I must admit that periodically felt disengaged from this book because I was unfamiliar with many important issues it covered. I don’t know much about the Vietnam War or American politics. I didn’t know the difference between different Christian denominations. I’m not interested in religion and I have to admit to regarding a belief in God as a weakness.

In contrast to the ‘heavy’ stuff there are some very funny scenes in the book which made me guffaw. There are poignant times too; Owen genuinely moved me. He was such a good friend to Johnny. Like me, he is tiny but very serious. Unlike me, he has the power to manipulate. I couldn’t find much likeable about the narrator but I did identify with Johnny’s indecision and metaphorical impotence. I thought that the development of characters and their relationships through the years are very well done. The unsolved mysteries kept me interested and reading on even when it felt like hard work. Towards the beginning especially I became frustrated by events and ranting that didn’t seem to be of any significance.

There were some nuggets of wisdom in the book, including my favourite: ‘IF YOU@RE LUCKY ENOUGH TO FIND A WAY OF LIFE YOU LOVE, YOU HAVE TO FIND THE COURAGE TO LIVE IT.’

The ending is truly magnificent. It’s definitely worth keeping going through the 600-odd pages to reach it. I sobbed as Owen’s fate unfolded. Much that is unexplained earlier finally falls into place. The revealed significances are like a tidal wave.

After I’d finished the book I knew there was more to it that I’d taken in on the first reading. I found some excellent chapter summaries and analysis on the SparkNotes website.

(24th in 2012)