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A review by allthingseryn
A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving
inspiring
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
This skimmed this book when it was assigned reading in high school and I’ve revisited it nearly 25 years later. This book is dense. John Irving does not hold back in packing in details and reflections. At times, it felt preachy—especially with its commentary on war, American identity, and religious hypocrisy. I can absolutely see why teenage me would not have wanted to wade through all of that. But as an adult, I found a lot to appreciate, even if some parts dragged.
That said, what really works about this book is its characters. Owen Meany is unforgettable, and the way Irving builds his voice and presence is impressive. There are moments of humor, heartbreak, and everything in between. The later half, especially, is where the book really hit its stride for me.
Will I read this again? Probably not. But I’m so glad I finally gave it the time it deserved. It’s a fascinating look at a particular time and place that I never found particularly interesting—New England in the ‘60s—full of political, religious, and personal tensions. And while some of those aspects didn’t resonate as much with me, the characters certainly did.
Also, shoutout to the audiobook narrator—he did an amazing job bringing this story to life. If you’re thinking about picking this up, I’d highly recommend the audio version.
That said, what really works about this book is its characters. Owen Meany is unforgettable, and the way Irving builds his voice and presence is impressive. There are moments of humor, heartbreak, and everything in between. The later half, especially, is where the book really hit its stride for me.
Will I read this again? Probably not. But I’m so glad I finally gave it the time it deserved. It’s a fascinating look at a particular time and place that I never found particularly interesting—New England in the ‘60s—full of political, religious, and personal tensions. And while some of those aspects didn’t resonate as much with me, the characters certainly did.
Also, shoutout to the audiobook narrator—he did an amazing job bringing this story to life. If you’re thinking about picking this up, I’d highly recommend the audio version.