Sorry Mr. Wasowski, but I did not enjoy this book, at all, not in the least bit. And I tried, I tried so hard to keep an open mind, but every time I started to let go of my disdain for this book there’d be an idiotic statement like “I THINK I ALWAYS HAD A HARD-ON,” and I’d literally scream aloud in frustration.
I know Paige and several others have pointed out the over-the-top sexualization of women in this book, and just the sexualization of things in general, but I cannot state enough how much this aspect infuriated me and proceeded to pull me out of the story. I swear every single description John gives of a women includes some mention of her breasts (and whether or not they were good or disappointing) or her attractiveness or her “shapely legs.” Let’s also discuss the time John’s cousins, Owen, and John go into the closet and Hester proceeds to try and grab their penises. Let’s discuss the time Barb Wiggin, the PASTOR’S WIFE, gives Owen Meany, a TWELVE-YEAR-OLD, an erection during the Nativity Service and mocks him for it. Finally, let’s discuss the scene where the Binker-Smiths are having sex on a dorm bed while Owen is hiding under the bed and subsequently injures his face. Maybe I’m missing the point of these scenes. Maybe I’m just the wrong audience for this book. Maybe I just don’t get John Irving’s sense of humor, but I hated all these scenes, didn’t find them amusing, and just didn’t see the point of them being in the story.
The sexualization of everything wasn’t my only issue I had with this book; I also really disliked how Irving handled the issue of faith and the lack of it. At the beginning of the novel John states that is Owen who made him believe in God, and it was Owen who gave him what faith he has. With an introduction like that I don’t know what I expected from Owen, but it certainly wasn’t what I got, and I was annoyed and disappointed with the end. Here’s the thing, in this book about faith Irving never once showed true faith. When I think of faith I think of John 20: 29 where Jesus says “Because you have seen me, you have believed, but blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Nowhere in this novel has anyone (excluding Pastor Wiggin) believed that had not seen. There’s Owen, and he does show faith throughout the novel and the first example that comes to mind is him preparing for and and believing in his dream so much so that he carved his own tombstone and engraved the date of death onto it, but who wouldn’t if you’d been told that you were essentially another Christ and had numerous premonitions and visions. Reverend Merrill doesn’t find his faith until he thinks he sees Tabitha outside the church. John never believes until he sees the exact fulfillment of Owen’s vision, and everything that Owen and him have ever done have a purpose. Who wouldn’t believe after all this came true? That’s not faith; that’s just accepting the reality of what happened and what’s there. Furthermore, the whole story felt contrived. It’s easy to write a story about faith when you can write premonitions and then make a chain of events so that they come true.
There were other things that turned me off this book like how Owen came off as an annoying know it all, and how John lacks any form of a spine and never makes any decision for himself, but it was the sexualization of everything and how Irving handled the theme of faith that really made me despise this book.
Mary's AP English Blog 
The sexualization never really bothered me- but I never found it funny either. While some may find it to be “comic relief” I don’t think it was intended to be that way and I don’t think the novel needs comic relief. The reality is, when you read about the lives of two boys from a very young age to into their 20s, of course there is going to be many references to sexuality. A very prominent part of growing up for many people is sexuality and discovering what that is and what it means. I believe for many these memories stick out in our minds, whether it was funny or traumatic, just because it is something that is exciting or scary and off limits to kids/teenagers, so it makes sense that John would include them. Of course it’s vulgar, they’re a bunch of adolescent boys who go to an all boys school, and neither of them have many friends, or any sisters, or healthy female role models. I will admit it would have been nice to see another female role model besides John’s mother, but that probably would have taken away attention from John’s mother and her importance in both Owen and John’s lives.
Another aspect that helps me not get super annoyed by the vulgarity is that it isn’t ever portrayed in a positive light. What comes to mind is the line about Hester, what John debates with Noah and Simon. Was Hester born that way, or was she made that way in her household of toxic masculinity? I hate that I just used the phrase “toxic masculinity” but it’s true. Even as adults Noah and Simon call Hester “Hester the Molester.” Any rational person knows that this is crazy. Hester even takes that name and rubs it in their face when she becomes famous by taking it and flaunting it- sort of an F you kind of deal. John seems like kind of a stupid adult, but he doesn’t seem sexist or harassing. In fact, John is a virgin- look where all of that sexualizing got him in his childhood and teens (nowhere!).
Could Irving have toned it down a bit? Yeah, probably. I don’t see as much of a point in having Owen trapped under the bed of a couple having sex. But it would have been unrealistic to leave it out or tone it down too much.
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I completely agree, and I thought about putting a disclaimer in my post because I know it is a part of life and growing up but as you can see I did not. I guess I didn’t make myself clear. I wasn’t so much disgusted by them so much as just finding them so absolutely absurd and far-fetched that it took me out of the story.
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I definitely agree that there was some far fetched stuff in there. I did have to sit back once or twice and remember some of the wildly inappropriate stuff I’ve heard come out of little kids mouths though- and then it starts to make more sense lol
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I wrote an entire blog post on my anger and frustration with the sexual references in this novel. It was all I could talk about through the first few chapters, I was so annoyed. After reflecting on this book for the past few hours, I feel that I have begun to understand the purpose: to create something that made the story feel more like real life rather than just some random, impossible story. I believe that these references are there to humanize Owen, to make him seem more like a real person. While this did not work for me personally as a reader, I can understand the intent behind including those scenes.
On your comments about the lack of faith shown by each character, I agree that it was frustrating. However, I believe that this demonstration was to cause the reader to recognize their own times of doubt. Watching a group of characters fail to show faith without some grand miracle occurring is eye-opening, as we often act similarly.
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You hit the nail on the head in your blog post: you don’t fit the audience Irving is looking for with his objectification (or sexualization as you say) of women. Jokes at the expense of a large group of people are always going to be controversial. These jokes and stereotyping become especially egregious to the majority when they target a disadvantaged or minority group. Bias plays a large part in whether or not someone finds something funny. It’s hard to laugh at stereotyping that comes at your expense. It’s hard not to feel like the butt of a joke during these moments but my humble advice is to just breath. Take a step back. Understand the scenario or situation and understand how it may be perceived as funny to other people. At the end of the day, I can’t change what you find is funny (and neither can John Irving), but it’s important to be in the right mindset to absorb things and find them funny. Or maybe I’m wrong and just think everything is funny; who knows?
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Don’t ever feel the need to apologize for your likes and/or dislikes. I don’t care if you don’t like any of the texts we read this year (though, to be honest, I hope you like the majority of them); I’d rather you be able (as you did) to articulate the feelings and frustrations that you have. Not everyone is going to like everything. And that’s ok. In fact, if everyone likes every text we read this year, I would probably NOT use the text the next time I teach the course.
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