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Original poster

A prayer for Owen Meaney

28 replies

macnab · 17/07/2017 19:44

I've finally got round to reading this. I really loved the story, but hated the way it was written! I skim-read all the religious references (sooo many!) and didn't enjoy the endless biblical paraphrasing. But the essence of the story was fantastic. I'm now not sure if I'd recommend it or not. Im glad I persevered and made it to the end, im just disappointed in it overall.

What do others think?

OP posts:
dudsville · 17/07/2017 19:51

JI's earliest many novels were so enjoyable to me, and I loved this too. Not much of his later stuff interested me.

AgentProvocateur · 17/07/2017 19:49

I loved it. I read it over ten years ago, so I can't remember much of the detail (apart from "the thing that happens"), but I do remember reading it on holiday over a couple of days and feeling bereft when I'd finished it.

caprifun · 17/07/2017 19:48

I love it, i first read it in 2001 and have re-read twice. It made me want to seek out all of john irving's other books too. But I do get what you mean about the religious references. Have you read any others by john Irving? My other favourites are the cider house rules, a widow for a year and son of a circus, if you were after recommendations