Synopsis
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.
In the summer of 1953, two eleven-year-old boys—best friends—are playing in a Little League baseball game in Gravesend, New Hampshire. One of the boys hits a foul ball that kills the other boy's mother. The boy who hits the ball doesn't believe in accidents; Owen Meany believes he is God's instrument. What happens to Owen after that 1953 foul ball is extraordinary.
About John Irving
See more books from this Author... a novel that seems sincere but turns too bombastic and insistent in its opinions about literature, religion, and politics.
Read Full Review of A Prayer for Owen Meany LP | See more reviews from Kirkus...Irving is convincing in his appraisal of the tragedy of Vietnam and in his religious philosophizing, in which he distinguishes the true elements of faith. But that is not enough to save the meandering narrative. Owen is not the only one to hit a foul ball in this novel, which is too ``mortally cute'' for its own good.
Read Full Review of A Prayer for Owen Meany LP | See more reviews from Publishers WeeklyIrving's storytelling skills have gone seriously astray in this contrived, preachy, tedious tale...
Read Full Review of A Prayer for Owen Meany LP | See more reviews from Publishers WeeklyFrom the beautifully crafted first sentence, Irving angles this one to engage the reader‘s advocation of the apparently handicapped super-self Owen...John Irving is one of the best, at least most respected, novelists in modern convention.
Read Full Review of A Prayer for Owen Meany LPDetails of this book, and moments like the last scene, will stick with you long after you put the book down.
Read Full Review of A Prayer for Owen Meany LP...a highly complex story with intertwining subplots, strange characters with dark secrets and Irving's very own entertaining and often hilarious narrative.
Read Full Review of A Prayer for Owen Meany LPIt is a brave and subtly disturbing affirmation of faith, and it is all the more remarkable for its engagement with the deepest questions, the most painful mysteries of our lives.
Read Full Review of A Prayer for Owen Meany LP | See more reviews from LA TimesNever underestimate John Irving. The man is a major force in modern American letters. And A Prayer for Owen Meany is rewarding reading, a masterfully constructed story of fate and faith.
Read Full Review of A Prayer for Owen Meany LP...it's not enough that Irving subjects us to contrived, patronizing and irritating exercise—it takes him 543 pages to do it!
Read Full Review of A Prayer for Owen Meany LPIt was not a quick read by any means, and I didn’t wholeheartedly love it, overall. But Irving kept me reading, solely to hear and see more of what Owen might say or do.
Read Full Review of A Prayer for Owen Meany LP“A Prayer for Owen Meany” is a powerful and emotionally touching novel.
Read Full Review of A Prayer for Owen Meany LPThis book is a great way to see how the path of one person can be changed by someone who is absolutely amazing.
Read Full Review of A Prayer for Owen Meany LPThe subplots are important and bring the book to life as the boys grow into men...This is when Irving shows his narrative mastery: he proves over and over that he is in control of the plot and its implications...It’s wonderful to experience that kind of trust and satisfaction in the hands of a narrator.
Read Full Review of A Prayer for Owen Meany LPIrving strikes the right notes so many times because he is a story-teller in the true sense.
Read Full Review of A Prayer for Owen Meany LPAuthor John Irving is brilliant. His writing is unbelievably expressive. His tales intricately intertwine historical facts and figures...Irving covers an array of bases, emotions, and ideas...As the book concludes, it is although a hundred puzzle pieces shift seamlessly into place. There is no stone left unturned. Questions are answered.
Read Full Review of A Prayer for Owen Meany LPA Prayer for Owen Meany contains a large cast of idiosyncratic small-town characters and has many hilarious scenes and episodes. It also contains serious political and religious themes...
Read Full Review of A Prayer for Owen Meany LP...it is my opinion that this book was his masterpiece and shining glory. Read it, and you'll understand why.
Read Full Review of A Prayer for Owen Meany LP...purchase this fabulously funny, uplifting, love story of a book that is ultimately about the ability of everyone to make a difference — no matter our age, our size or our history.
Read Full Review of A Prayer for Owen Meany LP...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.
Read Full Review of A Prayer for Owen Meany LPWhat we end up with here is a reasonably amusing book, which is only a simulacrum of a story of religious belief. If you do not approach it expecting anything more than a pleasant diversion, you'll not be disappointed. If you expect to be enlightened, look elsewhere.
Read Full Review of A Prayer for Owen Meany LPFrom the accident that links them to the mystery that follows them–and the martyrdom that parts them–the events of their lives form a tapestry of fate and faith in a novel that is Irving at his irresistible best.
Read Full Review of A Prayer for Owen Meany LPFor me, reading this book as the fictional story it is, made it enjoyable, and in the end, although not always the easiest book to follow (flash back and forwards tend to mess me up), I am thankful I had the opportunity to read it.
Read Full Review of A Prayer for Owen Meany LPIf you are tired of the formulaic plots of the books you’ve been reading and don’t mind investing some time in this classic, then by all means… pick up and copy and savor it.
Read Full Review of A Prayer for Owen Meany LP...if you're in the mood for a book that is somehow laugh-out-loud funny, ultimately touching, and a lot about faith and politics, you'll probably enjoy this one.
Read Full Review of A Prayer for Owen Meany LPRead this book. You will laugh, and cry and be compelled to look deeper into the meaning of life. Irving does not disappoint.
Read Full Review of A Prayer for Owen Meany LPI will never forget Owen Meany as long as I live. Like all books, the details will fade a bit, and someday I'll probably need to re-read, but I will live with these characters for a very long time.
Read Full Review of A Prayer for Owen Meany LPI highly recommend this book to those who are looking for a great feel good book with purpose and John delivers!
Read Full Review of A Prayer for Owen Meany LPA Prayer for Owen Meany is a very thought-provoking story. I loved the book, and I thought that Irving wrapped up all the pieces of the story brilliantly! I literally had goose bumps at the end of the book.
Read Full Review of A Prayer for Owen Meany LPIt is for Owen Meany that I read this book. I loved the character, mindset, thoughts, actions, words, perspective and impact of this small boy who never grows and his strange voice which never changes.
Read Full Review of A Prayer for Owen Meany LPA major regret we have is that we think Irving underestimates his own estimable talents, here as elsewhere: he should be willing to risk more...Owen Meany is a decent, big, generally very enjoyable read, but Irving is capable of more.
Read Full Review of A Prayer for Owen Meany LP...I think the whole bursting-into-sobs-at-the-last-sentence thing made me hesitant to pick it up again. My first reading of the book was so perfect, so utterly engrossing...
Read Full Review of A Prayer for Owen Meany LPA Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving is a lovely piece of literature, destined to become a well beloved classic.
Read Full Review of A Prayer for Owen Meany LPUltimately, I wasn’t quite as taken with the book as pretty much everyone else in the entire world seems to be...
Read Full Review of A Prayer for Owen Meany LPI highly recommend this book and any other book John Irving has written. Many of Irving 's novels have been made into movies. But please, do yourself a big favor, read the book first.
Read Full Review of A Prayer for Owen Meany LPA Prayer for Owen Meany was a superbly wonderful book and one that I would highly recommend to everyone...now I can’t wait to watch the movie. I just hope it does the book justice.
Read Full Review of A Prayer for Owen Meany LPI got so sick of Irving’s allusions to what was going to happen to Owen Meany that when it actually happened I was too numb to appreciate what should have been an extremely powerful scene.
Read Full Review of A Prayer for Owen Meany LPUltimately I think A Prayer for Owen Meany is a hopeless contradiction. It’s full of well-written…even wonderfully written…anecdotes that fail to mean anything when placed together.
Read Full Review of A Prayer for Owen Meany LPAn aggregated and normalized score based on 2716 user ratings from iDreamBooks & iTunes
Rated the book as 5 out of 5
Added the book to want to read list