timelines experienced by the narrator, John Wheelwright. He alternates between the present (1980s) and his memories of the past (which is most of the novel) -- growing up in New Hampshire in the 1950s and '60s with his best friend, Owen Meany. Owen Meany is a tiny boy with a loud, high pitched voice and an unwavering faith in God and his own destiny. Understanding that destiny and how it influences his own life is John Wheelwright's task. As he says in the first sentence of the novel: "I am doomed to remember a boy with a wrecked voice - not because of his voice, or because he was the smallest person I ever knew, or even because he was the instrument of my mother's death, but because he is the reason I believe in God; I am a Christian because of Owen Meany."
A mixture of sad, harrowing, desperate and laugh-out-loud funny events comprise the growth of these 2 boys into men when they must decide their destinies. Or are their destinies decided for them by God? That is the question that needs to be answered. Owen knows the answer, but does John? In the background, the destiny and righteousness of the U.S. is also questioned. JFK, Vietnam and the Iran-Contra scandal are all here. How do they influence our (meaning Americans') sense of ourselves as moral beings? How should Owen and John respond to the perceived sins of their own country? It is John that gets trapped in this past. He seems unable to move beyond his connection to Owen and his American political conscience even years later when he is living in Canada. One can only hope that telling his and Owen's story will free him to live his life.
I would have given this book 5 stars except for one problem, which is perhaps mine alone. In my opinion, the best fiction allows you to believe that it could be true, even if it takes extremely unusual circumstances for that to happen (obviously science fiction gets a pass here). In this novel, if one doesn't believe strongly in Christian ideology about God, it is difficult (in my opinion) to fully immerse oneself in this novel. There is no way to make it allegorical. It is reality. Although this lost half a star for me, I still think it is a fantastic, beautiful novel.
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LibraryThing member presto
Owen Meany, diminutive in height and weight and with a voice that almost defies description, other than he speaks in capital letters, has been he firmly believes placed on this earth for a purpose. His life long and best friend John Wheelwright tells Owen's story, which is inevitably as much John's
Owen is a character and a half, despite his small size and fragile appearance, an appearance that makes most girls and women want to hug him and mother him, he has a commanding presence, he is not one to be ignored. Neither is he someone easily dissuaded from his chosen course, in fact if Owen has it in mind to do something, nothing will get in his way. Above all he believes his life has a purpose, and he means to fulfil that purpose. Throughout he has the unerring support of John, even though John might not understand all that is happening, or necessarily agree with his friend.
A Prayer for Owen Meany is a beautiful story very well told. It is carefully crafted, and in addition to the gradual unravelling of Owen's purpose, there are several other themes running throughout the story. It is in part this gradual revealing of matters that holds one's interest, often we will know a particular outcome of events very early in the story, but what lead up to or caused that outcome, we may not know for some time, in some cases not until the end. We won't realise either that some seemingly irrelevant actions will prove crucial to the outcome.
While that makes for a fascinating read, above all it is the Owen's character, and the unquestioning friendship between Owen and John that makes this a very special story. John narrates that account from the 1980s, and while updating us on what is happening in his life then he spends most time looking back to the 1950s and 60s when they grew up, and he frequently puts the action into context by reminding us of significant news events of the period with which many of us will be familiar. He does also speak his mind occasionally about the attitude of Americans and America's involvement in international affairs, and at times indulges his interest in literature. He also has something to say about religion and the nature of faith.
This is also at times a very funny story, in fact it contains some of the funniest passages I have read anywhere. The description the the children's pageant is a prime example, it is a perfectly straight and very detailed account of events, it makes no effort to be funny, yet it is hilarious. But above all this is a very touching and moving story, heartbreaking at times; towards to end I frequently had to have a break in order to cope and prepare myself for what was coming next. This is one book that will be with me for a long time to come
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the story too. It is also a story about faith.Owen is a character and a half, despite his small size and fragile appearance, an appearance that makes most girls and women want to hug him and mother him, he has a commanding presence, he is not one to be ignored. Neither is he someone easily dissuaded from his chosen course, in fact if Owen has it in mind to do something, nothing will get in his way. Above all he believes his life has a purpose, and he means to fulfil that purpose. Throughout he has the unerring support of John, even though John might not understand all that is happening, or necessarily agree with his friend.
A Prayer for Owen Meany is a beautiful story very well told. It is carefully crafted, and in addition to the gradual unravelling of Owen's purpose, there are several other themes running throughout the story. It is in part this gradual revealing of matters that holds one's interest, often we will know a particular outcome of events very early in the story, but what lead up to or caused that outcome, we may not know for some time, in some cases not until the end. We won't realise either that some seemingly irrelevant actions will prove crucial to the outcome.
While that makes for a fascinating read, above all it is the Owen's character, and the unquestioning friendship between Owen and John that makes this a very special story. John narrates that account from the 1980s, and while updating us on what is happening in his life then he spends most time looking back to the 1950s and 60s when they grew up, and he frequently puts the action into context by reminding us of significant news events of the period with which many of us will be familiar. He does also speak his mind occasionally about the attitude of Americans and America's involvement in international affairs, and at times indulges his interest in literature. He also has something to say about religion and the nature of faith.
This is also at times a very funny story, in fact it contains some of the funniest passages I have read anywhere. The description the the children's pageant is a prime example, it is a perfectly straight and very detailed account of events, it makes no effort to be funny, yet it is hilarious. But above all this is a very touching and moving story, heartbreaking at times; towards to end I frequently had to have a break in order to cope and prepare myself for what was coming next. This is one book that will be with me for a long time to come
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LibraryThing member agnesmack
When I finished this book I felt very confident that I enjoyed reading it more than I have any other book this year. As I added it to my spreadsheet and read through the other books I've read this year, I realized that probably isn't true, but nonetheless I did love this book.
The narrator is
I'd read a ton of reviews from people that claimed they hated this more than any other book they were forced to read in school. I can usually understand where former students are coming from when they say things like that, because I basically hated every book I was ever assigned in school (except The Catcher in the Rye, which I later grew to hate, so I'm not sure if that really counts).
But this book! Was so funny! There's this whole chapter on a Christmas Pageant that goes really horribly astray that I could not stop laughing at.
It also had a fair dose of anti-Republican / anti-Vietnam propaganda. Being sympathetic to both of those viewpoints, I can't say that the political shift was a disadvantage, though it did at times seem to take me out of the story for no real reason.
I have never read anything by Irving before but I'm excited to see what else he has for me.
Did I mention that I love this book?!
The narrator is
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John/Johnny, best friend to a dwarf called Owen Meany. This book spanned a good 40+ years, from the time the characters were 8 years old until the surviving one was well into his 50s. The characters were so richly developed and so funny! I will really miss them. In fact, I made a point of reading this 600+ page book as slowly as I could.I'd read a ton of reviews from people that claimed they hated this more than any other book they were forced to read in school. I can usually understand where former students are coming from when they say things like that, because I basically hated every book I was ever assigned in school (except The Catcher in the Rye, which I later grew to hate, so I'm not sure if that really counts).
But this book! Was so funny! There's this whole chapter on a Christmas Pageant that goes really horribly astray that I could not stop laughing at.
It also had a fair dose of anti-Republican / anti-Vietnam propaganda. Being sympathetic to both of those viewpoints, I can't say that the political shift was a disadvantage, though it did at times seem to take me out of the story for no real reason.
I have never read anything by Irving before but I'm excited to see what else he has for me.
Did I mention that I love this book?!
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LibraryThing member writestuff
John Irving has crafted a masterpiece in this novel about a boy small in stature, but large in spirit. It is perhaps his most memorable character yet. I admit to loving all of John Irving's work. Up until now, Hotel New Hampshire and The World According to Garp ran neck and neck for my favorite
Irving once again shines in the development of character and pitch perfect dialogue, interwoven with humor that is both subtle and laugh out loud funny.
Narrated by Johnny Wheelwright, a childhood friend of Owen Meany, the story alternates between boyhood memories set in New Hampshire (with little Owen Meany being the centerpiece of those memories) and an adult's reflections in Toronto. Irving makes strong statements about the Vietnam War, the Iran-Contra debacle, and religion - all reasons why A Prayer for Owen Meany has been banned and censored many times.
This novel is large in scope - and seems initially to be made up of isolated memories of childhood. Irving, however, never does anything "by accident," and the fragments of Johnny Wheelwright's childhood come together in the end wrapped together in meaning. The message being, of course, that nothing happens by coincidence, and everything in our lives has meaning.
Irving's novel hits hard. I found myself dreading the ending - which is suggested throughout the novel, but which nevertheless surprises and stuns the reader.
Read this book. You will laugh, and cry and be compelled to look deeper into the meaning of life. Irving does not disappoint.
Highly Recommended.
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Irving novel. But, after reading A Prayer for Owen Meany, this novel has now climbed to the top of the rankings. I loved this book for its depth, and humor, its exploration about the loss of childhood, and ultimately its statement about faith and the belief that nothing happens without a reason.Irving once again shines in the development of character and pitch perfect dialogue, interwoven with humor that is both subtle and laugh out loud funny.
Narrated by Johnny Wheelwright, a childhood friend of Owen Meany, the story alternates between boyhood memories set in New Hampshire (with little Owen Meany being the centerpiece of those memories) and an adult's reflections in Toronto. Irving makes strong statements about the Vietnam War, the Iran-Contra debacle, and religion - all reasons why A Prayer for Owen Meany has been banned and censored many times.
This novel is large in scope - and seems initially to be made up of isolated memories of childhood. Irving, however, never does anything "by accident," and the fragments of Johnny Wheelwright's childhood come together in the end wrapped together in meaning. The message being, of course, that nothing happens by coincidence, and everything in our lives has meaning.
Irving's novel hits hard. I found myself dreading the ending - which is suggested throughout the novel, but which nevertheless surprises and stuns the reader.
Read this book. You will laugh, and cry and be compelled to look deeper into the meaning of life. Irving does not disappoint.
Highly Recommended.
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LibraryThing member herdingcats
Ok, first of all - is that John Irving's photo on that book cover?
Because doesn't it look a lot like George Clooney?
That is all I will say on that topic.
As for the book - I AM SO GLAD THAT I AM FINISHED WITH IT!
IT TOOK ME FOREVER TO READ IT.
There is a good story in there, but it is often hidden
The story begins when John is 11 when his best friend, the diminuative Owen Meany, who believes he is an instrument to be used by God, accidentally kills John's mother.
The book then goes back and forth from John and Owen's younger life - spanning from ages 11 to their early 20s to John's "present" life as a self imposed eunich school teacher in Canada in 1987. He alternately gripes about the Vietnam war and the Regan era politics.
I liked parts of the story, BUT IT ANNOYED ME THAT OWEN'S SPEAKING WAS ALWAYS IN ALL CAPITAL LETTERS. I FOUND IT DISTRACTING AND IT MADE THOSE PARTS OF THE BOOK MORE DIFFICULT FOR ME TO READ ESPECALLY WHEN THERE WERE WHOLE PAGES OF IT. Owen has an odd high voice and he decided as a high school journalist to type his newspaper column in ALL CAPS and in all places in the book, if Owen is speaking , IT IS IN ALL CAPS. I GOT TIRED OF ALL THE POLITICAL RAMBLING SO I STARTED SKIMMING OVER THAT PART ABOUT 3/4 OF THE WAY THROUGH JUST SO I COULD FINISH THE BOOK. YOU HAVE TO READ THE WHOLE THING TO THE VERY END TO GET TO THE POINT OF THE STORY. Maybe if you like people griping about political history you will like this book.
Because doesn't it look a lot like George Clooney?
That is all I will say on that topic.
As for the book - I AM SO GLAD THAT I AM FINISHED WITH IT!
IT TOOK ME FOREVER TO READ IT.
There is a good story in there, but it is often hidden
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among all of the rambling and griping about politics by John Wheelwright, the main character, who tells the story.The story begins when John is 11 when his best friend, the diminuative Owen Meany, who believes he is an instrument to be used by God, accidentally kills John's mother.
The book then goes back and forth from John and Owen's younger life - spanning from ages 11 to their early 20s to John's "present" life as a self imposed eunich school teacher in Canada in 1987. He alternately gripes about the Vietnam war and the Regan era politics.
I liked parts of the story, BUT IT ANNOYED ME THAT OWEN'S SPEAKING WAS ALWAYS IN ALL CAPITAL LETTERS. I FOUND IT DISTRACTING AND IT MADE THOSE PARTS OF THE BOOK MORE DIFFICULT FOR ME TO READ ESPECALLY WHEN THERE WERE WHOLE PAGES OF IT. Owen has an odd high voice and he decided as a high school journalist to type his newspaper column in ALL CAPS and in all places in the book, if Owen is speaking , IT IS IN ALL CAPS. I GOT TIRED OF ALL THE POLITICAL RAMBLING SO I STARTED SKIMMING OVER THAT PART ABOUT 3/4 OF THE WAY THROUGH JUST SO I COULD FINISH THE BOOK. YOU HAVE TO READ THE WHOLE THING TO THE VERY END TO GET TO THE POINT OF THE STORY. Maybe if you like people griping about political history you will like this book.
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LibraryThing member brwneyes16
Years after reading this book, I still recommend it. It is one of the few books that can change a person's life. the middle of the book was a little slow, and made me wonder, "why do I care about all this?" but the last three chapters or so makes it all worth it and answers that question for you.
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If you find yourself getting stuck in the middle - perservere. It is worth it in the end. Show Less
LibraryThing member Lisa2013
I zoomed through this, whenever I was willing to pick it up at all, because I just didn’t like it and didn’t want to have to spend too much time reading it.
I should like it. I have many friends who’ve given it 5 and 4 stars, much of it takes place in “my era” and I feel as though I should
But this is just too weird for me. And I really couldn’t stand all the content about religion and faith and the way it was addressed I found incredibly irritating. Very peculiar story!
I couldn’t even care about the characters. Everything was connected and wrapped up neatly so I can admire that skillfulness but since I didn’t enjoy the story, I can’t muster that much admiration.
I’ll have to give it another chance sometime. The only reason I persisted and kept reading is that this book is the book for my next real world book club meeting. I’ll bet they’ll all love it. What’s wrong with me?! I guess this one just isn’t my cup of tea. Irving is often too strange for me actually, although I did like Garp and loved The Cider House Rules movie. I didn’t like this at all though. I will be interested in our book club discussion because I suspect I’ll be alone with that opinion.
Oh gosh. I didn’t record my reading start date and I have no idea when it was, but I know I started it over a month ago.
I should like it. I have many friends who’ve given it 5 and 4 stars, much of it takes place in “my era” and I feel as though I should
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like Irving’s work, all of it.But this is just too weird for me. And I really couldn’t stand all the content about religion and faith and the way it was addressed I found incredibly irritating. Very peculiar story!
I couldn’t even care about the characters. Everything was connected and wrapped up neatly so I can admire that skillfulness but since I didn’t enjoy the story, I can’t muster that much admiration.
I’ll have to give it another chance sometime. The only reason I persisted and kept reading is that this book is the book for my next real world book club meeting. I’ll bet they’ll all love it. What’s wrong with me?! I guess this one just isn’t my cup of tea. Irving is often too strange for me actually, although I did like Garp and loved The Cider House Rules movie. I didn’t like this at all though. I will be interested in our book club discussion because I suspect I’ll be alone with that opinion.
Oh gosh. I didn’t record my reading start date and I have no idea when it was, but I know I started it over a month ago.
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LibraryThing member kaitanya64
Some people love, love, love this book. My opinion is that IF one takes the symbolism and allusions seriously, this is basically a book mocking the whole idea of sincere faith, specifically faith in predestination, and the concept that one can be an "instrument of God." In that, Irving is hardly
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breaking new ground. But, because his narrative is so "cleverly" disjointed and rambling, it may be that most readers don't take his ideas very seriously, or take the whole idea of religious faith as a quaint, old-fashioned conceit anyway. I don't know. I didn't think this book was all that original or insightful. It seemed to me that both the narrator and apparently the author are stuck in a kind of adolescent, misogynistic, anti-religious bitterness that they believe to be original thought. Show Less
LibraryThing member brianinbuffalo
Truly delightful. I laughed so hard in some spots that my loyal cat abandoned me for a more sedate resting spot. Memorable characters meander through a truly inspiring storyline. I was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed Irving's book.
LibraryThing member Alirambles
I'm on page 196 of 641 and it's due back to the library.
I'd like to love John Irving, but I don't. He makes me laugh out loud, which is a good reason to like an author. But in between bouts of laughter, I'm wondering where we're going and why I'm supposed to care. According the the flyleaf and all
I'd like to love John Irving, but I don't. He makes me laugh out loud, which is a good reason to like an author. But in between bouts of laughter, I'm wondering where we're going and why I'm supposed to care. According the the flyleaf and all
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the foreshadowing, something extraordinary and terrifying is going to happen to Owen Meany. Until then, some of the segments drag on. Some of them, you think are finished and then 50 pages later you're revisiting that scene again. And then the library wants it back, so you return it, and maybe one day you'll check it out again and easily pick up right where you left off because, frankly, not much has happened. Show Less
LibraryThing member miketroll
Hugely entertaining, stupendously imaginative, brilliantly crafted in the grand tradition of American story-telling. Owen Meany is one of the most memorable characters in literature. Irving also weaves into the story a pithy historical analysis of the conduct of American government policy
For me, the one fly in the ointment is the heavy dependence of the plot on religious faith and predetermination. Owen Meany's precognitive powers defy scientific explanation, rendering the story to that extent less plausible.
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throughout the Vietnam war.For me, the one fly in the ointment is the heavy dependence of the plot on religious faith and predetermination. Owen Meany's precognitive powers defy scientific explanation, rendering the story to that extent less plausible.
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LibraryThing member ariebonn
Whenever I go to the library I always feel a little lost in between all those shelves. The books in the library are not what you would call well organized and to find something I wants is quite a task. I usually just look around trying to recognize an author, and once I do I pick a book which I
Owen Meany never fully grew up and his voice never developed, in Gravesend, New Hampshire he is considered to be an outcast. One day a baseball hit by Owen Meany kills his friend's mother, and although this was an accident Owen believes that he was God's instrument. The book is narrated by John Wheelwright, Owen's best friend who spent his childhood with him, and has Owen to thank for his faith. Owen has blind faith in God and he knows that he has a purpose on Earth, he knows when and how he will die and this does not scare him. He stands by what he believes and nobody can stop Owen from fulfilling his purpose.
The problem I had with this book is that it is unnecessarily long, and while reading I often found myself thinking that some parts only diverted you from the story and should have been left out. This made the story slow at times and I would have definitely enjoyed it more if it was shorter. When it was good though, it was really good and I couldn't put it down. The thing I liked the most is the depth of the characters, Owen Meany by himself is probably the most powerful character I have encountered so far in a book. Throughout the story you get the feel that he is holy, but when I found out about his birth I did think that was a little outrageous. John comes across as a weak character, he doesn't believe in himself and constantly needs Owen to encourage him, but in the end it feels like he comes together when his father is revealed. The Vietnam War plays a big part in the story but you only see one side of it, that coming from John's point of view. I couldn't help but think that the author himself must have been so against the war that John represents his attitude towards it. I still have much to learn about this war and I am definitely looking forward to it, this book was just a teaser in that regard.
A Prayer for Owen Meany is not your typical book, certainly not what I was expecting. This was my first time reading something by John Irving and I will have to try something else by him. I was thinking The Cider House Rules?
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might have heard of. This is exactly how I got this book. When I signed up for the War Through the Generations - Vietnam War challenge I realized I already had a book that fits in this category, that made me quite happy!Owen Meany never fully grew up and his voice never developed, in Gravesend, New Hampshire he is considered to be an outcast. One day a baseball hit by Owen Meany kills his friend's mother, and although this was an accident Owen believes that he was God's instrument. The book is narrated by John Wheelwright, Owen's best friend who spent his childhood with him, and has Owen to thank for his faith. Owen has blind faith in God and he knows that he has a purpose on Earth, he knows when and how he will die and this does not scare him. He stands by what he believes and nobody can stop Owen from fulfilling his purpose.
The problem I had with this book is that it is unnecessarily long, and while reading I often found myself thinking that some parts only diverted you from the story and should have been left out. This made the story slow at times and I would have definitely enjoyed it more if it was shorter. When it was good though, it was really good and I couldn't put it down. The thing I liked the most is the depth of the characters, Owen Meany by himself is probably the most powerful character I have encountered so far in a book. Throughout the story you get the feel that he is holy, but when I found out about his birth I did think that was a little outrageous. John comes across as a weak character, he doesn't believe in himself and constantly needs Owen to encourage him, but in the end it feels like he comes together when his father is revealed. The Vietnam War plays a big part in the story but you only see one side of it, that coming from John's point of view. I couldn't help but think that the author himself must have been so against the war that John represents his attitude towards it. I still have much to learn about this war and I am definitely looking forward to it, this book was just a teaser in that regard.
A Prayer for Owen Meany is not your typical book, certainly not what I was expecting. This was my first time reading something by John Irving and I will have to try something else by him. I was thinking The Cider House Rules?
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LibraryThing member browner56
Faith and doubt, pre-destination and choice, symbols and reality, truth and deception: These could easily be the themes of an author writing in the 1800s, but this novel is quite decidedly a product of the late twentieth century (e.g., protracted musings on the Viet Nam war and the Iran-Contra
While "The World According to Garp" and "The Cider House Rules" appear to be Irving’s more popular works (or at least the ones that have inspired larger cult followings), this is arguably his most personal and profound book. Despite the persistent allegories—both obvious and subtle—there are no easy answers to the novel’s central religious and moral questions.
Is Owen truly a miracle and an 'instrument of God' or just someone elevated to messianic status by people around him who are desperate to believe in something? I am still not sure, but he is easily one of the most charismatic, hilarious, and altogether memorable fictional characters I have encountered.
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affair). While "The World According to Garp" and "The Cider House Rules" appear to be Irving’s more popular works (or at least the ones that have inspired larger cult followings), this is arguably his most personal and profound book. Despite the persistent allegories—both obvious and subtle—there are no easy answers to the novel’s central religious and moral questions.
Is Owen truly a miracle and an 'instrument of God' or just someone elevated to messianic status by people around him who are desperate to believe in something? I am still not sure, but he is easily one of the most charismatic, hilarious, and altogether memorable fictional characters I have encountered.
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LibraryThing member audreya2
The first sentence of the book is a zinger: "I am doomed to remember a boy with a wrecked voice - not because of his voice, or because he was the smallest person I ever knew, or even because he was the instrument of my mother's death, but because he is the reason I believe in God; I am a Christian
From the first sentence, the book draws you in and won't let you go, even after you have turned the last gripping page. A Prayer for Owen Meany is a beautiful book with richly drawn characters; his "wrecked voice" is not one you will soon forget. The many elements of the plot come together in a breathtaking conclusion that only a master storyteller could create. The book is epic in scope, yet its central themes of faith and doubt, friendship and love combine in a beautiful, riotously funny and yet heartbreaking story.
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because of Owen Meany." From the first sentence, the book draws you in and won't let you go, even after you have turned the last gripping page. A Prayer for Owen Meany is a beautiful book with richly drawn characters; his "wrecked voice" is not one you will soon forget. The many elements of the plot come together in a breathtaking conclusion that only a master storyteller could create. The book is epic in scope, yet its central themes of faith and doubt, friendship and love combine in a beautiful, riotously funny and yet heartbreaking story.
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LibraryThing member TheTwoDs
One of the best (and my personal favorite) opening paragraphs of all novels sets up a heartbreaking, yet hilarious, romp of a novel that pits faith, friendship, Vietnam, Reagan-era politics, Canadian literature and small-town New England swirling against each other in a brew only Dickens could
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love. You will cheer for Owen, laugh at the Christmas play and cry as the dreams of childhood give way to the realities of the adult world. I first read it in 1989 during my senior year in high school when it had just been published, and now that it is required reading in many high schools, I decided to revisit it. It was even better than I remembered. Show Less
LibraryThing member kirstiecat
I have a secret to tell...I wasn't always a huge book reader. I grew up in a family of avid readers and it was always joked that my mom was born with a book in her hand. But, for me, when I was in high school, I chose to stick to shorter novels like Catcher in the Rye and The Bell Jar and anything
To be honest, there is a part of that book..the imagery, the stories, the characters, even the way it ended that has always stuck with me. Every novel I pick up over 500 pages, I realize I'm consciously wondering if it will live up to A Prayer for Owen Meany. I have no idea what I would feel if I read it today-as in, if it would hold up. But some of those things about it-the errant baseball, the dressmaker's dummy, the high pitched voice-are all etched in the stone of my imagination. It's impossible for me to forget...and so I wonder if this book possibly changed me...because it definitely turned me into more of a book addict.
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over 500 pages seemed just way too daunting. I remember thinking that for a long time picking up A Prayer For Owen Meany, which is easily Irving's best in the four of his I've read (Hotel New Hampshire, Cider House Rules, Widow For One Year). My parents loved it and so they kept encouraging me. Finally, I started. I remember the first bit was a little rough going because it had to do with names that had no meaning to me but after that, I had a difficult time parting with it.To be honest, there is a part of that book..the imagery, the stories, the characters, even the way it ended that has always stuck with me. Every novel I pick up over 500 pages, I realize I'm consciously wondering if it will live up to A Prayer for Owen Meany. I have no idea what I would feel if I read it today-as in, if it would hold up. But some of those things about it-the errant baseball, the dressmaker's dummy, the high pitched voice-are all etched in the stone of my imagination. It's impossible for me to forget...and so I wonder if this book possibly changed me...because it definitely turned me into more of a book addict.
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LibraryThing member fillechaude
Although I occasionally found myself wondering where the story was going, I really liked Irving's writing style. It was a bit longer than it really needed to be, but I did bond with the characters and even shed a tear or two at the end. Overall good read.
LibraryThing member CarolynSchroeder
This was a thoroughly enjoyable, transporting read about the lives of a generation of people (from the early 50s - mid 80s) in a small town in New Hampshire. Of course, the main person we learn about is Owen Meany, told through the eyes of his best friend, Johnny Wheelright. The characters are rich
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and fascinating, with one glaring exception, the narrarator, Wheelright. I was really tepid on him as he was so apathetic, wishy-washy and well, pretty boring to read about. So the mechasim of the modern-day "flash forwards" (to his life in the 80s, looking back on his childhood-early adult years) had me struggling at times. However, at its core, this is Owen Meany's story and what a wonderful story it is. He is easily my favorite literary character in a decade or more of voracious fiction reading. Owen is a tiny person who has a voice impediment, both of which he overcomes in amazing ways. He is sweet, honest (to the point of being incredibly funny), perhaps a genius; and he thinks he is the instrument of God. By by the end of his story, one has to wonder ~ or at least you might look a bit differently at life and faith. It is impossible to give too much of a review in specifics without giving away the novel's magic, so I will just say it is wonderful and when I usually groan about the "pulling all the pieces together" end portion of most books, this one held some real surprises. This is a weaving of many different plot lines that come together in a really cool way. Highly recommended for so many readers ~ the book visits topics such as the loss of the Vietman War, academic life an all boys acadamy, the humorous nuances of structured religions (Episcopol vs. Catholic vs. Congregationsists, etc.), the genesis of television and the beauty of a non-traditional family.; and the lifelong impact of having an amazing "best friend." The only reason I did not give this one 5 stars is because of the tedious narrarator. But it was a very entertaining read and well worth the time. Show Less