A PRAYER FOR OWEN MEANY

Finally available as an audiobook, this 1989 novel tells the story of a prophet, the boy-then-man with an irritating voice, Owen Meany. Tiny, "born too soon," Owen has a "wrecked" voice, which is a special challenge to any narrator. Joe Barrett not only provides just the right tone and pacing for the rest of the book, but renders Owen's odd voice—which appears in the print version in all capital letters—appropriately and lovingly. 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. K.M. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPTEMBER 2009]