This has to be one of the best stories ever written. It is funny. A true delight and had me in tears from laughing so hard

This is, without a doubt, one of my favorite John Irving stories. The characters are endearing and the plot has many unexpected moments.

When I started reading A PRAYER FOR OWEN MEANY I liked it. In the beginning, it showed a lot of promise for becoming a good book. But as I read on, it seemed to go downhill. I liked the part of the story when Joe and Owen were young, but when Owen became a smoker who slept with his best friend's cousin, I began to lose intrest. I also thought the referrals to President Reagan were boring and pointless. Although, some parts of the book did make me laugh. Like when Owen wet his pants, and when he moved a car into he auditorium. All in all, I would not read this book again, or recommend it to someone. I just don't think it's worth all the effortthe reader has to put into it.

Several times, I've seen people compare John Irving to Charles Dickens. This could not be further from the truth. Dickens wrote in a way that allows the reader to make his/her own discoveries about a character through patient, nuanced prose that is in no sense self-aware. Irving, in contrast, like so many popular contemporary authors, draws such conclusions for the reader, telling him/her exactly what to think. If I had the book with me, I'd dig up an example passage, but I'm talking about things like, "He was one of those people who has property X."To make matters worse, the narration from Canada was out of place and exceedingly awkward, and it even weakened the already ruined novel.Recommended for light entertainment only, and even that only for those who do not mind prose that is blatantly self-conscious.

I've always loved JI since Garp but for some reason haven't gotten around to reading more of his novels till now. Glad I picked it up. JW is the perfect narrator for this moving novel about a young boy/man who alters the lives of everyone he meets by the sheer power of his personality. Other reviewers have done a fine job describing the general meaning of the novel. The charachters are life like and JI's abnormal insight into the human character makes this novel an absolute joy. It's also a bit of a mystery novel where you know the ending but don't know how you'll get there.I would give OM five stars but I know this novel is destined to be a part of high school required reading for years to come and no doubt stuffy teachers will take the joy out of the book.

I read this book about 15 years ago while I was in Hawaii.I remember not going out of the room one day so I could finish it..It left a big impression on me..I just downloaded the ebook so I could reread it because I remember the feeling when I finished it..I have forgotten some of it and want to see how I feel this many years later. I haven't reread it yet because I am finishing up a couple of other books, but I'm really looking forward to it again..I highly recommend it to anyone.!!! An astounding book...