A PRAYER FOR OWEN MEANY John Irving Toronto, Lester & Orpen Dennys, 1989. 560pp, cloth, $24.95 ISBN 0-88619-226-9. CIP Secondary/Adult Reviewed by Roland Pagnier. Volume 17 Number 4 1989 July An accomplished writer, John Irving has endeavoured in his latest book to combine the innocence of youth with the complexities of the adult world, covering the whole range of religious and personal political conflicts and including the disastrous effects of war. The narrative covers two decades from the 1950s on in a New England selling when two small boys grow up. Their experiences in a small community are interesting; however, their observations seem occasionally far too sophisticated for their tender ages relative to the time frame. The style of flashbacks, which incorporate a naive analysis of political and religious viewpoints, gives the narrative a sense of d�j� vu and docs not sustain the purpose of the story. The book would appear to be a combination of prose and journalism, and while the purpose and intent of the narrative has definite merit, it is not sufficiently thought provoking to be memorable and would be more suitable as a film script. Roland Pagnier, Ottawa, Ont.