A Prayer for Owen Meany

by John Irving

637 pages

English language

Published Feb. 13, 1990

ISBN:: 978-0-552-13539-9
Goodreads:: 4473

A Prayer for Owen Meany is the seventh novel by American writer John Irving. Published in 1989, it tells the story of John Wheelwright and his best friend Owen Meany growing up together in a small New Hampshire town during the 1950s and 1960s. According to John's narration, Owen is a remarkable boy in many ways; he believes himself to be God's instrument and sets out to fulfill the fate he has prophesied for himself. The novel is also an homage to Günter Grass's most famous novel, The Tin Drum. Grass was a great influence for John Irving, as well as a close friend. The main characters of both novels, Owen Meany and Oskar Matzerath, share the same initials as well as some other characteristics, and their stories show some parallels. Irving has confirmed the similarities. A Prayer for Owen Meany, however, follows an independent and separate plot.

11 editions

Tattooed_Mummy reviewed A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving

Review of 'A Prayer for Owen Meany' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

I've given this book 4 stars because it is an incredible book. Fabulously written. But even today, years after reading it I'm haunted by the story and not in a good way, I found it depressing, melancholy and in all honesty I wish I had never read it. That said it would be on my 50 Books you SHOULD read before you die. I'd just save it til near the end.