John Irving, master storyteller

My eyes were blurry and yet I kept reading.  I just wanted to finish and find out how Owen Meany died.  It's a critical question in the book as the last half is focused on the fact that Owen knows when he is going to die based on a recurruing dream he has.  His best friend John is in the dream as well as a group of Vietnamese children.  Owen has trouble with the details but he is certain enough that he carves his own gravestone marker at his parent's quarry.  To be that certain that your dream is accurate, to be so certain of your faith are all part of Owen Meany's character-that and his crazy voice.

It's not an easy book to finish. I feel all of February has been dedicated to this book and usually in that amount of time I can get at least 2-3 books finished.  Not so with a John Irving novel.  My friend Sue picked this for our book club selection this month and I was glad as I'd never read it.  My husband and another friend Tim both pick this as one of their favorites.  After the first 10 pages I wasn't so sure-I especially disliked the super long chapters-and I pushed through that only to really fall in love with the story.  It has so many great connecting ideas and what it has to say about faith and friendship are great reminders to us all.

Thank you Sue for making this a book club pick and for a great book club discussion.

I heard a little "amen" in Owen's voice when I shouted "I finished" last night.

I heard there is a movie.  Anyone watched it?

Also two very different covers...I prefer the armadillo version myself.