A PRAYER FOR OWEN MEANY, by John Irving - Book Review (Literary Fiction)

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 1/4 (Goodreads:4.24)

GENRE: Literary Fiction

PART OF A SERIES? No

WORTH READING? Yes

SUMMARY:

A Prayer for Owen Meany follows John Wheelwright, who, as an adult, reflects on his childhood in a small New Hampshire town and his lifelong bond with his closest friend, Owen Meany. Owen is an unforgettable figure — physically small, vocally distinctive, and utterly convinced that his life is shaped by a higher purpose. His certainty stands in contrast to John’s more questioning nature, yet the two are bound by deep loyalty and shared experiences.

The novel weaves together personal memory, historical context, and philosophical inquiry, moving between past and present as it explores faith, fate, friendship, and the impact of belief. Set against the political and social backdrop of mid-twentieth-century America, the story examines how individual lives intersect with larger moral and cultural forces.

Opening lines: “I am doomed to remember a boy with a wrecked voice — not because of his voice, or… because he was the instrument of my mother’s death, but because he is the reason I believe in God…”

 The two main characters in this novel are richly drawn. Owen Meany is such a unique character, and his friend, Johnny Wheelwright is kind, supportive and a great friend.

There is a considerable amount of politics in this book, particularly regarding the Vietnam War. There is also some religious discussion — although, given the opening paragraph, this can hardly come as a surprise.

On the other hand (given much of the subject matter) I was genuinely surprised how skilfully Irving uses humour in this story. I chuckled out loud many, many times.

I found that A Prayer for Owen Meany meandered sometimes. It is also painfully slow at times, tripping over its own feet. However, I never considered DNF-ing. Irving always brings you back eventually, so that most of the time you can see why he’s gone off on a tangent, but because my mind wandered, I had to subtract ¼ of a star. I also could have done without characters who seemed superfluous and didn’t really add anything to the story. I honestly feel I would’ve enjoyed this reading journey if it had been trimmed a little. So, there was just a bit too much exposition for me to say I absolutely loved A Prayer for Owen Meany, but it came pretty damn close!

Even though we learn quite early on that something befalls Owen, be prepared for some tears, along with enlightenment. The novel builds until Owen’s sense of purpose is revealed, and we see how his life genuinely fulfils what he always believed it would.

At its heart, A Prayer for Owen Meany is a book about friendship that endures, heroism and the incredible way one person’s unwavering faith can shape not just their own path but everyone around them.

This one’s worth reading, no question!

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