Member Reviews

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  2 of 2 members found this review helpful.

  • Rated 2 stars

  “I was very disappointed with this novel, which was ruined by Irving's didactic politicism. As the narrator bangs the reader over the head with his anti-Vietnam tirades (you're preachin' to the choir here, mate) , the wonderful character of Owen nearly becomes collateral damage.”

  Tinky wrote this review Saturday, February 2 2008. ( reply | permalink )
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  • Rated 5 stars

  “One of my all time favorite books. I love the character of Owen Meany so much that I feel he is family.
  Heartwarming, funny, touching, good writing....all that a good book should be!”

  Karla S wrote this review 3 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink )
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  • Rated 4 stars

  “The first book I read by Irving was Garp. I still remember sitting with my book (on the train, I think) just blown away by some of the events of that book. I have read Irving with trepidation ever since.
  
  Irving made me wait until the very end for the scene that blew me away. I will say no more about that.
  
  I had no problem reading more than 600 pages. The story is intriguing; the narrator trustworthy; the story occasionally beyond my belief. However, most of the time, I could see the events of this book happening.
  
  My only quibble is the time period and that is not Irving's fault. How could he know the future? However, the narrator is very upset about current events (for him) and reading the book almost 20 years later makes that part dated.”

  Patty F wrote this review 3 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink )
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  • Rated 5 stars

  “I watched the movie adaptation of this book before I read it, and Simon Birch quickly became one of my favorite movies. I couldn't help comparing the book to the movie while I was reading it and at times was pleasantly surprised some of the dialog was exactly the same. The movie, of course, differs quite a lot from the book but towards the last half of the book I enjoyed learning about what happens to Owen that I didn't know about from the book. The movie makes me sob, and the books ending while all togethter different still brought a tear to my eye. Irving creates great characters and truly makes you care for them.”

  Brooke R wrote this review Monday, September 8 2008. ( reply | permalink )
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  • Rated 5 stars

  “This is another great John Irving. A scrawny kid with an annoying high pitched voice and his stuffed beaver....need I say more? John Irving has a vivid, extraordinarily wierd imagination.”

  SANDRA P wrote this review Saturday, September 6 2008. ( reply | permalink )
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  • Rated 5 stars

  “So OK. I've read a lot of books, seen a lot of movies, and never cried at either. But this book is the closest I've come to doing so. I defy anyone to read it and not be touched.”

  Grant S wrote this review Friday, September 5 2008. ( reply | permalink )
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  • Rated 5 stars

  “This book still holds steady as my favorite book ever and cemented John Irving as my favorite author. I liked Owen Meany so much I named my son Owen after him.”

  Bryan N wrote this review Thursday, August 28 2008. ( reply | permalink )
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  • Rated 5 stars

  “This is one of my most beloved novels. John Irving probably should have been edited better--it becomes a little too political in some parts. But the book as a whole builds and builds--it spans many years, and each chapter can serve as a unique entity on its own. Owen Meany is such a unique and refreshing character, and the voice of the narrator is compelling. ”

  Travis Thrasher wrote this review Tuesday, August 26 2008. ( reply | permalink )
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  • Rated 4 stars

  “Great book! It was tough at the beginning to keep reading but the ending it worth the trouble!”

  Diana T wrote this review Friday, August 22 2008. ( reply | permalink )