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I'm not sure how I felt about Owen Meany...

Revisado: 09-06-16

In the beginning, I found the characters interesting. Owen is an unusually bright boy with a very strange family and some incredible courage. Johnny Wheelwright is the narrator and Owen's best friend.

But as the story progressed, I started thinking, "What is this all about?" "Where is this going?" And pretty soon I was wondering, "How and when is this going to end?"

I kept plugging along. As an audio book goes, this one was incredibly well done. Audio books have the unique ability to bring characters to life through sound and inflection and drama. A good reader is able to bring you to a place where you can identify the character by the sound of their voice.

Apparently, in the book, all of Owen Meany's dialogue is written in all caps to accentuate the "wrecked voice". The narrator, Joe Barrett, was hand-picked by the author John Irving to bring that "wrecked voice" to life.

And it was amazing. It was alive and painful and brilliantly done.

The thing is, the whole time I was listening to the story, I was also thinking, "What am I missing?"

You know that feeling when you are watching a "film" not a movie? This book is "literature" not just fiction. It's sort of like, "I'm sure there is supposed to be some great meaning here. Some brilliant symbolism that I am just not getting. Am I just not cultured enough, or intelligent enough, or whatever?"

That is how I felt while listening to Owen Meany. Owen truly believes that he is an "instrument of God" in the very literal sense. So how does that play into the mutilation of the armadillo? Or the vandalism of The Virgin Mary? Or the dressmaker's dummy? Or even the Viet Nam War?

I just really couldn't wrap my head around all that. Johnny (the narrator of the story and Owen's friend) seems so wimpy and unsure of himself. Owen is so smart and confident and a little bit crazy.

The author continues to call everyone by their full names - Dan Needham, Owen Meany, Johnny Wheelwright, Reverend Merrill and so on.

One of the things I really did enjoy about this book was the lyrical writing of Mr. Irving. And the intelligent use of language that make for interesting quotes.

Here are my top 5 takeaway quotes from A Prayer for Owen Meany.

There are a few quotes that really stuck with me as something to remember; something to contemplate for use in my own life. My hope is that you will find meaning here, too.

"Your memory is a monster; you forget—it doesn't. It simply files things away. It keeps things for you, or hides things from you—and summons them to your recall with a will of its own. You think you have a memory; but it has you!” - Owen Meany


"When someone you love dies, and you're not expecting it, you don't lose her all at once; you lose her in pieces over a long time—the way the mail stops coming..." - Johnny Wheelwright


"WATCH OUT FOR PEOPLE WHO CALL THEMSELVES RELIGIOUS; MAKE SURE YOU KNOW WHAT THEY MEAN––MAKE SURE THEY KNOW WHAT THEY MEAN!” - Owen Meany


"And in our Scripture class, Owen said, "IT'S TRUE THAT THE DISCIPLES ARE STUPID - THEY NEVER UNDERSTAND WHAT JESUS MEANS, THEY'RE A BUNCH OF BUNGLERS, THEY DON'T BELIEVE IN GOD AS MUCH AS THEY WANT TO BELIEVE, AND THEY EVEN BETRAY JESUS. THE POINT IS, GOD DOESN'T LOVE US BECAUSE WE'RE SMART OR BECAUSE WE'RE GOOD. WE'RE STUPID AND WE'RE BAD AND GOD LOVES US ANYWAY - JESUS ALREADY TOLD THE DUMB-SHIT DISCIPLES WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN. "THE SON OF MAN WILL BE DELIVERED INTO THE HANDS OF MEN, AND THEY WILL KILL HIM..." REMEMBER? THAT WAS IN MARK, RIGHT?"
"Yes, but let's not say "dumb-shit disciples" in class, Owen," Mr. Merrill said.”


"Anyone can be sentimental about the nativity; any fool can feel like a Christian at Christmas. But Easter is the main event; if you don’t believe in the resurrection, you’re not a believer." “IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE IN EASTER,” Owen Meany said. “DON'T KID YOURSELF—DON'T CALL YOURSELF A CHRISTIAN.”

And my favorite...
"IF YOU ARE LUCKY ENOUGH TO FIND A WAY OF LIFE THAT YOU LOVE, YOU HAVE TO FIND THE COURAGE TO LIFE IT." - Owen Meany

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Fun Series

Revisado: 05-20-15

I enjoy this series while I'm driving or cleaning. The adventure of Claire and Jamie is never ending!

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Fun Series

Revisado: 05-20-15

I enjoy this series while I'm driving or cleaning. The adventure of Claire and Jamie is never ending!

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Where is the next one?

Revisado: 04-19-14

I loved the story. An easy listen with fun characters. Waiting for the next one...

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esto le resultó útil a 4 personas

Interesting book

Revisado: 01-04-12

This book was unusual. It was captivating and yet disturbing. I would definitely read it again if not just for the curiosity factor.

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esto le resultó útil a 1 persona

Love Lorelei King

Revisado: 12-20-11

I love listening to anything Lorelei King reads. She is expressive and funny. As always Stephanie Plum is a blast. Janet's stories are entertaining and a joy to listen to while cleaning the house!

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