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Original poster

A Prayer for Owen Meany

28 replies

Demented · 23/03/2004 10:59

I was so looking forward to reading this book after the good write up it had on Mumsnet. I have got to about page 420 (630 ish pages in the book), I am so close but I don't know if I can take any more. Help!!!!!

I'm not saying the story isn't interesting, the characters are intriguing, I really do want to find out what happens to them all, the only thing is nothing terribly interesting seems to have happened in the book for ages and when something interesting does happen you get so little then it goes back to hum-drum again.

I know there are a few on MN who love Owen Meany, so please, without spoiling the plot encourage me to finish. Tell me I'm about to get to the bit where I can't put the book down!

OP posts:
CountessDracula · 23/03/2004 11:13

Oh god it's years since I've read it but I do remember getting to the end and thinking it was a truly brilliant book so KEEP GOING!!!

Frenchgirl · 23/03/2004 11:17

same here, I read it years ago and loved it, so keep with it, it is worth it!!

bundle · 23/03/2004 11:43

oh demented, i read Owen Meany years ago - possibly 10?? - and loved it, can't remember why though, and dh hated it with a vengeance. do try to finish it, I thought it was worth it definitely.

bran · 23/03/2004 11:49

It's a while since I read it, but I remember that all the threads that seemed a bit pointless at the time came together at the end of the book and it all suddenly made sense.

Original poster
Demented · 23/03/2004 18:41

I think bran sums it up "a bit pointless", I think that's the stage I've come to now. It does eventually come to something then? and It is worth it. It's such a thick book and I've come to the point that I am forcing myself to read about 4 pages a night, if it doesn't pick up soon I'll still be reading it this time next year!

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popsycal · 23/03/2004 19:30

oh please keep going - you absolutely have to
you won't 'get it' until the end then will want to re-read it immediately
well, I did anyway!
do keep going!
btw - where abouts are you up to at the moment?

popsycal · 23/03/2004 19:30

ps i have read it 7 times....

Evita · 23/03/2004 22:07

I'm searching around for a new read. What's this about roughly?

Original poster
Demented · 23/03/2004 23:00

I'll take your word for it Pops, seven times!!! If it's that good I won't be ebaying it straight after reading then. I have just read the bit with the VW beetle, which was fun, but I am now thinking, get to the point!!! Perhaps that is all in the plan, building the anticipation etc. You've certainly made me want to get up those stairs and open the book again.

Evita here is Owen Meany on Amazon, reviews etc.

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spacemonkey · 24/03/2004 00:05

get the quincunx and read that instead - it's fab!

jasper · 24/03/2004 00:19

warning you, I cried for twenty minutes at the end - proper heart rending out loud sobs.
What a book.

AussieSim · 24/03/2004 06:58

I read it in Nov/Dec 2002 and while I have read a lot of John Irving, what you describe happens to me during the course of all his books - BUT the end is always worthwhile. Please keep going!

ks · 24/03/2004 08:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

popsycal · 24/03/2004 08:34

if you don't enjoy it, you may enjoy another of his books more - the hotel new hampshire....a little more 'normal'

Original poster
Demented · 24/03/2004 19:49

Crying at the end, now that's a book, I'll keep going, love anything miserable to read!

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Original poster
Demented · 25/03/2004 10:06

Thanks everyone for the encouragement, I managed to read about 10 pages last night and think it may be picking up again.

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tallulah · 26/03/2004 21:31

If you can't take the book, it was filmed as Simon Birch & they have it in Blockbusters

popsycal · 26/03/2004 21:35

oh no!!!!!!!!!!!1 simon birch is nothing liek the book......
it ends totally differently!!!
a canny enough film but nothing liek the book!!!

Original poster
Demented · 02/04/2004 23:12

Finished!

I am sorry to say after having such high hopes it just didn't do it for me. I did feel slightly sad at the end but more relief that I had got to the end. As I said before everything was really interesting but didn't grip me.

Going to read The Lovely Bones next.

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Moomin · 03/04/2004 17:12

gosh Demented, now THERE's a book you'll sob your heart out to. I LOVED it, it's beautiful.
Funnily enough, I'm ploughing through Owen Meany at the moment. It's dh's fave book and he bought it me for Christmas. Quite enjoying it but it has been a bit hard to get into. Lovely Bones, however, I just HAD to read at every opportunity.

popsycal · 03/04/2004 19:24

sorry you didn't like it demented......
horses for courses and all that!

Hope that you like then next one better

if only i could get past the first chapter of ANY book!

Original poster
Demented · 04/04/2004 11:01

Started The Lovely Bones yesterday afternoon and am already a third of the way through (I am a sloooow reader so that is quite an achievement). Hooked from the first page. However I will say that after reading Life of Pi (which I loved) and Owen Meany I am finding the language etc of Lovely Bones very simplistic, although I suppose that is why it is so easy to read. Going to give a couple of easy reads a go before I attempt Brick Lane.

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popsycal · 04/04/2004 11:04

might try this one!
i like life of pi too!

Moomin · 13/05/2004 23:13

Ooo that's funny...
Has this thread gone onto the archive now? There were loads of comments about this before but they seem to have all gone....?!

Anyway, have finished reading this just this afternoon and I'm desperate to talk to someone about it. I thought it was WONDERFUL: soo painfully funny in places but with the constant reminder that we're hurtling(sp) along to a tragic ending and the reader is trying to piece this together as they go along. My heart was beating so fast when Johnny and Owen got to Phoenix airport on July 8th! I shed a few tears at the end but also feel like I'm in shock a bit - I'm trying to absorb everything at the moment. Sorry if this sounds melodramatic!
Fave funny bits: anything involving the cousins and Owen when they were younger; the Nativity and the Beetle on stage incident.
Anyone fancy giving me some feedback of their own?

popsycal · 13/05/2004 23:14

i will talk - have read it 7 times but not for 2 yeas though.......please talk!!!