A Prayer for Owen Meany

A beautifully crafted, funny, heartbreaking work of genius from a world-class writer at the top of his game, A Prayer for Owen Meany is one of those books that simply defies easy description.

It's about angels. And armadillos. THE VOICE. An armless Indian and an headless Holy Goalie. A lethal baseball, a Christmas pageant baby Jesus, and the precise connection between what the Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come saw on a cardboard tombstone and the burned and blistered corpse of a helicopter pilot killed in Vietnam. Through all the quirky characters and masterful plotting, however, at its heart, A Prayer for Owen Meany is about family, friendship, community, and what it really means to be a hero.

Narrator, Joe Barret's, pitch perfect reading captured the spirit and voice of each unforgettable character, including that of Owen Meany, whose screeching, grating, damaged voice is portrayed in the novel in full caps. Somehow Barret accomplishes this feat in such a way that he fully embodies Owen's unforgettable voice, yet is still easy on the ears of audio book listeners.

This Audible version of A Prayer for Owen Meany made me laugh, made me fall in love with Owen Meany and, ultimately, broke my heart. When the book was over, I missed Owen, as if I'd known him.

great book, lovely narration, a fantastic way to spend 26hrs.

though is just shame a about the music. particularly at the end, as it kicks in when you are lost in the story and it brings you round like a slap the face just when you want to be left with your thoughts. why is it there ? as you can tell it has left an unfortunate final impression on this version. this is as shame as otherwise I loved this book.

Not my usual cup of tea, but 'A Prayer for Owen Meany' builds up over the length of the book into a great mix of characters and plots.



Throughout the entire storyline there are beautiful little references to seemingly innocuous past events, with the smallest details weaving such a wonderful picture, leaving the reader (listener) with a clarity of what this world looks like and what the people are like, but still allowing the imagination to form the shapes.



I wished my drive to work was longer so I could have listened to more in one go, and in fact there were occasions that I took a 'long-cut' just to hear a particular story line thread play out!



It is to a budding novelist as a Mozart concerto is to a wannabe musician who has just picked up a tambourine... You think you'd like to try your hand at writing, then you see this and realise what a really good author can produce.



I'm a great fan of the Jason Bourne series, and John Le Carre is by far my favourite author of a book series or genre, but Owen Meany is that exception to the rule. Truly mesmerising.

What a treat. It's long but I would have rather it hadn't ended... An immersive experience

It is well written, the story is very good and, mostly through the character Owen Meany, the book makes lots of important points about the absurdity of many aspects of life. I thoroughly recommend.



Joe Barrett is a good reader too.

Let it just keep going, because the start is a little slow. It's long - and it will be worth every minute of your time.



Beautiful writing, and such expert narration.



Sad and sobering though some of the story is, it's not written in a way that cynically tries to milk the pathos. In fact, most of the sad incidents are dealt with in such a matter-of-fact way, it helps you to deal with it, too. It is also a very funny book, with sly, sideways humour and sometimes some pure slapstick comic passages.



I really did love this boo and was very sad to leave it.

Joe Barrett deserves an award for his beautiful reading of this beautiful book. (that's only 13 words)

Absolutely amazing, have just finished it and want to start it all over again. , this is the first Irving novel that I have read and cannot wait to read another. He is a modern master story teller, a la Dickens. Intellegent and spell binding and beautifully narrated.

John Irving has occupied a special place in the pantheon of mainstream american writers for many years; however I would regard " A Prayer for Owen Meany" as a 20th century masterpiece.

This may seem obvious to those who have had the pleasure of reading/ listening to this wonderful tale,but for those who have yet to immerse themselves I would say do so, you will only benefit from the experience.

It takes the reader on a journey of childhood,through adolescence into adulthood and never in an expected way. The experience of religious belief and mysticism is most convincing . Owen Meany is a force to be reckoned with. His is a faithful,complex personality that it is a sheer joy to spend time with.

The one thing that sets the audio version above the written word is the voice. Owen Meany has a remarkable voice and the narration by Joe Barrett is an acting tour de force. His vocal impression of Owen drives the story in a way that lifts it above the norm.

Listen to this and wonder. You will laugh and yes, maybe cry,I know I shed a tear or two. I have spent a lifetime reading but this novel is on of the unforgettable ones. Thank you John Irving.

I love this story, it is wholly unique and surprising and is about such a small and yet big idea that it knocks your socks off. Read this story.

I just wish it were true.. I know its not, but it has embedded itself into my mind as if it is. In senility in years to come i'll tell people about little Owen, and his strange life.