I couldn't give it just one star because it was written with such wit--but jeez what a jerk. I've read (and liked) the Dexter novels so I'm ok with a character being bad but The Ginger Man is beyond the pale. I'm taking my copy to a book sale so I can get him out of my house. ( )

A deeply disturbing picture of Ireland in the post war years, narrated by a character contemptable in most ways. Donleavy certainly can write, but his subject matter demands more than the effort is worth in my opinion. Many people see this as a comic novel. I find it anything but. ( )

En el personaje de Sebastian, alias Hombre de mazapán, Donleavy ha sabido crear un tipo inolvidable. Irresponsable, sucio, seductor, embaucador y pobre de solemnidad, este americano-irlandés extraviado en la vieja patria que se tambalea desde el pub a la casa de empeños, murmurando porposiciones libidinosas al oído de toda muchacha que se le pone a tiro, está empeñado en la búsqueda de la libertad, la riqueza y la fama que siente que le pertenecen. Y, aunque se burla del mundo y de sí mismo, es tan frágil como esos bizcochos con digura humana que se deshacen entre los dedos. La fama de esta novela es tal que ha dado nombre a alguos de los pubs más famosos del mundo.

Mildly entertaining. More interesting if you are familiar with Dublin and London. ( )

Put down ~ page 87. I must have a very different sense of humor than those who gave it high ratings. Each to his own. ( )