A Prayer For Owen Meany. Warning: Spoilery! - Page 2

[Doodlebugsmom]

It's been years since I read it, but I loved it just like I love every Irving book I've read. It's been so long that I can't answer any of the questions posed. I would highly recommend The World According to Garp. For Irving lovers, I would also recommend Wally Lamb. In his books, the females are the characters that are developed most. You wouldn't think that a man could've written them when you're reading.

[the_lissa]

Did Wally Lamb write the book about the girl whose mother dies, she gets really fat, etc?

[Wilhemina]

[QUOTE=Kylix I hadn't really noticed that about the female characters but now that you mention it...the male characters WERE much more developed. I haven't read any other Irving books...is this something he does in all his books?

Kylix[/QUOTE]

I have no idea. This is the only one I've read. Anyone??

[Doodlebugsmom]

Originally Posted by the_lissa

Did Wally Lamb write the book about the girl whose mother dies, she gets really fat, etc?

Yes! That's called She's Come Undone. His other one, I believe, is called I Know This Much is True.

[organicbanana]

Originally Posted by onlyboys

You know what is so fascinating about this particular book? The humor. It's one of the few books that I've actually called someone and said, "You HAVE to listen to this," and then not been able to get through the passage for laughing hysterically.

:
i read owen meaney for the first time about 12 years ago and it's been re-read countless times since...

so many funny lines stick with me...

"PUT ME DOWN YOU A$$HOLES!!!"

"YOUR MOTHER HAS THE BEST BREASTS OF ALL THE MOTHERS."

"STUPID "HARDNESS". STUPID "WETNESS". SEX MAKES PEOPLE CRAZY."

[Maggie05]

My favorite book of all time. We also named our son Owen from this book!!!!

It is the kind of book that can change your life. It makes you think about what IS your calling in life...what had "God" chosen for you?

Owen follows the plan, though he knows it will lead to his death. He discovers his purpose in life, the meaning of his life.

I LOVED THIS BOOK!

I love John Irving, but not all of his books are well done. Widow for One Year was not good. the best ones are The World according to Garp, The Hotel New Hampshire, and Owen Meany.

[loomweaver]

I hadn't thought about this book in a long time!
I LOVED it also.
I didn't like Owen in the beginning but really cared for him in the end. I can't totally remember but I remember the whole part about how he saves the kids and sees palm trees and it's Phoenix?
I remember that because I read it right when I moved to Phoenix.

Ah, yes, I read all of Irving's books at one point or another. I liked the bear in Hotel New Hampshire.

Also liked Wally Lamb's books, esp the one about the schizophrenic twin...very dramatic and shocking. (I know this much is True, I think)

[Ilaria]

Originally Posted by owensmom

Dh and I love love love this book. Klothos, you said it best. It is the reason we named our son Owen.

We loved the book too, but it wasn't our main reason...but when he was born and weighed in at 5.14, full term... We couldn't name him anything else!

[gabesmama]

I just finished the book tonight. I have been thinking about it. It seems as though every single thing has a purpose (no coincidences). What was the purpose of Owen killing Johnny's mom? It was difficult for me to accept how forgiving the entire family was. Yes it was an accident but could you still be best friends with someone who accidentally killed your mom?

What about his invlovement with Hester? I really couldn't believe it. When I read the book, I pictured Owen like Dewey from Malcom int he Middle (I do not know the actor's name). How did women find him sexually actractive, it is like child molestation?

Overall, I enjoyed the book. I appreciate Irving's sense of humor.

[Kylix]

Gabesmama--

I have many questions too after reading the book. The Owen-Hester thing bothered me too. I just didn't get it and couldn't picture the two together no matter how much the book progressed. Especially with how much she seemed to love him and be attached to him when she was supposed to be this highly sexual woman. Just didn't fit. I don't know if I got the picture of Owen correctly and I never could "hear" his voice. I would try to speak his voice and never felt like I was thinking of it correctly.

Also what did you think of John and Hester? John had this boy crush on his cousin and then as an adult never dated and remained a virgin. His friend (forget her name) referred to him as a nonpracticing homosexual. I'm just still curious about his sexuality or lack thereof really.

At first, I was a little disturbed about how easily the family forgave Owen but really he was a little boy. I would have had a hard time holding anything against him. I would have pitied him more than anything. That's huge burden to hold--knowing that you've killed someone. But like you said, it would have been hard to be around him as much as they all were.

Kylix

[odenata]

Originally Posted by Kylix

Thanks for trying to answer my question, Wilhemina. I hadn't really noticed that about the female characters but now that you mention it...the male characters WERE much more developed. I haven't read any other Irving books...is this something he does in all his books?

Kylix

I think in Garp Jenny, Garp's mother, Helen. his wife, even "Mrs. Ralph," a more minor character, are well-developed. There's also Melony from Cider House.

Really, Garp is the one to read if you are interested in Irving's female characters - it also is full of commentary on second-wave feminism and examinations of how men and women relate to each other.

[binxsmom]

i read this book about 10 years ago and loved it!!! time for a re-read cause i've forgotten so much of it. love, love, love irving. especially cider house rules.

[bobica]

i just finished the book a little while ago- sigh. it was really good & i'm still absorbing all that i read. i thought i found an inconsistency in the story- minor but irritating if it's true. johnny said that his grandmother was born on halloween & was always angry about it. also, that she died 2 weeks before her 100th birthday. but later on, he talked about being back in NH in the spring for her funeral. again, not major, but if i read it right, his editor got paid too much

i couldn't get the hester & owen relationship either. regarding johnny's sexuality, he said that he didn't believe he was a non-practicing homosexual; rather that he felt he was neutered by his experiences & had no interest in practicing sexuality at all.

creepy forshadowing....."soon there'll be an evangelist in the white house...." eeek!

[meco]

I had the same issue. I love Irving, but I could never get into Owen Meany. Finally I plowed through, and I loved it. I just reread it this summer