The Simpsons meet the West Wing. Quirky characters and a satirical look at politics, cinema, sports and family life.
'The Man Who Never Was' is humorous take on family sagas and political intrigue, populated with unforgettable characters and extraordinary events.
The protagonist, Jesús, is ugly. Extraordinarily ugly. He is so ugly that his friends and relatives are convinced that behind that ugliness there must be something else. A malefic power or possibly a momentous fate. The truth is that fairly special things happen wherever Jesús is. His biological father is a mystery. He only manages to discover that he seems to have fathered quite a few other extremely ugly boys like him during his career. His sister (half-sister) is a child-prodigy who excels at everything she does (writing, career in foreign relations, acting…), his mother becomes the president of the country, his own bank is successful, his best-friend Vero is a computer tycoon, his brother-in-law also makes it in politics...But for all the success and money around him he still feels unsettled. He tries sports, banking, cinema but nothing provides the answers he wants. Who was his father? This is a family saga where everything goes: from politics to retirement homes, from sport to cinema, from adultery to incest but nothing is taken too seriously.
This is one of a kind book, a true original that defies easy definition or categorisation. It is a unique read, that will make you laugh, touch you, and will have you engaged and guessing. And let's not forget the mystery at its heart.
If the characters of 'The Simpsons' walked into the set of ‘The West Wing’ their adventures would be right at home in this novel. With its mixture of Magic Realism and Political Satire this is a novel you won't easily forget.
Dare to break conventions! Read outside of the box! You won't regret it.
Excerpt
She wanted a home-birth. She had counted on their private medical care to provide in case of any problems, but not on how busy doctors were (especially as most of them worked both in the public and the private sector). By the time their physician turned up he was only able to examine the new born. He didn’t look particularly pretty or even wealthy. He was small, thin, very dark, and all covered in black hair, like a tiny werewolf. Doña Remedios was the first one to hold him in her arms. Immediately, the baby, who hadn’t even cried, opened his eyelids. His eyes, green with yellow sparks, and with elongated pupils like a cat’s, made his grandmother gasp and say: ‘Jesus! He has the devil’s eyes!’
That comment became part of the family’s lore and was always mentioned when discussing their choice of names, because Adelina, who was notably fresh and alert after giving birth, told her mother:
“Yes! Jesús! That’s it! Perfect name!”
Remedios looked at her daughter.
“Jesús? But…That’s not one of the traditional names in the family. And what about non-religious or Christian people? They might find it offensive.”
“But why? I’m not calling him God. And people have always used Biblical names, and names of prophets…Anyway, the world is full of Mohammeds, so why should I be that respectful?...Although God…has a ring to it…Or…Satan…Lucifer…”
“Jesús will be fine. Sure.” Remedios agreed to avoid even worse. And she reflected that maybe it would bring the child good luck and protect him from whatever fate those eyes seemed to announce. And unless his looks changed, he would need all the luck he could get. He wasn’t ugly, not in a conventional sense. He didn’t have a bent or big nose, and the eyes, despite their peculiar colour, weren’t either too small or too big, not too close to each other. His hair, that didn’t grow in his head until it fell off the rest of his body, was black, shiny, and growing straight, in spite of the best efforts of nannies, hairdressers, relatives and doctors.
Professional Reviews
Must Read!!!
5.0 out of 5 stars Must Read!!! November 6, 2012
By CHERYL COPPENRATH
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
Olga Nunez Miret is an exceptional story-teller of impressive talent. Her story THE MAN WHO NEVER WAS is a magic carpet of brightly-colored and expertly woven threads--transporting readers to the dazzling, dizzying, fast-paced world of political and corporate power. Her characters are amazingly well-drawn, reminding us of all that is both good and bad in humanity. I did not want her story to end--but the good news is that Olga Nunez Miret has many other projects underway! I am already in line and I have no doubt that you will want to join me! Thank you, Olga!!! --Chery Coppenrath
4.0 out of 5 stars The man who never was - and his son November 21, 2012 By D. Gibbon
Format:Kindle EditionJust finished The Man Who Never Was by Olga Núñez Miret - a very different kind of tale from my usual reading. A complex cat's cradle of a story, which kept me constantly smiling and trying to track whose kid was whose and whose nepotism was catapulting whom into which hotbed of power - and intimacy. Clearly Olga enjoys her writing - very feminine, larger than life cabaret!
5.0 out of 5 stars I personally would recommend the book to women at any age.
2 Nov 2012
By MagdaOlchawska
Format:Kindle Edition
"The Man Who Never Was" by Olga Nunez Miret
Jesus is born to a single mom in a small village. His mom comes from a very good family & is a very popular young woman. She is also extremely beautiful, unlike Jesus. In fact Jesus is so ugly that even his grandmother thinks he must be pure evil.
However Jesus is the total opposite & grows up to be a lovely, kind & very intelligent man.
Few years after giving birth to Jesus his mother gets married & has another amazing child.
When the time is right she moves to a big city and becomes a very successful politician and a wealthy businesswoman.
Jesus & his family's life is perfect in a way. Whatever they decide to embark on, it turns out to be successful.
Jesus graduates from school, university, is successful at sports & eventually he becomes happy in his personal life, despite his unappealing looks.
Is Jesus ever going to find out who his father was? Is his mother going to reveal the secret? Is the luck & success of his family connected to his father?
"The Man Who Never Was" by Olga Nunez Miret is her debut novel & I do hope more is coming soon.
The story is sharp, funny and skeptical at the same time.
I really adore the way the author put her life experience & observation together to create an entertaining mixture.
Her female characters are strong, intelligent & successful making perfect role models for young girls.
"The Man Who Never Was" is unconventional in its texture, juxtapositioning spirituality, faith & cynical reality of politics & business. The story covers few generations and it reads really well leaving the reader wanting more. In my opinion this is a perfect debut.
I personally would recommend the book to women at any age.
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