tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31552114.post5850466156677100662..comments2024-03-28T20:58:09.810-07:00Comments on Musings of a Bookish Kitty: Bookish Thoughts: A Prayer for Owen Meany by John IrvingLiterary Felinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13079276242303738719noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31552114.post-28922546797045463292014-07-23T12:10:36.839-07:002014-07-23T12:10:36.839-07:00Joy - It does happen sometimes. There have been q...Joy - It does happen sometimes. There have been quite a few books I started out not sure about and ended up loving by the end. This obviously was not one of them. Maybe had it been shorter, it would have been less disappointing (that it took me so long to get into it). Literary Felinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13079276242303738719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31552114.post-65282428999600542062014-07-23T12:03:18.037-07:002014-07-23T12:03:18.037-07:00Thank you. I, too, have this book (and audiobook)...Thank you. I, too, have this book (and audiobook) - both of which have not called to me. I now have a sense of peace. I do not need to feel any angst about not getting to it. I don't want to waste my time reading over 1/2 a book before I get into it. Unfortunately that happens on occasion naturally. Thoughts of Joyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05572910467988997432noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31552114.post-27604412788432055092014-07-07T09:03:29.859-07:002014-07-07T09:03:29.859-07:00Naida - Yes, the movie and book were very differen...Naida - Yes, the movie and book were very different. I hope you like A Prayer for Owen Meany if you do read it! Literary Felinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13079276242303738719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31552114.post-82267963870505644402014-07-07T09:02:15.376-07:002014-07-07T09:02:15.376-07:00Carrie - I am glad you ended up loving it. This o...Carrie - I am glad you ended up loving it. This one just wasn't my cup of tea. Literary Felinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13079276242303738719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31552114.post-87192249210996055022014-07-06T06:28:40.610-07:002014-07-06T06:28:40.610-07:00Sorry you didn't enjoy this one more. I watche...Sorry you didn't enjoy this one more. I watched Simon Birch years ago and thought it was okay. It sounds like the two are very different. I've had this one on my wish list for years but I'm in no rush to get to it. <br />Thanks for the honest review!The Bookwormhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10217390642323530030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31552114.post-77325315789782391632014-07-04T12:22:20.356-07:002014-07-04T12:22:20.356-07:00Oh, no - I'm sorry this wasn't a hit for y...Oh, no - I'm sorry this wasn't a hit for you! I did love it, but I can see why the rambling style and political commentary might be a turn-off for some. Hopefully the next one you read along on will be better.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31552114.post-17034484793209742462014-07-04T08:54:45.598-07:002014-07-04T08:54:45.598-07:00Trish - There were definitely parts of the book I ...Trish - There were definitely parts of the book I liked. I think I liked Johnny more when he was a child and Owen more when he was an adult. :-) This would have been a fun one to read with a book group, I think. There was a lot worth discussing in it, I think.Literary Felinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13079276242303738719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31552114.post-71012791212066041422014-07-04T08:41:42.406-07:002014-07-04T08:41:42.406-07:00Stacy - Thanks for sharing the link to your review...Stacy - Thanks for sharing the link to your review. It sounds like we both were on the same page with this one. :-) Literary Felinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13079276242303738719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31552114.post-40320372949748378772014-07-04T07:16:53.925-07:002014-07-04T07:16:53.925-07:00I chose this one for my book club a few months ago...I chose this one for my book club a few months ago and while reading it was very sensitive to how I thought others might be feeling about the book. It did take me about halfway to really get into it and I knew that the other girls in my club were likely very bored--especially with Johnny as an adult. Oh those sections were so tiresome! I'm sorry that you didn't love this one but you're certainly not the only one!! It's one that I recommend with reservations. :-/Trish @ Love, Laughter, Insanityhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17225576485797030511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31552114.post-63997511543733918912014-07-02T19:01:52.679-07:002014-07-02T19:01:52.679-07:00Greeting from another non fan of this book. After ...Greeting from another non fan of this book. After reading your awesome review I went back to see what I had written when I read it a few years ago. I don't usually include links, but our thoughts were similar in so many ways and I also rated it a 2.5!<br />http://stacybuckeye.wordpress.com/2011/05/13/a-prayer-for-owen-meany-by-john-irving/stacybuckeyehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16811500448951042300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31552114.post-14072561353033688372014-07-01T10:45:42.442-07:002014-07-01T10:45:42.442-07:00Lexi - It seems like there are a lot more of us wh...Lexi - It seems like there are a lot more of us who didn't than I realized. It's good to know we are both not alone, isn't it? Whew! Literary Felinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13079276242303738719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31552114.post-51669392143804375462014-07-01T10:39:14.453-07:002014-07-01T10:39:14.453-07:00Melody - You should never feel bad about giving up...Melody - You should never feel bad about giving up on a book. Some books just don't work for some of us even though they worked for other readers. If you do pick it up again, I hope you like it better than I did. Literary Felinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13079276242303738719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31552114.post-73486990782707807772014-06-30T19:02:02.461-07:002014-06-30T19:02:02.461-07:00I didn't particularly care for the book, eithe...I didn't particularly care for the book, either. I think it was because of my own lack of faith and/or objection to organized religion. I did relate to some parts of it, but overall, it was not a book I loved. And I felt weird about it because I thought everyone else did. Glad to hear I'm not alone.Lexihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06867226903227387373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31552114.post-29279483486084999462014-06-30T18:05:34.553-07:002014-06-30T18:05:34.553-07:00Great review, Wendy!
I thought I was the odd one ...Great review, Wendy! <br />I thought I was the odd one out when I realized I was bored with the book. I didn't even finish the first third of it. And after that, I felt bad because I gave up on the book. I really was curious about the book though, since I'd read several raved reviews on it. I think I might pick it up again at some point. Melodyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03967837585961009598noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31552114.post-12401414824501138452014-06-30T11:05:34.460-07:002014-06-30T11:05:34.460-07:00Katherine - Hopefully when you read it, you will b...Katherine - Hopefully when you read it, you will be among those who love it. :-) Literary Felinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13079276242303738719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31552114.post-40896029472519616582014-06-30T10:57:38.743-07:002014-06-30T10:57:38.743-07:00I no longer feel quite as guilty for putting of re...I no longer feel quite as guilty for putting of reading it for as long as I have! I'll get to it eventually but I won't feel awful if I don't connect to this one like so many people seem too. Great review! It's hard being honest on a book that everyone seems to adore.Katherine Phttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12126062556416434416noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31552114.post-49179824486683527942014-06-30T10:55:46.220-07:002014-06-30T10:55:46.220-07:00Andi - Thank you! The all caps was annoying initi...Andi - Thank you! The all caps was annoying initially, but I figured I wouldn't hold it against the author since I knew it was a stylistic choice. :-) And it fit with Owen's character. I really wanted to love this book. It just wasn't meant to be, I guess.<br />Literary Felinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13079276242303738719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31552114.post-69996590631022806352014-06-30T10:53:23.959-07:002014-06-30T10:53:23.959-07:00Rita - I liked the movie when I first saw it too. ...Rita - I liked the movie when I first saw it too. I probably shouldn't have watched it again so soon after reading the book. <br /><br />It's nice to know I am not alone in not loving the book. I haven't tried anything else by Irving, but maybe at some point I will give his work another try.Literary Felinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13079276242303738719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31552114.post-70652127590121379882014-06-30T10:50:32.684-07:002014-06-30T10:50:32.684-07:00Jenclair - I wanted to like this one more and feel...Jenclair - I wanted to like this one more and feel bad that I didn't. The book is one that is often referred to as a "modern classic" so it's no wonder we feel this is one we "should" read. I'm still glad I read it, even if I was disappointed in it.Literary Felinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13079276242303738719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31552114.post-55651463169586269842014-06-30T10:12:05.078-07:002014-06-30T10:12:05.078-07:00Sorry this one didn't pan out so well for you....Sorry this one didn't pan out so well for you. I definitely questioned the slow plot as I was reading, and while I expected not to like Owen--ALL THE CAPS--I ended up falling totally in love with his quirkiness and struggles. I started and stopped this one long before I ever picked it up and finished it, and in general I find Irving's writing has to strike me while I'm in just the right mood. Great review of this one, Wendy!Andihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05220718933942181809noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31552114.post-76408660754043115022014-06-30T09:49:24.135-07:002014-06-30T09:49:24.135-07:00I understand he is a well-respected and talented a...I understand he is a well-respected and talented author and this is a beloved book, but I also did not finish it and no longer have the copy. I just felt...bored with the story, I guess..just my opinion, to those who loved it :) I did see Simon Birch and enjoyed the movie, so go figure. Thanks for a good and honest review!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31552114.post-23679056977657722842014-06-30T08:48:29.272-07:002014-06-30T08:48:29.272-07:00I've always thought I "should" read ...I've always thought I "should" read it, but never have. This was a great review with both the positives and negatives. I always like to connect with the characters...so that is a consideration.jenclairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06046532245054911248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31552114.post-70384817737064405292014-06-30T07:29:45.609-07:002014-06-30T07:29:45.609-07:00Kathy - You are definitely not alone. I am glad y...Kathy - You are definitely not alone. I am glad you loved it. It just didn't resonant with me for some reason.Literary Felinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13079276242303738719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31552114.post-84688868567470609012014-06-30T07:27:48.966-07:002014-06-30T07:27:48.966-07:00Athira - I should have listened to that feeling. ...Athira - I should have listened to that feeling. I guess, in a way, I'm glad I read it. I don't regret it. I should know better though than to push myself to read a book I feel meh about. Literary Felinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13079276242303738719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31552114.post-57862227133501699552014-06-30T07:16:22.270-07:002014-06-30T07:16:22.270-07:00Sandy - I was pleasantly surprised when I mentione...Sandy - I was pleasantly surprised when I mentioned in another post I was struggling with the book just how many people either couldn't finish it or didn't care for it either. I don't know if it was just a case of my expectations being too high because of all the love the book has gotten or what. I would like to read something else by Irving at some point. It just probably won't be soon. Literary Felinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13079276242303738719noreply@blogger.com