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Summary: INTO PARADISE MAY THE ANGELS LEAD YOU
Review: Tell me this: How can someone have numerous complaints about a book (the hackneyed resolution about the reason for Owen's voice; tedious melodrama; the simplistic parallels to the Jesus story; moralism up the wazoo; etc., etc., etc.), and yet finish reading all 600+ pages in one weekend?If I really sat down and thought long and hard about it, I could tell you a million reasons to not love this book. That wouldn't stop you from loving it as much as I did. You can't help but fall in love with little Owen and his friend/narrator/biographer John. The story stucks you in, then sucks you dry, then spits you back out again, changed forever to relfect all the things it wants you to be. Changed to view the world a little differently, and to be a little more soulful. And of course, how can you not love a book in which the narrator escapes to your hometown. Escapes from the past which he can forget, but which his memory can't.
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Summary: Owen Meany -- greatest story ever told
Review: This is a profound and touching book that is both down-to-earth and incredibly uplifting. It is a story of John Wheelwright and his friend Owen Meany, who believes himself to be God's instrument and indeed he is. The story is told by the grown-up John, and begins when the boys are young in 1950s New Hampshire and contines up till the Vietnam War. What is inspiring about Owen Meany is that despite his seeming lack of anything that makes a good life (he is an only child with uninvolved parents, he lives in the granite quarry his father owns and is called "The Granite Mouse", he is so small the other kids pick him up and throw him in the air, he has a distinct screechy voice), his immense faith in God and His purpose for him keeps him going and turns him into a hero no matter what the circumstance. Irving neatly ties up all the distinct stories of Owen and John's friendship into an ending that has an indelible impact that is enough to reaffirm anyone's faith in anything.
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Summary: Not really true to the hype
Review: A Prayer for Owen Meany is really too worked-up. Lots of details were provided, yet they didn't leave as much room for interpretation as one would think. After guessing the conclusion of the book a quarter of the way through, I continued reading to see how Irving would surprise me. Yet, there were no surprises and I felt as if I had wasted my time.
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Summary: Living the Book
Review: This is my favorite book of all time. I read it every couple of years and each year I find myself reading the pageant scene outloud to myself. I can feel myself in the middle of the action. You will be pulled in all different emotional directions with Owen Meany and you'll never want it to end. This is a character that will stay with you for a long, long time. A must read!
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Summary: I only give 5 stars 'cause I can't give it 10!
Review: There are some 800+ reviews of this book, and if you just casually glance at them, you'll note that this is the best novel ever written. Not the best of the 20th century, or the best American book, or the greatest prep-school based book, or anything else - it's just the best book ever written. I was hounded into reading A PRAYER FOR OWEN MEANY. My ex-wife kept telling me to read it, that I would love it - this is when we'd already been divorced for 2 years. Finally, she sent me a post card asking me if I'd read it yet, and closed with the line, "You are my Owen Meany." I had to know what she meant, exactly, so I bought a copy and read it. Before I even finished, I knew what she said was the nicest thing anyone had ever said to me. Don't get hounded into reading this book - simply go to every bookstore you have to go to until you find a copy, then buy it, head straight home, take your phone off the hook and start reading. Soon, you'll be hounding others into reading this wonderful, beautiful masterpiece.
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Summary: Excellent Writing by Irving
Review: The best things about good Irving writing is creating interesting characters true to life and then developing them fully. In Owen Meany, he does just that. Though most of the book is seen through the eyes of the narrator, John Wheelright, Owen Meany dominates the spotlight. Owen Meany is a complex character, but his nuances make him incredibly interesting. John and Owens life are hopelessy intertwined and John comments on his everlasting friendship with Owen and how he affected all other lives that he entered into. Its amazing how closely you can identify with Irving characters. His witty sense of humor, eccentric plots, events, and supporting charcters make A Prayer for Owen Meany a definately worthwhile read.
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Summary: Owen Meany and the Meaning of Friendship
Review: I really enjoyed this book a whole lot. It really showed me how much people should mean to me. Also how I should treat others. I really think that this book has open my eyes to the whole outer world, and others inner feelings. I tell you now, please read this book it is very well done. Now it is your turn to make it open your eyes as much as it did mine
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Summary: ANCIENT MARINERS WOULD JUSTIFY THE TELLING OF THIS STORY!
Review: The other day, a friend of mine was explaining why he didn't read for pleasure. He said, "the characters in books have no bearing on my life." My response was that characters will have a bearing on the rest of your life once you read a really good book, and you'll NEVER be able to remove a truly good character from your life. A Prayer For Owen Meany is a book that will forever be with me; Owen Meany is a character that will always be part of me. A Prayer For Owen Meany is the first book that I have read by John Irving. I've always been afraid of the length of his books, because I felt that I didn't have time to read a book with such great length. I've found that it actually helps by reading a moderately lengthy book because you get to spend more time getting to know the characters. I spent about 3 weeks with Owen Meany by reading just an hour at a time when I could get a chance. There has never been another author who has affected me more than Irving by making me want to become an author myself. Owen Meany is such a deep and complicated character that I would do him an injustice by attempting to tell about him in just a few lines. All I can say is that John Irving is a master at his craft of story telling, and Owen Meany is an icon in modern literature. Make sure you don't miss the READING of this book.
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Summary: He ain't Heavy Father, he's my brother
Review: Owen Meany personifies the spiritual in us all. It put to words the deep and inexpressable joys, sufferings and realities of life. His characters envelope your senses and flood the soul with meaning. His devices create an assortment of coping tools for the wounded-by-the-world seekers. His symbolism is exquisite. I applaud John Irving for the awesome ability to capture in his words the deepest spiritual truths. Excellent read! OOOOOOMMMMMMMMM!
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Summary: Where does Irving come up with this stuff !
Review: Hester the Molester, Owen's parents, the baseball incident, the armadillo, etc. etc. John Irving is a master of characters. His imagination is endless. I have no idea where he comes up with all the stuff in this great book. Please, Please, Please - only buy the hardcover - I loaned the paperback to several friends and it ended up falling apart. Read it, then encourage all of your friends to read it, it is a guaranteed winner.
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