Besides having a voice with a distinctive sound, Owen Meany had a voice with a distinctive message. He warns, "Be careful of people who say they are religious, make sure you know what they mean--make sure they know what they mean"--a relevant message now as it was when John Irving wrote it, perhaps more so.

Sent by Bill Herman | 11:07 AM ET | 02-04-2008

Owen Meany is the coolest character ever created. He's this mini-person with a voice so weird and haunting that the only way to convey the sound is to capitalize his speech. He's tough--he never rats out his Sunday school classmates when they pass him around on the tops of their outstretched arms, even when the teacher returns and blames him for the disturbance. Owen's a faithful friend, a gentleman who refuses to discuss his affair with the randy Hester the Molester, brilliant, funny, a great leader and committed to issues. Owen is the personification of braveness, selflessly giving his life to save Vietnamese children, and knowing from childhood the day the event will occur. Most of all, Owen Meany has enviable faith. He just has it, knows it, accepts it and acts on it. Owen Meany is my pick for the character I get to meet in fictive heaven.

Sent by Janet Mizrahi | 11:17 AM ET | 02-04-2008