A Prayer for Owen Meany

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Summary: INCREDIBLE....
Review: John Irving is a top notch story teller and A Prayer For Owen Meany prominently sits on my "best ever" list. Overflowing with colorfull secondary characters, all of whom continuously weave their way through this multi layered masterpiece that is navigated by the larger than life character of Owen Meany.

Rating:
Summary: Unforgettable!
Review: What can I say; I first read this book about 7-8 years ago and have read it again every year since. Beautiful, funny, tragic and very very moving; in one word, awesome!! Vintage Irving, only better...

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Summary: Guideline For Life and Living
Review: I just finished reading A Prayer For Owen Meany. It was recommended to me by my teacher. Yes, I am only a teenager reading this book, but I found that it was something that I think all teenagers should read. John Irving is a master story teller. How many other writers could interlay so many storylines into one and come up with a huge closing like the one he used? Owen Meany was my personal angel and saint. He is the little brother I always wished I had, and I was so dissapointed that he was not a real person. The struggles he went through were so vivid in my mind! It was more like a movie than a book. I was so sad when the book came to a close and I felt as though I had lost my best friend. I will never read a book as great as 'Owen Meany. It totally made me review everything I've ever done in my life. It also made me believe that EVERYTHING HAS A PURPOSE. I will continue to read this book over and over.

Rating:
Summary: My absolute favorite book of all time !!!!!
Review: I just finished reading the reviews of "A Prayer for Owen Meany," and now I am in tears. I couldn't believe that there were so many people out there like me. I first read the book back in 1991. I have read it at least once a year since, and sometimes just pick it up and read a passage or chapter. To anyone who does not "get it"- I feel sorry for you. Never has any book affected me so profoundly. I cried and laughed at the same time, sometimes so intensely that I wasn't sure which I was doing. It lead me to question some aspects of my faith, and then lead me, through Owen, to have them reaffirmed. Thank you John Irving for Owen!!

Rating:
Summary: my favorite book!
Review: I had a friend who spoke about this book often. She said the beginning was hard to get through, but once you did, it was worth it. Boy, was she right! This is the only book that has ever made me laugh out loud so hard that I had tears in my eyes. It is also the only book that has ever made me cry out loud. The emotions are very real. And the relationships between the characters (especially Johnny and Owen) will make you think more about your relationships with people in your own life. I recommend this book to every one!

Rating:
Summary: A Very Personal Review!
Review: Some years ago a friend invited me to a book-signing in Charing Cross Road, London. To my shame, I had heard of neither the author or the book.

After Irving had read extracts from the book (his impression of Owen's voice lives with me today)I was compelled to buy a copy...and duly had it signed! This cocky London student asked Irving to sign the book "To Jonathan, From your biggest fan, John Irving"!

And so my copy now boasts an inscription that will shame me for life. This is a masterpiece, written by a master-craftsman.

Sorry John. Respect is due!

Rating:
Summary: Very hard to read...deep meaning and slow
Review: Owen was a likable enough character, but John ny left a lot to be desired...seemed he could never form any decent relationship with anyone other than his small friend Owen...Book jumps around a lot and has lots of religious meaning and dialogue. Last 100 pages were actually worth reading but the first 520 were hard to get through.

Rating:
Summary: Everything Owen Meany says is true! A wonderful novel.
Review: Like many others who have posted reviews, A Prayer for Owen Meany is my favorite novel (just ahead of Lonesome Dove). I remember finishing Owen years ago and wondering how Irving came up with such an amazing and creative story. Owen is simply an incredible character, and everything he says is true. I'm reading it again now, and am enjoying every page. The amazing thing is how many people I have given it to who consider it their favorite book as well. If all you read is Grisham and Clancy then read Owen Meany. It will change the way you choose your books.

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Summary: If stuck on an island with one book...
Review: I read a book a day during the rainy season while I was in the Peace Corps (you RPCVs know what I'm talking about) and without a moments hesitation, I can say that of the two hundred or so paperbacks in the Peace Corps office (I read them all), this book was the best. I have since given it as a gift to many of my friends (makes gift-giving easy). As proof of the quality of this book, let me point out that someone has rated this book as a 10 every few days since amazon.com came on-line. I think other people are just as compelled as I am to testify to the power and pleasure of this book.

Rating:
Summary: If you don't like reading you soon will
Review: A Prayer for Owen Meany is the best book I've read.How does John Irving do it. I read A World According to Garp and loved it but this is brilliant.My fiance doesn't like reading but if he doesn't read this book and love it the wedding is off.What sort of person could he be if he didn't love Owen and John? Not someone I want to marry!