Thank God for Owen Meany
October 4th 2007 09:36
Image: fantasticfiction.com
What can you say about Owen Meany that hasn’t been said? Well, our book group found plenty to say … whether it’s been said before means little. We had a great discussion about a very unique book!
John Irving’s A Prayer for Owen Meany centres on two boys growing up in New Hampshire during the 50’s, John Wheelwright and his best friend, Owen Meany. During the course of the story, yes, they do grow up and yes, it includes loss, religion, social structures, a good dollop of humour and an all consuming drive to the story’s conclusion. Everything that makes a good book discussion. But this is not just a coming of age story – it covers much more – the trick is, finding exactly what Irving is saying here.
The character of Owen Meany is by far one of the most memorable you will come across in the pages of fiction, we all agreed on that. Some of us concluded that maybe his non-conformity made Owen so special, but I feel that simplifies him a little too much. The power of Owen is not just written into this book, it is weaved and deeply entrenched (very cleverly, I might add) until Owen becomes the book.
When I asked everyone what they thought this book was about, I got the answers I expected … politics and religion (Americans often marry these two), and certainly they are strong themes. We’re talking the Vietnam War here and, as in his other books, Irving is not shy about hoisting his flag of belief.
But I found something more in Owen. Something more than an elf of a boy with a squeaky voice, which is how Irving introduces Owen – “I am doomed to remember a boy with a wrecked voice, not because of his voice, or because he was the smallest person I ever knew …”
Owen Meany is one of those rare individuals who knows exactly who he is and where he is going, and why. His influence on the book’s other characters is a story in itself as we watch Owen careen towards his inevitable end.
Do these special people exist, and we just don’t recognize them … lost to us in our shallow, self-serving world?
I don’t really know, but thank goodness for authors such as Irving who breathe life into characters such as Owen and truly make us think on another level – at least for awhile.
Postscript : In 1998 a film titled ‘Simon Birch’, loosely based on A Prayer for Owen Meany, was released. John Irving refused to allow the Owen Meany name to be associated with it.
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Comment by katyzzz
Photography Tips
MS Paint Art
I used to attend the Great Books Group, intermittently, at UNSW, but I wasn't a regular, too many other commitments out there but I loved going all the same even though most times I was not familiar with the authors and had not read the books, no time.
There were a lot of very committed people out there. We had some great guest speakers from within UNSW, from various faculties and many from Sydney University as well.
A lot or retired academics attended and I felt in good company.
I'd be most reluctant to attend a local group who would not cover the depth of content I require but your brilliant little piece has inspired me.
katyzzz...pity about the movie "pinch"
Comment by Joanne
Open Book
There are some good book groups out there, not always easy to find though. Keep up the search - or find some like minded people and start your own.
Book club questions for discussion are readily available nowadays, (even written in the back of books!) but I would suggest staying away from these. They usually deal with the obvious. I have found ordinary books with ordinary questions which can provide a good discussion just by find your own emphasis or theme. And let's face it, like art every book gives every reader something different.