Customer Reviews

In Search Of an Impotent Man: A Novel

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

It's an interesting premise: Beautiful woman seeks impotent man after she gets sick of the seemingly unsatiable lust of "normal" men. And it's also a real page turner, in the thrashy-interesting sort of way - I finished my copy in 2 days. But, the thing is, the writing is so flat. I'm wondering if that comes from translating what was probably German originally into English?

Anyway it could have been a brilliant, acerbic satire on love and relationships but instead it was a rather forgettable read. I hated the ending by the way (I won't reveal a choice spoiler); it seemed a ridiculously utopian (lazy?) way to round off the originality that first fuelled the plot.

The jacket copy looked great: great idea... attractive woman sick of leering men, looking for something different. However, the book sucks. Awkward writing style, and completely childish relationships. She sounds about 20 years old, believing in soul mates after one date, inviting strangers up to her apartment, going to their house on a blind date, meeting a millionaire who gives her so much of his time and attention for no apparent reason, oh puhleeze. I got about 50 pages in and then gave up in disgust. This book was completely NOT believable. WHAT a disappointment. I've run and answered personal ads. I guess I'd better write my OWN book based on real life, not the fantasy of this author.

The book may deserve more stars, but its hard to see the good of the book with such a HORRIBLE translation! I've been reading translated books from all over the place. Never have I been so aware of the fact that a book is translated as I have been while reading this. It does not stick! What a horrible way to ruin a book. Shaun, next time, take your time with the translation and think about what the author is saying!

This is one of the most painfully awful books I've had the (dis)pleasure of reading. I speak German and there were many times, while reading this horribly translated book, that I could not even understand the English translation and I had to think about it in German just to understand the English. I didn't have a problem with the British English; I just had a problem with how terribly the translator did this book. It's like he looked up every word in the dictionary and wrote down the first meaning he saw, without making sure that was the *right* meaning. I have to admit that the plot isn't that great itself - it starts strong and then the author tries to add too many new twists and turns, completely eliminating the character development. All in all, I can't say that I recommend this book, but if you're going to read it, either find a better translation or read it in the original.

I expected a great deal more from this book than i received, the translation was shoddy and the plot was too far fetched, particularly the rushed ending. Overall, i was looking for light fluff and i found it with none of the satisfaction associated with entertaining reads. THe one plus, i must say, is that i learned some interesting facts about impotence.

I was drawn to this book at the airport -- looking for a light read and the premise seemed liked it could lead to a funny, entertaining novel. I also was intrigued to read something by a German author. Unfortunately, I was really disappointed. I've heard that it is difficult to translate German novels into English and I'd like to believe that to give this one the benefit of the doubt. The pace of events is overly rapid, to say the least. The main character places a personal add stating she is in search of an impotent man. The replies are entertaining. But the relationships she develops in the course of the story are completely unbelievable. One man she meets becomes a person she regards as one of her best friends in a week; her elderly neighbor is a bosom buddy in just a few days; she and the man of her dreams are deeply in love within about 2 days of meeting each other and after 2 weeks look headed for the alter. Absolutely ridiculous.

After reading some of the comments regarding the translation of this book I'm glad I own it in the original German language. What I don't understand are all the comments about how unreal and overdrawn the story was, but in the end we're talking about fiction here and not a factual report. So if you're looking for something "light" to read and a good laugh here and there take my advice and buy the German version "Suche impotenten Mann fuer's Leben".