Questions About A Prayer for Owen Meany

by John Irving (Goodreads Author)

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Answered Questions (22)

Would this book be interesting for a non-Christian? How serious are the religious undertones?

Neil Procter I'm an atheist and this is one of my favourite books. Yes it is about one person's belief in a supreme being coming as the result of the events he wit…moreI'm an atheist and this is one of my favourite books. Yes it is about one person's belief in a supreme being coming as the result of the events he witnesses, but it is not a Christian tract. I don't know what John Irving's religious beliefs are but I wouldn't dare assume form this book that he is a believer. It is a fiction, whose narrator has found reason to believe in God through the events that befall him. If an author wrote a book about a vicar it wouldn't mean it was a book just for Christians.(less)

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I am afraid of large books because I usually rent from the library, and I never seem to finish them on time, regardless of myself taking them out again. I am a pretty slow reader. How long did it take to read this book?

Nina You're right Magdalen, it is a very slow read and he repeats a lot. I got impatient at how long it was taking me, but I more or less enjoyed it. I lov…moreYou're right Magdalen, it is a very slow read and he repeats a lot. I got impatient at how long it was taking me, but I more or less enjoyed it. I love the movie Simon Birch which was "inspired" by this book and that movie only includes about 20% of the book and changes a lot.

Oh, just as a random comment, it always surprises me to see on literary sites such as this, the mis-use of the word "it's" when "its" is correct. If you are unsure of its usage, simply replace "it is" and see if the sentence still works....English grammar 101 people.(less)

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There is so much foreshadowing hinting that Mr. Fish is Owen's father that I'm sure he is despite the book never saying so. What do you think?

Dawn Gosse I think you didn't finish the book.…moreI think you didn't finish the book.(less)

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There are many 5-star ratings for this book-- my question is in two parts: (a) Is there anyone here who is non-religious who rated it 5 stars? (b) Those who rated it 5 stars, did you rate it that highly because of its religious themes, in spite of them, or do you consider them not relevant to your rating?

Neil R. Coulter I rated it 5 stars, and I am a Christian. It's possible that a Christian (or other religiously devout person) would be more likely than an atheist to …moreI rated it 5 stars, and I am a Christian. It's possible that a Christian (or other religiously devout person) would be more likely than an atheist to regard the book highly. However, I also think that Irving's presentation of Christian faith is somewhat unorthodox, and might just as easily offend a Christian reader. Some of his ideas wouldn't sit well with a Conservative Evangelical American understanding of the faith. There are probably too many variables to be able to say "Christians like this book more than non-Christians."

My 5 star rating was based on the quality of the writing, the pleasure of reading Irving's descriptions of an American East Coast culture (parts of it reminded me of To Kill a Mockingbird in a northern setting), his vivid characters, the intriguing pacing of the story, and (especially) the author's honest wrestling with issues of faith in a bleak, troubling world. I liked that at the end of the novel John is imperfect but continues to believe that he will be better one day, which struck me as a contrast to the hopelessness I see in much contemporary fiction. So I guess rather than saying that I rated the book highly because it's a Christian novel (and I think it is, though it is also other things), I'd say it was because the grey areas the novel examines are the kinds of grey areas that I myself resonate with and like to ponder.(less)

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This question contains spoilers... (view spoiler)

Jackie O'sullivan also the hint of how he practised very specific phrases in Vietnamese that John discovered in Owen's diary. Many Asian languages have a high pitched, …morealso the hint of how he practised very specific phrases in Vietnamese that John discovered in Owen's diary. Many Asian languages have a high pitched, tonal quality to them that does not appear in latin/greek based languages. Am am almost at the close of this book now and it has been a glorious read in the final 25%. Well worth the effort(less)

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