“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, or even because he was the instrument of my mother’s death, but because he was the reason I believe in God; I am a Christian because of Owen Meany.” In the summer of 1953, two eleven-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.
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Informations
Genre
Fiction
Published08 mai 2012
Recommendations13
About the author
John Irving
Author
John Winslow Irving is an American and Canadian novelist, short story writer, and screenwriter.
A Prayer for Owen Meany
by John Irving
Fiction
Books Like A Prayer for Owen Meany
If you're looking for books similar to A Prayer for Owen Meany, here are some recommendations based on themes, tone, and narrative style.
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Beloved
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A profound exploration of historical trauma, memory, and personal healing. The novel shares Owen Meany's deep philosophical examination of fate and individual purpose. Characters confront extraordinary personal and historical challenges.
Top 2
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Life of Pi
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A remarkable story of survival and spiritual exploration that questions reality and faith. Like Owen Meany, the protagonist experiences extraordinary events that challenge conventional understanding. The narrative blends philosophical inquiry with a deeply personal journey of transformation.
Top 3
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The Road
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A stark narrative about a father and son surviving in a post-apocalyptic world. Like Owen Meany, the novel explores themes of sacrifice, purpose, and spiritual resilience. The story reveals profound human capacity for love and survival.
90%
Cutting for Stone
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A rich, complex narrative about twin brothers born in Ethiopia, exploring themes of family, destiny, and personal calling. The novel shares Owen Meany's intricate storytelling and deep philosophical underpinnings. Characters grapple with extraordinary circumstances and personal purpose.
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The Poisonwood Bible
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A powerful family saga about missionaries in the Congo, exploring themes of cultural displacement and personal transformation. Like Owen Meany, the novel examines destiny, faith, and individual moral choices. Multiple perspectives reveal complex family dynamics.
88%
The Kite Runner
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A powerful story of friendship, betrayal, and redemption set against the backdrop of Afghanistan's tumultuous history. The novel explores themes of personal responsibility, guilt, and moral choices, similar to Owen Meany's sense of divine purpose. The protagonist grapples with a childhood incident that haunts his entire life.
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Middlesex
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A complex family saga exploring identity, transformation, and genetic inheritance. Like Owen Meany, the novel delves into profound questions of destiny and personal purpose. The narrative follows a protagonist navigating extraordinary personal circumstances.
86%
The World According to Garp
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Another Irving novel exploring complex family dynamics and unexpected tragedy. The story follows T.S. Garp, son of an unconventional mother, through a life marked by profound loss and dark humor. Like Owen Meany, the narrative blends personal transformation with larger philosophical questions about fate and purpose.
86%
The Help
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A powerful narrative about social change and individual courage in the racially divided American South. The novel shares Owen Meany's themes of personal agency and moral responsibility. Characters challenge systemic injustice through individual acts of bravery.
84%
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
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A young boy's journey of grief and healing after losing his father on 9/11. The narrative shares Owen Meany's exploration of loss, faith, and the search for meaning. The protagonist uses imagination and determination to understand his personal tragedy, much like Owen's spiritual journey.
84%
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
Mark Haddon
A unique narrative about a young protagonist with autism investigating a mysterious death. The story shares Owen Meany's exploration of individual perspective and extraordinary perception. The protagonist's unique worldview drives the narrative's philosophical inquiry.
82%
The Secret Life of Bees
Sue Monk Kidd
A coming-of-age story about a young girl seeking understanding of her past and finding unexpected family. The novel explores themes of spiritual awakening and personal transformation, reminiscent of Owen Meany's profound sense of destiny. Loss and redemption are central to the narrative.
80%
The Art of Racing in the Rain
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A unique narrative told from a dog's perspective about fate, love, and human resilience. The story explores profound philosophical questions about life's meaning, similar to Owen Meany's spiritual journey. The protagonist faces extraordinary challenges with remarkable insight and determination.
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