Steve’s review of A Prayer for Owen Meany > Likes and Comments

I think this might be my favorite book ever. Great review, Steve. But it's like a broken record with you, isn't it?

Hi Steve - nice review of my fave book of all time. One thing - because this is Irving's look at religion and faith, it kind of has to morph into visions and the unknowable, because that's what the faithful rely on. Belief without the tangible evidence to back it up. Also, what guy doesn't like boobs?

Jason wrote: "I think this might be my favorite book ever. Great review, Steve. But it's like a broken record with you, isn't it?"

"Broken record" Jason? I didn't think you were old enough to know that phrase. But hey, thanks.

I'm on another one right now that you rated through the roof -- Cutting for Stone. Unless it takes a dramatic turn for the worse, it'll be near the top of my all-time favorites list, too!

Oh, good, I was nervous about that one. That Genet is a piece of work, though, right?

Deborah wrote: "Hi Steve - nice review of my fave book of all time. One thing - because this is Irving's look at religion and faith, it kind of has to morph into visions and the unknowable, because that's what the..."

Thanks, Deborah. This one has got some very avid fans, it seems. I can see the appeal, certainly. And your point about religion and faith is well taken (though I'm personally more on the scientists' side of the fence when it comes to seeing the future). The science of boobaphilic impulses in the male of the species is interesting to consider, too.

I'm with you on the scientist's side, too. I think Irving may be, as well. But when you write a book about faith there has to be some. :) I will always have faith, however, in man's love of cleavage.

Jason wrote: "Oh, good, I was nervous about that one. That Genet is a piece of work, though, right?"

Agreed about Genet, though I won't elaborate. I'm insisting that my wife read this the moment I'm done, and in case she reads these comments, I don't want her to know anything about it. If I recall, you said that anyone who gave 5 stars to Middlesex was pretty likely to appreciate Stone, too, and you sure were right.

Well, I was right in this case. But statistically, I don't know if that statement would hold water across the board. :)

Wow, great review. Sounds good, I actually hadn't even heard of this Irving novel. My knowledge rather ends at Garp though, which was amazing.
The story was doing well enough before this sledgehammer blow of thaumaturgy. The surrealism nullified what had previously rung true.
A. Expertly crafted statement
B. Thaumaturgy: excellent word (I had to look it up), between reading your reviews and DFW the vocab on the GRE should be a breeze ha.
C. Don't you hate it when people get heavy handed with the moralizing? Shame too when surrealism chokes a book, usually I look forward to moments of surrealism.

Also, CAPSLOCK is cruise control for 'cool'. I wonder if Irving saw the Capslock comments on youtube and such years after this came out and thought, 'damn these kids ruining what could once be literary!'.
I'll be looking into this book, wonderful review as always Sir Steve!

Steve and s.p.: If you are looking to expand your knowledge of Irving, I also recommend A Son Of The Circus.

Jason wrote: "Well, I was right in this case. But statistically, I don't know if that statement would hold water across the board. :)"

What, a sample size of one isn't enough for you?

s.penkevich wrote: "Wow, great review. Sounds good, I actually hadn't even heard of this Irving novel. My knowledge rather ends at Garp though, which was amazing.

You're too generous, Sven, but I sure appreciate it.

Thaumaturgy is a word I once saw a blogger use to lampoon pedantic types. Since I aspire to pedantry myself, it stuck. :-)

CAPS ARE COOL, but you can't use them on the library's computer without getting ssshhhh-ed.

Steve wrote: "CAPS ARE COOL, but you can't use them on the library's computer without getting ssshhhh-ed. "

Ha!

Richard wrote: "Steve and s.p.: If you are looking to expand your knowledge of Irving, I also recommend A Son Of The Circus."

I'll have to check that one out, Richard. Thanks! A lot of people seem to like Cider House Rules, too.

Richard wrote: "Steve and s.p.: If you are looking to expand your knowledge of Irving, I also recommend A Son Of The Circus."

Oh nice, thanks Richard! I will look into that as well.

Steve wrote: "s.penkevich wrote: "Wow, great review. Sounds good, I actually hadn't even heard of this Irving novel. My knowledge rather ends at Garp though, which was amazing.

You're too generous, Sven, but I ..."

I may have to steal that word and try to work it into a sentence today.
I've also heard good things about Cider House Rules as well, but all I know of it is that it was made into a film with Tobey Maguire, thus giving me an aversion to it. Tobey (shaking my fist)

Tobey Maguire -- it was always going to be difficult to overcome that, even as a Prince of Maine.

People think I'm crazy for never having read any John Irving. Where should I start?

Others can weigh in, but his breakthrough book was World According to Garp. That was what I read first, long ago. I'm sure we've got friends here who have read a lot more of them than I have, though.

Christopher wrote: "People think I'm crazy for never having read any John Irving. Where should I start?"

The World According to Garp is a great one

s.penkevich wrote: "Christopher wrote: "People think I'm crazy for never having read any John Irving. Where should I start?"

The World According to Garp is a great one"

Also see top of page! :)

The Hotel New Hampshire

I always say if I had started with Garp, my love affair with John Irving might had gone up in flames. Then withered away. I'm so glad I waited to read Garp—after I had read Hotel New Hampshire, The Cider House Rules and Owen Meaney. Two other great books are A Widow for One Year and Until I Find You, which is more graphic in it's sexual content. (Anyway, that's a small history of my, lol, *romance* with Mr. Irving. Not mentioning all his books. Some aren't as "stand-out" as these.)

Oh good -- someone who's read more than a few. Thanks, Wordsmith. Between these and Richard's suggestion of A Son of the Circus, we're not hurting for choices.

As for Garp, I remember it being quite the sensation at the time. Having gotten Robin Williams to play the title role in the movie version, it must have been. At the same time, it's probably fair to say that it wasn't as mature as Irving's later writing.

Googling "thaumaturgy" wasn't nearly as much fun as riding my bike to the Champaign Public Library to find a dictionary large enough to look up another fifty-cent word you were fond of using. And I didn't laugh out loud when I saw what it meant, either!

Yes, Susan, I recall that word well. It still applies, too! (A few of our jokes will be kept the inside variety.)

Very good JI and a very good review. Well done, Steve

Thank you kindly, Will.

Thanks for a great review Steve.

And thanks right back at you, Kristen. (I hope I'm not triggering an infinite loop with this grateful acknowledgement.)

I quit reading Irving after this book, no reflection on the book. I feel it is one of his best, but I have had thoughts to start reading some of his books again. This one and Cider House are two of my favorites. Maybe I need to plunge my way into the boobaphilia and see if I like boobs as much as Irving. Your review has me wondering. Great job as always Steve.

Thanks, Jeffrey. Irving's newest doesn't seem to have much buzz just yet. Then again, maybe the boobaphiles are walking abreast into the bookstores even as we speak to pick up their copies.

You are goodreads best kept secret.

You are the best thing about goodreads that has been kept secret.

I like your reviews a lot.

Stephen M wrote: "blah blah blah I like your reviews a lot."

One day, maybe deep into the future (Ste'en's Crossin' an' Ever'thin' After), someone will discover an old relic of Goodreads, perhaps a computer log from one of their main servers, and finally discover the gems that are Steve H's reviews.

Secrets seem more interesting whether they are or not.

By their nature, secrets tend to make ears perk up more than their content might warrant.

Thanks, Stephen.

Good point about secrets there Steve.

I think people automatically try to "correct" disparages in the popularity of certain works. So when something is good and lesser known, people think that by over-embellishing the quality of the work, it is justified

Your reviews are still freaking awesome.

Steve is trying to build intrigue and suspense over his reviews to bolster his projected IPO before going public. Do you two need to get a room?

We already have one. Only people with the name Ste(ph)ven are allowed.

It's us and s.penk chattin' it up about David Mitchell.

Would I be included if my middle name were Steve or an iteration thereof?

I'll have to talk to the guys upstairs about that one.

Why, is his name Steve, too?

It's Stephanos. He's been around for a while.....

Jason wrote: "Stephen M wrote: "blah blah blah I like your reviews a lot."

One day, maybe deep into the future (Ste'en's Crossin' an' Ever'thin' After), someone will discover an old relic of Goodreads, perhaps ..."

It's not like me to miss a compliment since I aim the radio dish at any potential source. I didn't see this one until this morning, though. Ta, mate!

Stephen M wrote: "We already have one. Only people with the name Ste(ph)ven are allowed.

It's us and s.penk chattin' it up about David Mitchell."

Yes. And we're open to Stefanos, Stepans, Etiennes, and Estebans, too. Any Stephanies and Steffis are welcome as well.

Jason, is it worth having your name changed to one of the above? Presumably you'd want one of the male variants unless you were in the mood to have a whole lot of changes all at once.

No way... there are too many Steve's and I need to be special. Even Jason isn't unique enough for my tastes. If I change my name at all, it will be to something bizarre and foreign-sounding. Like Jaspar or Jaroslaw.

Jason wrote: "No way... there are too many Steve's and I need to be special. Even Jason isn't unique enough for my tastes. If I change my name at all, it will be to something bizarre and foreign-sounding. Like J..."

Oh, I see. Steves aren't special enough for you. Tell me, do require the spotlight for all the arias? (In my experience you rarely have a diva named Steve.)

That said, I have to confess that Jaroslaw is a cool name. That's one I might envy.

Steve wrote: "That said, I have to confess that Jaroslaw is a cool name. That's one I might envy."

Isn't it? It is German!

s.penkevich wrote: "CAPSLOCK is cruise control for 'cool'."

AWESOME


....I loved this book when I first read it in about 1992 and reread it 3-4 times after that, but it's been a really long while and I'm a little afraid to go back for fear I won't like it as much.

THANKS, Moira!

I have books like that, too. The more jaded current me usually lets the memories of the more callow former me go unchallenged.

Urgh, that was what I was afraid of: the sledgehammer thaumaturgy. I've waffled on beginning this one several times. Wasn't sure how overwhelming the God/Christ allusions would be. Glad to hear it only lessened the impact instead of blunting it completely. Great review! Edit: Would you recommend this one or Garp as a first read?

Well thank you, Mark. Sounds like we both like our magic in nonaddictive doses. As for how to begin on Irving, I think either of the two you mentioned would be good. If anyone else on this comment thread is still monitoring, can you advise?