Comments on 'A Prayer for Owen Meany'

This novel was enjoyed by all the group.
'I found the story slow at first but by the second half I was hooked'
'One of the best books I have ever read'
'It is the story of a strong friendship between two young men. Unusual in that one of them kills the other's mother in a baseball accident'
'Owen is seen by some readers as a Christ like figure but his behaviour to his parents is anything but Christlike'
'The historical themes such as the Vietnam War the Iran-Contra affair and criticisms of various political leaders provide an interesting backdrop to the plot'
'There are many funny episodes. One I particularly enjoyed was the nativity scene. This made me laugh out loud'
'It was amazing how Owen Meany with his high pitched voice and small frame attracted the girls'
'Even the minor characters are well drawn. Characters such as Mr Fish and Lydia the maid'
'Reading this book has made me want to read other works by John Irving'
'All the loose ends come together in the finale. For example the expertise of performing 'The Shot' and Owen's unusual voice and how these two play a part in his death. Also Owen's vision of his death turns out to be very different from what the reader expects'

Further Reading

'The World According to Garp' by John Irving

A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving

An extraordinary and original book. The best book I have read? Probably. Sorry to finish it. Early on it had me laughing out loud but towards the end crying.
The character Owen Meany is unforgettable. There are lots to think about in this book and its a book that I will think about for a very long time.

Tony Riley