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Summary: For the love of Owen Meany
Review: His voice squeaks, but he can captivate his audience the instant he speaks. His stature is meager, but he can awe with his mere presence. His is Owen Meany; he is God's instrument. John Irving's "A Prayer for Owen Meany" explores the grand possibility of divine messengers walking among us. I'm not a religious person, but I can say this is one of the greatest novels I have ever read. First, there is the universal debate of fate versus free will and whether or not every action and event has purpose or is mere coincidence. In addition, Irving dabbles with faith and doubt and how the two play into religion and belief. He also explores the meaning of relationships and the degree to which those relationships affect our lives. There are numerous times in the novel when the story seems to be going nowhere, but there is a purpose for every detail. Irving also has the tendency to wait to the last possible moment to reveal the significance of the chapter names, but in the end, the wait is worth it.
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Summary: An analysis of American values represented in Owen Meany.
Review: God, America, baseball, education, politics, rock and roll, and the military all share a common place in A Prayer for Owen Meany. John Irving uses the novel as a vessel to debase these "classic American" institutions, and in doing so, attempts to shed light on the "decline" of American society through television and the anger of the flower children, followed by the apathy of the MTV generation. We, the readers, are held spellbound as the pint-sized, but lovable, Owen Meany lives up to his Christ-like ways, giving his life to save the lives of others, while the stuff-shirted, yet very liberal, Johnny Wheelwright reminisces. A Prayer for Owen Meany addresses the roots of the trouble with American society today, and shows, better than any other book I have read, what a measure of faith can accomplish. The death of Johnny's mother is the death of America, and even since, it has been in decline. Is Owen a Christ figure? Well, if he is not, he is, at very least, a modern day prophet and a man of great vision. His death is the greatest sacrifice anyone could make. "There is no greater love than this to give one's life for his friends."
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Summary: Owen Meany--the Jesus Christ figure.
Review: Owen Meany--the Jesus Christ figure for the 20th century. John Irving's "A Prayer for Owen Meany" has really strengthened my faith, as it did for Johnny, or anyone who reads it. I realized that faith really is an awesome thing--to believe in God or a Supreme Being is based on faith, not on sight. Irving has really opened up a new door for all readers--ther are those who have the faith but need a little boost; those who never believed like Johnny and need a "miracle" like Owen; and those whose strong belief is justified. I liked how Irving shared the word of God, but not in a preachy way. He used humor and suspense, and dealt with other issues than just religion. He makes us think about our own lives and transforms the reader into another "Johnny" who sees Owen, "the instrument of God", as an inspiration of faith and God.
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Summary: Perplexing
Review: Late last night while the rest of my family was sound asleep, I huddled over my quickly dimming lamp finishing the final chapter of John Irving's, A Prayer for Owen Meany. As I was reading, I remembered the days as an elementary studen when I sould sneak books under my pillow and read them by flashlight while my parents thought I was sleeping. It had been years since a literary work had that sort of appeal on me but there was something oddly mystifying about this particular novel which caused me to never want to put it down. I don't consider myself an avid reader, in fact I protested my teacher's demand that we read this 600 page novel in our last month of school but ater reading the first chapter I quickly joined the Owen Meany hysteria sweeping through our AP English class. Owen became my obsession and for the past few days I've been lugging this book to school, church, and even the dinner table. Conversations about Owen seaped from our English classroom into the hallways and lunches. To explain the appeal of the novel is nearly ipossible because you don't even begin to understand what you have read until days pass and the characters and message still remain inbedded in your thoughts. The characters are human and I found pices of myself in each one of them. ALthough Owen represents a Christ figure, he is far from saintly; it is his zest for life and captivating personality that gives humor and compassion to this deeply philosophical novel. After reading this book, I pulled out my old diary and began writing for the first time in three years. Owen taught me more about faith then hte last 18 years of Sunday School classes. When I reached the last page, I felt a sense of sadness, not so much as a result of the plot but because I did not want this novel to end--600 pages was just not enough! Owen Meany is that one book that will stay with me forever, continuing to give me encouragement and inspiring me to always believe in myself and God.
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Summary: Nothing is left to chance.
Review: I thought the uppercase type of Owen's portions of the book were annoying, until I understood why they were that way. If you look at the story as being narrated by a person who loves Owen, then you see that the capitalization is partially in respect for his wishes that 'he would always be published in UPPERCASE.' It's just another atmospheric touch, one of many, that make this the best book I've ever read. Owen was MY friend, and this book affected me like no other.
Rating: 
Summary: Not another review
Review: A Prayer for Owen Meany was certainly an entertaining book but I have trouble calling it a great book. John Irving sets up wonderful and amusing scenes - OK, hilarious scenes - but 100 fewer pages would have resulted in a tighter book. It is unfortunate that this wasn't John Irving's first novel. I think that fame and success have given Irving rose coloured glasses and coloured his editor's eye. An almost great book.For those who don't know it, Irving studied and admired Gunter Grass. A Prayer for Owen Meany is an echo of Gunter Grass's The Tin Drum. After reading Owen Meany, I read The Tin Drum with a smile on my face as flashes of recognition crossed my mind: so many parallels. For starters, The Tin Drum is all about the life of a 3 foot fellow with a piercing voice and sports a name whose initials are O.M. Sound familiar. But still, A Prayer for Owen Meany certainly is not a waste of time to read. A good book. Just not a great book.
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Summary: I got sick of the capital type of Owen's speech
Review: Eh, this book didn't catch me as well as THE WORLD ACCORDING TO GARP DID. I got sick of the capital type of Owen's speech, it was painful to read.
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Summary: Do not read Norway's review because he gives away the ending
Review: This book was excellent, and I enjoyed how it dealt with spirituality and religion. I highly recommend it, although it is not that easy to read. If that doesn't bother you, I think you will like it.
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Summary: Good characters but could do without the leftist whining
Review: Irving wastes his talent in Prayer for Owen Meany by using it as a vehicle for Marxist socialist ranting. If you could take out all the awkwardly forced anti-Reagan stuff, you'd have a pretty good book. Notice that the movie Simon Birch didn't have any of the silly leftist tripe, anti-Vietnamisms or gushing over JFK. Other than that, the characters are interesting and the story is epic. Owen Meany is one of the more memorable characters I've encountered.
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Summary: Owen Meany is unforgettable - for all the right reasons!
Review: A Prayer for Owen Meany is one of the best books I have ever read, it conjures up so many emotions that it's impossible to list them all. I would just like to say (Owen Meany style) to anyone who has ever been disappointed by a John Irving novel (and there can't be many),"TRY THIS ONE!".
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