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Summary: Great literature and a personal trip back in time
Review: At age 60 and now retired, I'm finally starting to realize that I took my professional career way too seriously ... by failing to spend significant time reading worthwhile books outside my specialty. I consumed plenty of pulp fiction, mystery sorts of novels whose lengths somehow seemed to nicely match the length of airline flights. But I'm afraid my English teachers would have been quite disappointed with my choices.By comparison to this earlier fluffy stuff, A Prayer For Owen Meany was a breath of fresh ... no, CHARGED air. I alternately laughed and cried, and always wanted more. As a "child of the 60s", I could easily identify with much of Irving's treatment of war and politics in general, and the Vietnam focus in particular. Some readers may be put off by his knack for providing detailed descriptions, but I find this style captivating. Having been introduced to Irving's writing through Owen Meany, I now look forward to reading other of his novels. I have a second and rather personal reason for so enjoying Owen Meany. It takes little sleuthing to know that the town of Gravesend and Gravesend Academy are Exeter and Phillips Exeter Academy, in New Hampshire. Why Irving chose to create these names while using the actual street names and the unmistakable correct name for the Squamscott River I don't know. What I do know, though, is that Irving and I were students at "Gravesend Academy" at the same time. His descriptions of the physical plant are very accurate. Ditto for much of the "customary behavior" at the Academy. While he was a first class wrestler at Exeter, I was playing basketball, but without an Owen Meany to help with the dunk shot. But whereas I was an Academy student transplanted from far off rural Minnesota, Irving was a local Exeter resident ... all of which makes me wonder how much of the novel is autobiography. Autobiographical or not, I thoroughly enjoyed the overall story, the engaging and accurately descriptive language, and the many messages embedded in events and dialogue. Irving has wrestled the English language into a masterpiece.
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Summary: Wow
Review: What can I say? This book changed my life. I read it in high school for the first time, and I now reread it at least once a year. This is literally the greatest book ever written next to the Bible. It goes from being hysterically funny to heartbreaking without losing any of its momentum or changing its tone. Irving is a genius.
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Summary: A Book Lover's Novel...
Review: ....since I started writing these ... reviews I have put on record that I am, I have been, and always will be a huge John Irving fan. And here is another way of my raising the flag for Irving. All his books since and including "...Garp..." has been of classic literature quality. If "A Prayer for Owen Meany" does not make you love Irving, then you must find reading, overall a great chore, and laborious...face it, Irving is for those who love great books and reading. There are passages of great pathos and superb wordsmithing that you are going to read over and over again...such as the school play and Owen's various epiphanies. "A Prayer for Owen Meany" is one of the greatest novels ever written. You are gonna luv this...
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Summary: simply the best...
Review: ...book ever written in the history of the universe.
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Summary: Owen has faith
Review: A Prayer for Owen Meany, by John Irving, is the best book I've ever been forced to read by a school. What I enjoyed the most were the two main themes of the book, which were faith and establishments.
Owen's faith determines all of his actions, he joins the army because of his dream and his faith that the dream is real. He carves his gravestone before he goes into the service because of his vision as the ghost of Christmas future, and his faith in the fact that he'll die while in the army. I liked how his faith determines all his actions because you rarely see anyone act remotely like that.
I think that Gravesend Academy symbolizes the government that will control America during the 80s. Mr. White is Reagan making decisions without the approval of the faculty, or congress in Reagan's case, and the student body is the nation that doesn't care about the atrocities of their leader.
The most meaningful quote from the book is where Owen compares Marilyn Monroe to the country, because it's the only time you hear Owen's view about much of what goes on in country, other than one sentence uttered here or there.
"SHE WAS JUST LIKE OUR WHOLE-NOT QUITE YOUNG ANYMORE, BUT NOT OLD EITHER; A LITTLE BREATHLESS, VERY BEAUTIFUL, MAYBE A LITTLE STUPID, MAYBE A LOT SMARTER THAN SHE SEEMED."
This passage ties in everything that Wheelwright is dealing with in the present, in regards to the government. After Owen says this he goes on to talk about how the Kennedys used Monroe and her innocence and trust of people was taken away, how she was stripped of her faith in men, and I thought that was a great way of tying in a national event with Owen Meany's beliefs.
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Summary: This Book Changed My Life
Review: John Irving's best work by far. I grieved when I finished this beautifully written book about the skinny little kid with the wrecked voice. Please don't be fooled by Hollywood's loose adaptation and massacre of this wonderful story.
I don't think I'll ever enjoy a read so much again. It truly is a shame there aren't more books out there like this one. Bravo! Mr. Irving you have won my heart!
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Summary: No Miracles Needed to Understand "A Prayer for Owen Meany"
Review: Some people may say that first impressions are everything; however, it is actually the opposite. In John Irving's A Prayer for Owen Meany, the last impression that you get, which is the ending for books, makes this inspirational story even better than it already is. By saving the death of Owen Meany, a boy who is God's instrument, for the end, he creates suspense for the reader. When Owen writes in his diary that he knows he is going to die a hero, Irving makes you want to keep reading to find out. Then, after you finish the book, you start to realize how everything comes together to make sense. For example, it becomes obvious that since Owen is God's instrument, events in his life, such as being born to a virgin, are similar to those of Jesus Christ's, God's Son. Also, you will realize that Irving's method to have John Wheelwright, Owen's best friend, learn the identity of his biological dad is captivating. He finds a way to reveal it through the body of the dad, but with the voice of Owen Meany to show Owen's way of caring for John. It is also interesting how everything in Owen's life, such as his small size, has a purpose. Since Owen was so tiny, it allowed John to be able lift him up to throw away a grenade to protect children. Finally, you will notice that Owen knew God's plan for him and still tried to fulfill it. Since he was going to attend Harvard, he caused trouble in order to go to another school and become involved in the U.S. Army. He sacrificed going to Harvard in order to accomplish God's plan. If you think these things are interesting, there are plenty more convictions that will boggle your mind.
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Summary: The Sixth Sense
Review: This story is warm unfolding of life, fate, and destiny for anyone in need of an uplifting. Entertaining, comedic, tragic, and faithful, John Irving's A Prayer for Owen Meany brings together a variety of emotions that captures the reader's interest. Irving's style of writing throws in comedy like when Owen, portraying Jesus, is excited when Barb gives him a kiss on the mouth "for luck" (212). Irving also keeps the reader's interest with unsolved mysteries, creating curiosity and suspense. From the first pages, the reader is wondering the identity of John's father, and what is the "insult" the Catholic Church has paid to Owen's family. Stirring about curiosity, the reader is forced to read on to solve these mysteries. In doing so, Irving places symbolism to assist the reader. For instance, the Nativity scene with Virgin Mary's mutilated face and disappearance of Baby Jesus helps explain the "insult" of not accepting Owen's birth as a miracle. Certain symbols like the armadillo or the armless totem aren't just vivid symbols, but are essential elements of the plot that make it clear. The plot is also original since it doesn't occur in chronological sequence. Instead it revolves around the development of the characters mentally. Throughout the early chapters, the memories were scattered, out of order just as one would remember his or her early childhood. However, the chapters become longer when John and Owen have matured, gaining more memory, and once reaching adolescence, the novel obtains chronological order. Irving also incorporates FOIL between characters giving them realistic qualities. Such as John, who's uncertain of faith unlike Owen who has strong convictions, believing, "I AM GOD'S INSTRUMENT." (337) The many layers of meaning in this novel allow each reading to bring forth new insight for a great read every time.
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Summary: I love this book.
Review: A Prayer for Owen Meany continues to be one of my favorite books. I tend to like Irving anyway, but this book is particularly special. I love the story of Owen and his faith. I love the way the story comes together in the end. In fact the only complaint that I have about this book at all is the continual return of the narrator to the present. I didn't want anyone to interrupt the story about Owen. I have passed this book along to my sister, my mom, and other friends, and everyone has loved it. A definite must-read.
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Summary: This is the best book I have ever read
Review: A Prayer for Owen Meany is HANDS DOWN the very best book I have ever read. I read on a constant basis and I have never encountered a more profound piece of literature. This book made me happy, sad, thoughtful,reflective and grateful. It begins with a series of events that seem random and silly but the meaning and the effect of those events upon the stories outcome are so very profound. I have re-read this book many times and invested in numerous purchases of this book in an effort to pass it on to my friends. Owen Meany is my hero, out of one so small and one so hurt true greatness shines.
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