A Prayer for Owen Meany

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Summary: This was a fantastic book.
Review: I thought that A Prayer for Owen Meany was a fantastic book that really foucused on friendship. The main character and Owen were great friends who were always together, and even when Owen killed the main characters mother they were still friends

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Summary: Well, it wasn't bad...
Review: My friends highly recommended that I read this book. Now, having finished it I am starting to doubt my friends' taste in books. It wasn't bad, but it certainly wasn't great. I found it charming, I found it clever at points, I found that I actually did care about the characters... However, comic strips in the Sunday paper can often contain all these qualities. Irving's writing style was good, but not great. The weakness in his technique comes from the fact that he is too obvious. The reader finds no treasure on his own in this book. Irving does tie things together really well throughout the book. He doesn't just write a story, he weaves a story. Sadly, he continually points this out to the reader. Instead of letting us see that he is a good writer, he feels it necessary to tell us that he is a good writer. It is as if he doesn't trust his reader to notice subtlies and fine writing... Well, perhaps with good reason given the caliber of today's reader. So, if you want to be trendy read "A Prayer for Owen Meaney", but if you want to read something lasting try, oh... "Tess of the D'Urbervilles."

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Summary: Very Spiritual and Uplifting,Everyone should read it.
Review: A positive book about a boy going through life's everyday's troubles.Owen and John, his friend help each other through hard times.

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Summary: One of the best books ever
Review: I just finished reading this book for the fourth or fifth time. Owen Meany is certainly one of the all-time great fictional characters. I recently saw a list of the best 100 books of the century, and could not believe that "A Prayer For Owen Meany" was not on the list; it should easily have made the top ten. Touching, funny, absorbing: without a doubt Irving's best effort. One of my favorites, and I'll certainly read it again in a few years.

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Summary: Haunting
Review: This was the first John Irving book that I read. It was difficult to "get into" the novel for the first few hundred pages or so. However, there came a point when I could not put this book down! Now, weeks later, I find myself still thinking about the characters. After loving the haunting tale of "Owen Meany", I was excited when "Simon Birch" came to video. I thought the adaptation for the movie was absolutely awful! - the book was infinitely better. It's amazing how some movies can destroy an author's characters and story. After "Owen Meaney", I read "A Widow for One Year". From the beginning, I could not put this novel down...I'm currently reading "The 158-pound Marriage". Irving is a terrific author!

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Summary: This is my favorite book of all time!!!
Review: John Irving is, without question, my favorite writer, and I think that this is his best book. The characteres are so vivid that they stick with you long after you finish the book. Even after this, however, it won't be long before you feel the need to pick up this book and read it all over again!!

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Summary: beautifully written; detail was great; characters-loveable
Review: As a high school senior, who hates to read required books, i loved this book. I fell in love with Owen Meany. I wanted to live his life. A character so real has been faced with many situations a normal person wouldn't go through. I commend John Irving for this book. This has to be the best book that I have ever read. I watched Simon Birch and loved it. I just wish there was a movie that copied A Prayer For Owen Meany verabatum. I give this book 10 stars!!!!!!1

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Summary: The Greatest book i have ever read
Review: my review wouldn't be worth reading because it would be all superlatives. Amazing.

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Summary: This is one of the best books that I have ever read.
Review: John Irving has the amazing ability to make life make sense. You will wish that you were Owen and that all things come together like they do in this book. It can change you life perspective.

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Summary: Calm down, Mr. Irving!
Review: A novel beyond reproach, save for the visits to John Wheelwright's modern life in Toronto. They should have been pruned from the rest of the novel. Hello, editor? EDIT, ALREADY! But beyond the whining about politics, the novel was wonderful. I don't know what else to say for it, except READ IT NOW! NOW, I SAY!! I also want to say thank heaven for Ed Robertson, of the rock band Barenaked Ladies, for mentioning it as the most influential book of his adult life. When I saw that, I thought, "Well, he's got good taste, so why not?" and I have never looked back. Without him, I never would have heard of it or John Irving.