The back copy coyly alludes to Philip Roth, but Portnoy had a superior complaint. ( )

The Water-Method Man, John Irving's second novel, published before Irving became a best-selling author, is likely a book sought out by those, like me, who have been long time Irving fans. As an early work it is amazing to see how much of Irving's style was already established at this stage, and maintained throughout his long career. Like many of Irving's novel's, the main character here shares lots of Irving's biography: attended Exeter, did two trips to Iowa's creative writing workshop, grew up in New England, wrestled, writes, father abandons mother and child, etc. In this one there's even an adviser who may share characteristics with Irving's adviser, Kurt Vonnegut. It's always a guessing game where the autobiographical matters ends and the imaginary parts begins. In this one Irving teases us by having the main character, in the last few pages of the book, think up what turns out to be the opening sentences of this book "Her gynecologist recommended him to me. Ironic: the best urologist in New York is French. Dr. Claude Vigneron: ONLY BY APPOINTMENT. So I made one."

The main character is named Fred Trumper but throughout the book all call him by his nickname, Bogus. Everyone has figured out that he is often lying and making things up. Not a great personality trait for someone we're going to follow throughout the book. Normally we want to see the main character in a more positive light. That's hard to do here. This guy is definitely dysfunctional and prone to doing things which hurt people, such as abandoning his wife and kid. Eventually we realize how totally dysfunctional he is. He can never make any important decision, he is afraid of many things most would consider simple. We realize the lying is his way of defending himself from people thinking even worse of him. In some sense he becomes lovable as people realize he's not actually trying to be mean. He's just in hyper avoidance mode.

The book weaves back and forth between several subplots. He has a gynecological condition which he tries to avoid by drinking excessive amounts of water which will allow him to avoid facing up to his need for surgery. He avoids getting serious about a career by becoming a perpetual comparative literature student. He chooses a thesis topic that no one can judge him on so he makes up parts of it whole cloth. He translates an ancient saga which we get in bits and pieces and eventually want to know where it's going. He reads Moby Dick to his son and we see at the very end that Bogus identifies with the Whale. He is estranged from his wealthy parents and their expectations of him. He has a diabetic friend in Austria who disappears. He has another friend who makes films. And another who is a caretaker in Maine. Lots of ways to keep us intrigued.

And of course there's sex, breasts, lots of breasts, penises, pubic hairs, whores, virgins, nipples, orgasms, clap, and adultery. Amazingly beyond a couple of guys who enjoyed being with him Bogus was able to show enough of his softer side to attract women who found him lovable. He wins over the woman who has just become the best woman downhill skier in the world. She also has a nickname, Biggie. She indeed was a large woman standing taller than Bogus but when an interviewer asks why people call her Biggie she pushes her large breasts into his face to make her point. She immediately finds herself pregnant, marries Bogus and goes with him to Iowa. Eventually even her tolerance runs out telling him to get out and he immediately abandons her and their child and runs to Austria. Bogus tells no one where he is for six months. Biggie gives up on him and marries his childhood friend. Once again tangled relationships and abandonment. Plot thickens when Bogus returns and realizes what he's lost. He goes to NYC and works as the soundman on indi movies with an old friend from Iowa. Again a beautiful woman finds him lovable. Eventually he abandons her as well.

This continues getting even weirder but you get the picture, It's a worthwhile read. ( )

Uno dei primi romanzi di Irving, pubblicato nel 1972.
Dopo aver letto tanti altri suoi libri sono rimasto un po' eluso da questo: il suo stile è ancora immaturo, migliorerà nelle successive pubblicazioni.
Non consigliabile a chi non ha mai letto nulla di Irving...solo per suoi fans (come me) che vogliono completare la biblioteca. ( )

Estas son las aventuras de Fred Bogus Trumper, un bromista lleno de encanto y buenas intenciones, soberbio y chiflado, que se obstina en creer que podría hacer algo con su vida vulgar. Pero, cuando tu cabeza y tus sentimientos son como un colador, cuando eres incapaz de comprometerte con lo que sea o con quien sea, ¿puedes extrañarte de que tu vida sea un auténtico desastre?

Seine Frau will raus; seine Geliebte will ein Kind. Die Beschwerden, die er sich bei seiner einstigen Babysitterin geholt hat, machen ihm das Lieben zur Qual. Der Filmemacher, für den er arbeitet, will sein Leben verfilmen: als Dokumentation eines Fehlschlags. Dies ist die Geschichte des fluchbeladenen Fred Bogus Trumper, eines Schlawiners und Schwindlers, eines Nichtstuers voller Charme und guter Vorsätze.