A Prayer for Owen Meany

De: John Irving

Narrado por: Joe Barrett

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.

Reseñas de la Crítica

"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)

Outstanding

I listen to a lot of books while i drive my roadtrain in Western Australia, it keeps me going through the long nights. When I got this book I was a little concerned with its length and seemingly lack of interest in the plot etc.. Well all I can say is the narrator was fantastic and the story was great, quite often i wanted to sit in my truck after arriving at my destination after a 12 hour shift to listen to a bit more.

FAITH

Like quick sand, every chapter creates a mystery that pulls the listener deeper into the story.
Why is Owen Meany???s voice so high pitched and single noted? Who is the ???lady in red???? Who is Owen Meany???s illegitimate friend???s father? Why do the main characters keep practicing ???the shot???? What is Owen Meany???s recurring dream? Right foot, left foot, body, and brain; soon you are consumed by Irving's mysteries.
Joe Barrett???s spoken presentation is terrific because it enhances the written meaning of the story. James Atlas precedes the narration with an interview of John Irving, the author. The Atlas??? interview sets the table for what you are about to hear.
Irving writes a story about growing up in Anywhere, America where the pious are weak, the rich are intimidating and the children are indulged. It is an age like today with ministers preaching and not believing, parents teaching right and doing wrong, and children maturing physically and wasting mentally. Owen Meany is an exception, as this story tells the listener.
Owen Meany is modeled like the little man in The Tin Drum, a book about a dwarf like German citizen observing the beginning, progress, and ending of the WWII German tragedy. Owen Meany is a stunted American citizen living at the beginning of an evolving Vietnam American tragedy.
The subject of Vietnam is generally understood as an American disaster. It earned its American anti war rebellion. Irving???s story crystallizes the anxiety and frustration of that time. He offers an answer to what we can do when we become anxious and frustrated about things that seem beyond our control. It is not an easy path but redemption for atrocity begins with people of faith who see reality, have an inner morale compass, and act with a relentless commitment to stop senseless acts of war.

Spectacular

This was one of the best books I have ever listened to. Owen Meany has stolen my heart.

My fourth time through the book...

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

Yes. I read the print version once, and the audio version 3 times.

What about Joe Barrett’s performance did you like?

His New Hampshire accent and his voicing of Owen Meany was spot on.

If you could take any character from A Prayer for Owen Meany out to dinner, who would it be and why?

Owen, of course.

Any additional comments?

I was motivated to write this review becuase it seemed to me that a huge percentage of the negative reviews on Audible were from people who had not finished the book. I remember being slightly amused but mostly underwhelmed my first time through the book -- until I got to the end. At that point, my reaction was "My God, what did I just read!?!?" Its a book that seems to have a bunch of rambling plotlines and strange symbolism that are all tied together in the final scenes. Yes, it does have a strong emphasis on Christian theology (although gleefully irreverent at times), which I can see might not be appealing to those without that background. Nevertheless, its one of those books that I think really can't be appreciated fully until your second reading, certainly not at all before you've finished it at least once.

great book

Would you consider the audio edition of A Prayer for Owen Meany to be better than the print version?

I considered reading this book some years ago but couldn't get into the premise of a little leaguer's foul ball killing the mother of his best friend and how it affected their lives. For some reason I was ready for it now. I know John is a great writer and this is a great book. If you grew up in the Vietnam era or are interested in a book with that in the background of two kids growing up in New Hampshire, you'll like this book. It's an intellectual, thought provoking story.

I love John Irving and Owen Meany!

Where does A Prayer for Owen Meany rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

One of the very best! The narrator was delightful and got Owen's and Grandmother's voices just right. I still get the goosebumps when I hear him.

What did you like best about this story?

The character development was engrossing. In the beginning I disliked Owen, then I almost hated him, but then as I understood what his life was like and what his beliefs were, I was overcome with love for him. Just like Hester, the molester!

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

Owen Meany was the most complex character I can ever remember. Joe Barrett was wonderful in giving the "Voice", voice. I don't think I have ever listened to another of Joe Barrett's works but I will look for more now.

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

The ending where everything Owen believed in is put on the line and he doesn't disappoint. It made me cry!

Any additional comments?

This is a wonderful book and now that I have rediscovered John Irving I will read them all! (I haven't read any of his works since "The World According to Garp" which I loved too.

Worth the Investment in Time

It is always difficult to commit to a book with 27 hours of audio time. This alone has been too much for some, gauging from the reviews. But if you are looking to commit to something, here's a suitable candidate. It is long, and the narrative can be draining, but the story is so good that the end justifies these means. It's all about the story.
I guess I read this for two reasons. First, I loved GARP. Secondly, the blurb grabbed me - two eleven year old boys, the best of friends. One, the awkward one, strikes the ball of his life and the baseball kills his best friend's beautiful mother (in my mind, January Jones in case someone is casting for the film). But the friendship endures. In fact it grows. As it does, it captures the loss of a generation (the Vietnam generation) in a critical way that won't please Democrats and Republicans alike. For me, the book delivered on the promise of the blurb and my expectation from GARP.
I could write about this forever, but this is a review. I will content myself with saying that Irving lives up to his statement (in the accompanying audio interview) that he knew the end from the start. Anyone who gives away the end should be summarily shot! On this subject, I strongly suggest you do not listen to the interview until you have heard the end.
Something briefly about the performance then; great comes to mind. Barret does an outstanding job. Perhaps it deserves 4.5 stars. His Owen is perfect - a hint of Jerry Lewis in the Martin and Lewis years. I loved his Harriet Wheelwright too; I thought a bit of Fr Mulchaey from Mash, the TV series! Hester the Molester too was wonderfully rendered and Johnny Wheelwright was so well done that at times (in his Canadian incarnation) you positively wanted to strangle him although you loved him.
All in all, the best first read I have had this year. I wholly endorse this investment.

Still Haunts Me a Little

What did you love best about A Prayer for Owen Meany?

The naration of this book is perfect. I have even told friends who would prefer to read the book, that they must listen to a snipet of the audio version first so that they can know Owen's voice!

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

This isn't a book that you can listen to in one sitting because of its length, and it does at times feel long and drawn out, so you will probably appreciate a break. However, you must come back for more!!

Any additional comments?

I sometimes wondered why the story was so long and where it was going - basically I felt occassionlly impatient, but that said, I was completely drawn into Owen Meanys world. If Owen wasn't the main charater in a chapter I couldn't wait for him to reappear. It has been months now since I have heard this book but I can remember all the characters as if they were real people and I still feel a little heart broken whenever I think about this book - in a good way! Why it touched me so much I have not been able to fathom!!!

Never thought I would say "Couldn't Put it Down"

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

Thoughtful, heart breaking, engaging.

What did you like best about this story?

I liked the scene/time changing, fluctuation; the effect of knowing the end or outcome of situations and later getting all the backstory. This method of story telling engages my brain and kept me fresh and interested throughout this lengthy book (it never seemed long). This was the story of Owen's life, but also the story many other characters who were well developed. In many ways it is the story of America in the 1950/60s. The author developed such a range of ideas, morals, generational differences and similarities, so it is difficult to figure out what I liked best.The reader is given reasons and resolutions to many things that happen, but is also left with enough questions that the story and characters continue to populate the mind.This book may cause the reader who was around during that time to take another look at what happened then and since then. The younger reader may get a different perspective not found in text book histories.

What about Joe Barrett’s performance did you like?

The best thing about the performance was Owen's voice. But overall the voice, the emotion, the pauses at the correct moment, all were fantastic.

Any additional comments?

I found this book on a list suggested for a high school class and think it is an excellent choice for young adult readers. But there is so much depth to the characters and story, that readers of all ages will enjoy it and learn from it. Readers who experienced the 1950/60s will find a lot to like and to dislike in the tale; and see some truths they may have missed while "living through it".

Wonderful story, excellent narrator

This is my second John Irving book and I loved it. A Prayer for Owen Meany worked its way into my heart and I wished the book would continue forever. Joe Barrett's narration made the story come alive for me, giving Owen a depth of character I'm sure I would have missed in print.

This is a story of two best friends, one who believes he's been sent by God to do something important. There is some wonderful theology and critisim of organized religion sprinkled throughout, but not to the point of turning off a non-Christian reader. I did find myself questioning some long held beliefs because of Irving's characters.

This book is easy to listen to, easy to pick up after an absence and enjoy again. It will make you laugh, cry and think. In the end, it might even make you take a second look at your own life and I suspect that was Owen's gift after all.