A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving- DISCUSSION

[AntiArbitrator]

A Prayer for Owen Meany was the seventh published novel by American writer John Irving. Published in 1989, it tells the story of John Wheelwright and his best friend Owen Meany growing up together in a small New England town during the 1950 and 1960s. Owen is a remarkable boy in many ways; he believes himself to be God's instrument and journeys on a truly extraordinary path.

Enjoy!

[gilmorefanalways]

I'm a few pages in 10 to be exact and here's a few things ive been thinking as Ive read first I like Irving's writing style he is making me feel part of the story not a lot of authors can do that. So far in the few pages ive read I get the impression I'm at the threshold of a story that will be one of the best I have read or will ever read. Its been too long since ive found a book to make me feel this way.
A few other tidbits
I like the way he explains his faith
"I have a church-rummage faith the kind that needs patching up every weekend." I feel this is the most realistic description ive ever heard. The most honest.

And another
"How could I have known Owen was a hero?"
Here I feel Irving summed up in nine words what would take any other a lifetime perhaps to put words to, often in life the people we overuse and underappreciate turn out to be our heroes in some way.

And finally
I feel, perhaps I am wrong, but I feel maybe there's a slight foreshadowing with the description of the granite cutters.

[gilmorefanalways]

Hmm I'm curious with all the disparaging remarks and thoughts concerning the meany 's on behalf of Harriet wheelwright and the refusal to speak of our narrators father I'm beginning to wonder if perhaps the mother had been raped by a member from the meany family and perhaps harriet found out and that's the cause for all the negativity

[Mistermoonlight]

Yes, I agree with you Jen. I'll bet the first thing most people think about the word 'granite' is its use as a headstone in a graveyard.

And what about the name of that town, too? Gravesend. Sounds like a name from a Stephen King story, doesn't it?

Your comment about John's grandmother looking down on the Meany family provides a nice juxtaposition to the image we see of the boys lifting Owen up in the air, so that he is above them.

"He weighed almost nothing," is in contrast to the incredible weight and meaning his life has on John, the narrator, as you can tell from the first few sentences of the novel.

We see an act of grace (a very humorous one, to me) even from John's grandmother, who when her maid loses a leg to cancer, promptly moves her into the house, and hires two maids, one to take care of Lydia.

Owen is a mighty opinionated little boy, for ten years old, isn't he? And it's easy to see how John's mother, Tabitha loves him, and how much he loves, practically worships her (he'd take offense at my choice of words, there. Even I'm teasing Owen Meany now. Shame on me.)

The humor in this book is often subtle, and I love that. For example, when John's grandmother has lost most of her mental faculties and says "What has happened to tipping the hat? Bring back the bow! Bring back the curtsy!" John dutifully replies, "Yes, grandmother."

[Watchtower]

I like Irving's writing style. It seems to pull you into the story. Owen does seem to be very opinionated for his age.

Perhaps I will have more to say as we read more of the story.

I'm hoping to get the actual book soon.

[gilmorefanalways]

Moon you are right it does sound like a name Stephen king would come up with

[gilmorefanalways]

The way owen is written about leads me to believe something happened to him something fatal

[gilmorefanalways]

And then owens exclamations after the swimming incident, is he foreshadowing his death at their hands one can only wonder
Maybe something happens to Owen that any one of them could have helped but d something internal with them deprives Owen of hisjust rescue

[Mistermoonlight]

Dec 9, 2012 13:43:34 GMT -5 gilmorefanalways said:

The way owen is written about leads me to believe something happened to him something fatal

We will learn more about Owen's belief in predestination, and, that he is an instrument of God's will, in chapter 2.

[Mistermoonlight]

Dec 9, 2012 14:10:40 GMT -5 gilmorefanalways said:

And then owens exclamations after the swimming incident, is he foreshadowing his death at their hands one can only wonder
Maybe something happens to Owen that any one of them could have helped but d something internal with them deprives Owen of hisjust rescue

Good guess, but I can tell you that this is not the case.

[Mistermoonlight]

I hate to say it, but I may not last that long. Had to get up for work at 6 am today, and am beginning to fade already. I'll try, though.

If not, I've got comments on the first chapter up.

[gilmorefanalways]

That's just as well I'm extremely tired as well worked 13hours straight yesterday

[gilmorefanalways]

Well looks as though i fell asleep I'm sorry guys.

My thoughts so far I'm anxious for the story to get fully going I'm excited and nervous to see what happens to Owen. As ice said i can tell just by irvings writing this will be a great novel.
Moon is there a movie?

[Mistermoonlight]

Yes, and it's wonderful.

The movie's title is Simon Birch, and the reason it has a different name is that they only used the first half of the book. Irving thought the difference significant enough that he didn't want to confuse people, and so, asked that it be given a different name.

[avp60685]

I have finished the first two pages and it is going pretty well since the writing style is easy to follow, I know that some of my students in my Sunday School class are small for their age and have been picked on about that but I always remind them that they are all special and I am glad to have them in my class.

Owen seems to be a sweet person and he reminds of me with his baseball card collection because I have lot of baseball cards I have collected over the years. I will keep you guys posted on what I think after I finish up the rest of this. Since my version isn't divided up into chapters I have to find a stopping point so that I don't get too far ahead or even fall behind either!

[AntiArbitrator]

Owen’s skin was described as translucent like a pearl. That made me think that his coloration indicates he is precious. It also reminded me of pictures of cherubs that I saw long ago. There would be sun rays highlighting them and their skin was pale to the point of being translucent. The narrator made certain there would be no way of ignoring the importance of Owen’s words by putting them in all caps. His voice is described as strange, cartoon, and a voice that would bring murdered mice back to life. I would think most people would gape at the sound, but Grandmother Wheelwright was the only one who hated his voice and most people did not mind.

There is a contrast between Owen’s delicate appearance and his strength of character as indicated by his insistence that they should have stopped and helped the stranger who was struggling with roofing shingles. Also, it struck me as relevant that when Owen is about to make a difference, he is able to do something he ordinarily is unable to do. When he told John God knows who his father is, he was for the first time able to skip the rock across the water. Then, he was able to hit the baseball very hard, and made a big difference in people’s lives.

[Mistermoonlight]

Dec 10, 2012 18:54:16 GMT -5 AntiArbitrator said:

Owen’s skin was described as translucent like a pearl. That made me think that his coloration indicates he is precious. It also reminded me of pictures of cherubs that I saw long ago. There would be sun rays highlighting them and their skin was pale to the point of being translucent. The narrator made certain there would be no way of ignoring the importance of Owen’s words by putting them in all caps. His voice is described as strange, cartoon, and a voice that would bring murdered mice back to life. I would think most people would gape at the sound, but Grandmother Wheelwright was the only one who hated his voice and most people did not mind.

There is a contrast between Owen’s delicate appearance and his strength of character as indicated by his insistence that they should have stopped and helped the stranger who was struggling with roofing shingles. Also, it struck me as relevant that when Owen is about to make a difference, he is able to do something he ordinarily is unable to do. When he told John God knows who his father is, he was for the first time able to skip the rock across the water. Then, he was able to hit the baseball very hard, and made a big difference in people’s lives.

Those who claim to have seen angels often describe them as translucent.

Leonard Cohen, in his song Anthem says 'There's a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in." In the translucent there's no need for a crack. The light comes right through.

I love the way Irving gives this unusual voice its power in using all caps. You can't ignore it.

I loved that Owen noticed the man needed help and mentioned it so insistently. Owen seems to know much more than he should know at his age. Even then he is attuned to the needs of others.

In my own life I think of my brother, who struggled with his identity and who he was until he reached his thirties. I knew who I was from the moment of my first memory. But that realization of self was not turned outwards until much later in my life.

Owen knows who he is, and it's often sad to us that he knows so much at such an early age, but there is something inside him that tells us he knows more. On the other hand, he sees limitations that others, like John's mother, do not see.

At this point he's just a little boy, growing up. But we can already see that there is something singular about him.

Great point about his ability to step beyond his limitations when he is about to make a difference. I'd never caught that before.

Thank you, Anti.

[AntiArbitrator]

I am really enjoy the discussion about Owen.

MisterMoonlight, would you please elaborate a little more on the following? I might have overlooked something.

On the other hand, he sees limitations that others, like John's mother, do not see.

John's mother is an interesting character. On the surface, she seems to be a very modest person, but if we look closely, she is determined to do whatever she chooses regardless of what others want. For me, that became clear when she was so focused on her desire for Owen to go to the boarding school that Owen's desire to help someone did not register with her.

[Mistermoonlight]

The point I'm referring to is when Owen keeps saying that his going to the academy 'WON'T WORK' and that places like that aren't those that people like him can hope for.

Tabby replies that it will all be taken care of, even if she has to kidnap him. That he shouldn't worry about anything. And, of course, being Owen, he still does.

[AntiArbitrator]

Dec 11, 2012 11:37:13 GMT -5 Mistermoonlight said:

The point I'm referring to is when Owen keeps saying that his going to the academy 'WON'T WORK' and that places like that aren't those that people like him can hope for.

Tabby replies that it will all be taken care of, even if she has to kidnap him. That he shouldn't worry about anything. And, of course, being Owen, he still does.

I recall that clearly now.

[Mistermoonlight]

Ok, folks, we need to set a definite time to meet as a group for our discussions, I think. It's so much more fun that way.

I can't do mornings or middays, but am available late afternoons (say 6pm eastern) into evenings all days of the week.

[Watchtower]

I finally got my book!

I can do evenings. I'm usually always free, so evenings are fine.

[AntiArbitrator]

Evenings are fine with me also.

[avp60685]

Most evenings are open for me except for Fridays!

[gilmorefanalways]

Ok how bout Saturdays at six pm

[gilmorefanalways]

Looks like almost every one is here

[gilmorefanalways]

Where is everyone in the novel

[Mistermoonlight]

I'm here. Are we gonna do Owen tonight?

I'm into chapter 3.

[Watchtower]

I'm only on chapter two. I didn't know what chapters we were to read and I didn't know when we were going to meet.

[Mistermoonlight]

Tell ya what, why don't you post some stuff about where you are in chapter two, and we'll fall in with our discussion about what's happened so far?