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  • A Prayer for Owen Meany

  • By: John Irving
  • Narrated by: Joe Barrett
  • Length: 27 hrs and 19 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (118 ratings)

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A Prayer for Owen Meany

By: John Irving
Narrated by: Joe Barrett
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AUD $16.45/mo after 2 months. Renews automatically. Cancel anytime.

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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.

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Critic Reviews

“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)
"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)

What listeners say about A Prayer for Owen Meany

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Out-standing novel!

Any additional comments?

I listened to this book approximately two years ago ( I have decided to review books since the Aussie site is a little bereft of reviews compared to the USA site which I formerly belonged to) and I have to say that this is my favourite audio book to date. It was highly entertaining and hard to stop listening to.Despite the length, I am going to listen to this again because it made me laugh and it also made me sad in parts and I feel it taught me a lot about life at times.I just loved the narrator's voice also!

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4 people found this helpful

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Brilliant!

This compelling and moving story of faith, friendship and American politics in the 1950s and 60s kept me intrigued from beginning to end. Each event that occurs is important as the story unfolds, and the clever way everything is ultimately linked makes for a very satisfying conclusion.

Joe Barrett's narration is nothing short of superb. All characters, both male and female, are so well represented, but especially the voice of Owen Meany which I had expected to find irritating, but instead found quite appealing.

It's a long book - 26 hours - but I couldn't stop listening to it. Usually I listen to audiobooks when out on my morning walk, but in the end I sat in a chair and listened for hours, and then was sorry when it ended.

There is a very interesting 25 minute interview with John Irving at the end which throws light on his writing process, and also gives further insight into the two main characters in ways I hadn't considered.

I thoroughly recommend A Prayer For Owen Meany and will definitely be trying other books by John Irving on the strength of this.

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4 people found this helpful

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Near Perfect

This has been my favourite book since I first read it years ago. The audiobook has increased my love of this wonderful tragic novel. The narration was nearly perfect. That's only because I can't imagine anyone doing justice to Owen's voice. But this is as close as you can get. Warning - do not listen to the last chapter while driving. I knew the ending and still had to pull over.

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3 people found this helpful

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Top Read Ever

Any additional comments?

This book is wonderful. Owen earns a place in my heart for ever. The narration is superb, especially Owen's voice which is something you wouldn't get in print. I strongly recommend this book.

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A wealth of characters

This is a truly great story. Although the plot makes its way down a certain track nothing will prepare you for the revelations that unfold.

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A Thought Provoking Read .

I'll be ruminating on this book for a very long time. There are many levels to this story and many many aha moments. I can't wait to read more John Irving books. What a pity Audible hasn't more John Irving books.

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1 person found this helpful

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Favourite book, beautiful performance.

I read this book for the first time more than 25 years ago.

All this time later it is still a beautiful story with an ending that makes me cry. The audio book does a wonderful job of bringing the characters to life, even Owen Meaney's ALL CAPS DIALOGUE. Brilliant job by the narrator.

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Faith for the Faithless

wonderful story of friendship between two very different boys growing up. their trials and tribulations are explored in great detail and paint an exhilarating portrait of life in USA in the 50s and 60s. Owen's unique character and prophecy alluded to throughout the novel , comes to a tragic but disturbingly satisfactory end. Great story and a tremendous read.

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  • Joy
  • 30-01-2024

Unforgettable!

I liked everything about it. Owen's voice was appropriate but too loud in the middle of the night!

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I never knew

I had seen the movie of Ciderhouse Rules but I didn't know the author. Audible put Prayer on specia sol I listened to a sample and was hooked. What stands out the most for me is the depth of characterisation. we know why they did what they did and being consistent we sometimes know how they eill act next. And did I salute the plot? it's a story worth telling and huge insights into the mind of USA esp about the Vietnam war. it's a jigsaw but the pieces fit perfectly. Superb narration.

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