• A Prayer for Owen Meany

  • By: John Irving
  • Narrated by: Joe Barrett
  • Length: 27 hrs and 19 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (10,664 ratings)

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A Prayer for Owen Meany  By  cover art

A Prayer for Owen Meany

By: John Irving
Narrated by: Joe Barrett
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Publisher's summary

Earphones Award Winner (AudioFile Magazine)

Of all of John Irving's books, this is the one that lends itself best to audio. In print, Owen Meany's dialogue is set in capital letters; for this production, Irving himself selected Joe Barrett to deliver Meany's difficult voice as intended.

In the summer of 1953, two 11-year-old boys – best friends – are playing in a Little League baseball game in Gravesend, New Hampshire. One of the boys hits a foul ball that kills the other boy's mother. The boy who hits the ball doesn't believe in accidents; Owen Meany believes he is God's instrument. What happens to Owen after that 1953 foul ball is extraordinary and terrifying.

As an added bonus, when you purchase our Audible Modern Vanguard production of John Irving's book, you'll also get an exclusive Jim Atlas interview that begins when the audiobook ends.

Why we think it's a great listen: For 20 years, John Irving believed that his ambitious novel could never be adequately executed in audio – and then he met narrator Joe Barrett.... In the summer of 1953, two 11-year-old boys - best friends - are playing in a Little League baseball game in Gravesend, New Hampshire. One of the boys hits a foul ball that kills the other boy's mother. The boy who hits the ball doesn't believe in accidents; Owen Meany believes he is God's instrument.

This production is part of our Audible Modern Vanguard line, a collection of important works from groundbreaking authors.

©1989 Garp Enterprises Ltd (P)2008 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"This moving book comes across like a concerto in this audio version, with a soloist—Owen's voice—rising from the background of an orchestral narration. This book, one of the finest of its time, gets the narration that it deserves." ( AudioFile)
“John Irving, who writes novels in the unglamorous but effective way Babe Ruth used to hit home runs, deserves a medal not only for writing this book but for the way he has written it. . . . A Prayer for Owen Meany is a rare creation in the somehow exhausted world of late twentieth-century fiction—it is an amazingly brave piece of work . . . so extraordinary, so original, and so enriching. . . . Readers will come to the end feeling sorry to leave [this] richly textured and carefully wrought world.” (Stephen King)
"Roomy, intelligent, exhilarating, and darkly comic...Dickensian in scope....Quite stunning and very ambitious." ( Los Angeles Times Book Review)

Editor's Pick

They said it couldn’t be done in audio. Wrong!
"I read A Prayer for Owen Meany when it published in 1989. For (almost) my entire career in audio, I couldn’t recommend a performance of the audiobook; other publishers thought the distinctive VOICE of Owen Meany to be impossible to render in our format. Joe Barrett proves them wrong. I highly (and at long last) recommend Joe Barrett’s narration of the humor and heartbreak in this epic coming-of-age story."
Christina H., Audible Editor

What listeners say about A Prayer for Owen Meany

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One of my all time favorite books!

This is an all-time favorite book of mine. I can listen to it over and over. That is very rare!

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A favorite book an admirable recitation

I've read A Prayer For Owen Meany twice in the past 20 years. I chose it as my first audible book as a sort of test: could such a wonderful book translate into a "read aloud" format? Could the voice of "THE VOICE" be accurately transposed from the one that Irving had created in my mind's ear? The readers did an excellent job.
I did find the pace of the reading a bit slow and I opted to increase the reading speed to 1.25 which worked better.

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Can't get it out of my head

What did you like best about this story?

Loved this book, a must read (listen)! Although I finished it several weeks ago, I can't get it out of my head. I always think about the characters, which is a testament to the quality of the writing. I will be listening to it again one day soon.

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One of the Best

Would you listen to A Prayer for Owen Meany again? Why?

Yes I'd listen to this again because the story is great and because the narrator does a wonderful job.

Which character – as performed by Joe Barrett – was your favorite?

Obviously, Owen.

Any additional comments?

Highly recommend this audio book!

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A fabulous story

John Irving has written a masterpiece in this fictional depiction of Owen Meany. Owen ,although diminutive in stature is a gigantic character in the lives he touched. I did not expect to be able to stand the voice of Owen Meany however, Joe Barrett was the perfect narrator to convey Owen's depth and intellect when "the voice" could have suggested retardation or minimal awareness. Owen Meany is a profound character and friend. This story is delightful with turns and surprises the reader cannot see coming

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The best

This is one of the best books I've 'read' and is the best performance I have heard. It will stay with you long after you have finished it.

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Great Narration.

Always enjoy a good John Irving novel and this was one. Narrator did an excellent job especially with the Owen Meant character.

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An amazing book and listen!

John Irving's stories are filled with odd, quirky characters. And this book brings the quirkiest together for this story. Even better, Joe Barrett brings the characters to life, especially his voice for Owen. One of the better books I've listened to this year and I can easily recommend this one.

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Great literature, remarkable performance by Joe Barrett

A Prayer for Owen Meany is a profound work of literature. Owen is a unique character creation. All of the characters are fully developed and memorable, from the mother of Owen’s best friend, who tells us the story, to a minister who speaks without an understanding of punctuation. All of this is brought to life by Joe Barrett in a performance that will echo in my ears for years to come. The scope of this work is remarkable. From comic scenes evoked laughter that disturbed innocent bystanders, to addressing serious philosophical question, to tragedy. Barrett turns a masterpiece of literature into a virtuoso theatrical event. Few audio books can compare to the combination of Barrett and Irving

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What a wonderful book.

This is one of my favorite books of all time. It beautifully written, a great coming to age story and just enough heart and humor to make it an American classic. John Irving at his best.

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