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Summary: This is a book to treasure.
Review: This novel kept coming up in conversations about books. I read a lot of Irving in the '70's and thought I had enough of wrestling and bears, so it took me a while to pick it up. Once I did, I couldn't put it down. It has been years since I have read it, yet images from Irving's descriptions are etched in my memory. Owen Meany expresses the love and loyalty of friendship like no other character I know.
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Summary: This novel was the 1st I've read to bring me to tears.
Review: A Prayer for Owen Meany is my all time favorite book. I am a huge John Irving fan, and had thought that he would never be able to out do The World According to Garp. Well, he did. The first time I read A Prayer for Owen Meany, I was so absorbed in the characters lives that when I finished the novel, I felt as if I had lost some very good friends from my life. I have re-read the novel three times, and find more clues and rewarding insights each time. I have passed my copy of the book from friend to friend and my dog-eared edition claims an honored place on my bookshelves. I read an article with John Irving in Entertainment Weekly, and he mentioned that Disney was making a movie. Apparently it strays very far from the book. I have such a vivid picture in my head of Mr. Irving's characters, that I doubt I would ever see the movie. I don't want to ruin the very special experience I had while reading this novel. I highly recommend A Prayer for Owen Meany, as well as! Cider House Rules and Garp to anyone who may be new to John Irving's work. At the top of that list, most certainly falls Owen Menay, which will make you laugh, cry and definitely want to read it again.
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Summary: Absolutely the best piece of fiction I have ever read!
Review: With OWEN MEANY, Irving has captured the essence of what it means to be alive and to be a friend. As a high school literature teacher, I wish I could require every senior to read this work. To read about John and Owen means to read about ALL of our lives. I believe there is a little Owen and a little John in each one of us. OWEN MEANY is a novel that will make readers laugh out loud, cry and really think about the issues that Owen and John confront together throughout their young adult lives. If there was ever a book that should be read by all, it is this one!
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Summary: A True Inspiration
Review: It's unfortunate that not everyone can take the time to sit down and enjoy this book. It's also unfortunate that people will see a movie loosely based on the book, and not be able to fully appreciate the true brilliance of this work. Owen Meany is a unique, inspirational book. I'm sure Irving didn't have such grand aspirations, but it truly is an instrument of God. This book gives meaning to life.
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Summary: This is Irving at his best; buy it; read it!
Review: This is one of those books you will re-read every couple of years. It is a pleasure, filled with wonderful images that will color the way you look at the world.
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Summary: will make you laugh and cry outloud
Review: we were required to read this book in my 11th grade english class and we had the best discussions and conversations because of iti. we all laughed and cried and finished the book with a higher perspective of life. great book, must read!!!
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Summary: I URGE you to read this before the movie comes out!
Review: As many of you may know, this great GREAT book is being made into a big-time Hollywood movie...(inexplicably, the title character of Owen Meany has been renamed Simon Birch)...all I have to say is BIG BIG MISTAKE!!!! This book was so incredible not only in terms of plot, character, heart and humor, but also visually wonderful...I love flipping through my dog-eared copy and seeing all of those capital letters, those wise words of Owen...how do the filmmakers expect to duplicate that? Don't get me wrong...I love film, but please don't tamper with a good thing...Irving himself seems to want the reader to draw their own conclusions about the themes of the book...was Owen a miracle? Is he merely an instrument of God or Christ Himself revisited in that tiny form? Besides, how do the filmmakers expect to cram every single funny and heartbreaking detail into a 2 hour film? I would hate to be the editor, because I would hate to have to cut a single thing...This book holds a! special and personal place in my heart which I don't want anyone to try to interpret...least of all to turn into a big overproduced and mushy production! "A Prayer for Owen Meany" deserves to stand alone.
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Summary: An amazing book!
Review: I was required to read this book over the summer for an honors English class that I am in. At first I thought, "Oh, great, 600 pages," but when I started to get into the book, I realized that this was no ordinary novel. I have to write journal entries after every chapter that say what I think of the book. I wouldn't mind doing this so much, but I want to get back to reading! Owen is a very interesting character who makes this book readable and lovable.
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Summary: This book is one of the most memorable I've read recently
Review: I heard Irving interviewed on NPR, saying that he thought "A Prayer for Owen Meany" was his best book. As I had loved "Garp" years ago, I needed to check this out. Despite the religious connotations which one can accept or reject, I reaffirm that Irving creates unforgettable figures and situations. I read "Widow for One Year" directly after this and enjoyed it thoroughly also. I think that Irving does get hung up on writers and the writing process to the detriment of the flow of the narrative. This is a minor quibble and should not detract from the enjoyment of the prose.
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Summary: We all know Owen.
Review: I made the strangest discovery after finishing the book: Each important person in my life has just a little bit of Owen's personality in them. I think he truly does represents the best and worst in all of us. I wonder if I'm not the only one who got that impression....
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