A Prayer for Owen Meany

By: John Irving

Narrated by: Joe Barrett

Length: 27 hrs and 19 mins

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)

I didn't want it to end

If you could sum up A Prayer for Owen Meany in three words, what would they be?

This book ranks up there alone with The Story of Edgar Sawtelle and The Kite Runners as one of those books that I couldn't put down but that was so good I didn't want to end,, either. Lovely story, all tied together at the end. I usually listen to mysteries, but occasionally venture out into pure fiction. A great story.

What did you like best about this story?

everything

What about Joe Barrett’s performance did you like?

remarkable, especially switching between Owen's voice and the main character's voice.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

all of it combined.

Any additional comments?

everyone should listen to this.

Long, but worth it

If you weren't a John Irving fan before, you will be after listening to this book. It is long and sometimes tedious (listening to the voice of Owen can get on one's nerves) but in my opinion it is a classic.

One of the best books I have ever experienced

I was late coming to this book. It was amazingly written and the reader was stellar. I immediately wanted to listen again.

excellent

I often wanted to read this book and finally did it. the narrator was superb and the descriptive writing was wonderful.

Great Book

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Allowed me to immerse myself in the book - because it was long, it was meditative. Loved it and enjoyed it throughly.

What did you like best about this story?

The unexpected ending, the development of the characters, and the language.

What about Joe Barrett’s performance did you like?

Fantastic voice

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It made me laugh and cry at different parts. Covered the full spectrum.

Beautiful story, excellent narration

I was daunted by the length of the audiobook at first, but once I started listening, I was hooked! The characters are incredibly well-written and the narrator does an absolutely fantastic job of bringing them to life. Joe Barrett is officially my favorite narrator! The interview with John Irving at the end is fascinating. I cannot recommend this audiobook enough!

Best narration ever!

I was leery about listening to this classic because the characters’ voices are so clear in my head. But Joe Barrett does an exceptional job of bringing them to life. He cemented this book as one of the all-time greats.

A colloquial history of America 1958 -1987 ish

As an Australian born at around the same time as Owen Meany, this book filled in much of what television and news failed to depict about America as I was growing up. The history of religious attitudes and political leanings, social mores and community attitudes kept me interested and listening. I must admit that it took me a while to warm to Owens "voice" and it was only on my second attempt that I was able to accept that Owens' Adams apple was fixed and he had to sound the way he did and I needed to be tolerant, non judgmental and open to his sensibility and intelligence.

The friendship and love that is related in this story is wonderful.

The political leanings, particularly regarding Nixon and Reagan, gave me hope that the USA has a collection of people who really do understand the nature of politics in their country. I truly hope that this book will encourage voters to VOTE. In Australia, voting is compulsory and it seems abhorrent to me that the USA does not adopt this fundamental piece of democratic process, so that a leader can be elected by ALL the people, even those who feel powerless to make a difference.

What a read!

This has become one of my favorite books. I particularly enjoyed the depth of each character and their relationships.

great story

not sure why I hadn't discovered it before now. good from the beginning to end