Books Quote by John Irving
““Like any good novel, it lulled him into an almost tranquil state of awareness before it jolted him - it caught him completely by surprise.””
About This Quote
Source Book: A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving, 1989
The narrative lulls readers into calm before delivering an unexpected, striking revelation.
In simple terms: A story can surprise you after a peaceful start.
Key Takeaway
Embrace calm, then be ready for surprise.
Themes
storytelling
surprise
awareness
Mood
thoughtful
intrigued
Type
literary
reflective
When to use this quote
- Reading a novel
- watching a film
- listening to a podcast
- experiencing art
- learning a skill
Key Concepts
Narrative pacing
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- How does a calm beginning affect your reaction to a twist?
- Do you prefer steady or sudden revelations?
A Different Perspective
The surprise may be jarring and disrupt comfort.
![“JUST BECAUSE A BUNCH OF ATHEISTS ARE BETTER WRITERS THAN THE GUYS WHO WROTE THE BIBLE DOESN'T NECESSARILY MAKE THEM RIGHT!" [Owen Meany] said crossly. "LOOK AT THOSE WEIRDO TV MIRACLE-WORKERS--THEY'RE TRYING TO GET PEOPLE TO BELIEVE IN MAGIC! BUT THE REAL MIRACLES AREN'T ANYTHING YOU CAN…” quote by John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/70e/john-irving-337_atheists_just-because-a-bunch-of-atheists-are-bet_31804.jpg)
