I liked this story a lot. It was told from the point of view of a man who probably has some form of mild autism. He is socially awkward, but doesn't realize he is different and treated differently. His point of view is so innocent and also very black and white. He really only sees the good in people, except the people who don't make sense to him. The people in his life are so lost and confused, which is maybe why these people don't make sense to him. This novel presented a refreshing point of view, an adult who has to live like an adult yet thinks like a child in his honesty and simplicity. Yeesh. It took me over a year to read this book to completion. The first go around, I stopped about 100 pages in. Several months later I picked it back up and had to start over because I hadn't remembered a thing about it. Even rereading, hardly any of it was familiar. Which sums up my review: A less than memorable story. Oppen, the lead character and narrator, tells his story if leaving Central CA and heads down to the great Panorama City, a neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley. Having spent 4 years of my life in neighboring Encino, I can in fact confirm the depiction of Panorama City is fairly accurate. I admit I only picked up this book based on the title alone. Oppen is a little slow and even more naive. But what's more is the store line is s...l....o....w. I constantly found myself checking to see how many pages were left in a chapter so I could put the book down. Hardly a page turner. If you can push through the boring parts, it's not a bad story, but I wouldn't want to suffer through it for a 2.5 time.
What do You think about Ein Mann Von Welt (2013)?
Terrific characters...great narration. If you struggle to get the rhythm in the beginning...hold on!
—jurgenkahle
A very different, interesting read. A lot of the humor is very insightful besides being funny.
—natasa_pisces
