What's the Name of That Book??? discussion

This book was touted as a "Portnoy's Complaint" type novel. I read it back in the late 70s or 80s. The only thing I remember about it is the lead character goes to a European country to visit his father. After arriving he has an encounter with a prostitute. When he meets his father, he repeats a phrase the prostitute used.
Spoiler hidden for adult phrase (view spoiler)[His father says "You just said, Ow, ow, ow, your large penis is hurting me.",
That's all I remember. (hide spoiler)]

Were there Jewish themes/Jewish characters like in Portnoy's Complaint?

I don't remember for sure, but I don't think so. If there were, they weren't as strong a story element.

The Celibacy of Felix Greenspan?
South African poet Abrahams's lyrical coming-of-age novel beautifully evokes the fears, traumas, first loves and wild hopes of growing up. Felix Greenspan courageously overcomes childhood paralysis and copes with epileptic fits while parrying the anti-Semitic taunts of cruel classmates. One of them, a bully named Willem Prinsloo, admires Hitler, whose reign is contemporary with Felix's childhood. Told in 17 interlocking stories, the narrative follows Felix into his 30s, exploring his growth as a writer and his undaunted search for sexual and emotional fulfillment despite a long series of rejections. Skipper Ross, Felix's mentor, imbues him with a philosophy of positive thinking and self-mastery that helps him find direction. But Felix, a spastic, is sexually frustrated and seeks release in frequent visits to brothels. Eventually, he invites a black prostitute back to his parents' home in suburban Johannesburg

Hazzard's Head?
Jack Hazzard tries to come to terms with his relationship with his parents and his sexual obsession with Marcelline Tatia.

There is one GR review which mentions Portnoy's Complaint. Also the Kirkus review says the MC's father set him up with prostitutes.

No, neither one of those. There were no serious chilhood illnesses nor did the father arrange prostitutes, the character went on his own.
Thanks for trying.

A couple of more details. The main character is a North American, either US or Canadian. The father is a successful businessman.

Barney's Version Mordechai Richler? or another book by him..

Not Barney's Version by Mordecai Richler, but I'm looking at his other books.
Thanks.

Drat, no luck with any of the other Mordechai Richler books. He looked promising. The search goes on.

Could it be a John Irving novel? Setting free the bears or Hotel New Hamshire?

No, I don't read Irving. Thanks for trying.

Portnoy's knockoff thread.

I remember the son was trying to win the respect of his more successful father. I don't think he had much success at it. I've added this to Booksleuth.

Was it a drama, comedy? What was the tone? Literary fiction?

Drama as best I remember, though with lighter moments. Far from sure of that though. Might have been mildly humorous throughout.

The water method man by John Irving was touted as a portnoy's complaint knock off ... although I cant really remember anything that happened in the book except that he had to drink a lot of water before sex ....

oh sorry I didn't see the other Irving suggestion... read the description of it just in case .. the description on the back cover mentions PC

April wrote: "oh sorry I didn't see the other Irving suggestion... read the description of it just in case .. the description on the back cover mentions PC"

I've looked at the synopsis and some reviews, but nothing is ringing any bells. Thanks for trying. :-)

I wonder if you're looking for the same book as this thread:

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Someone suggested A Sport and a Pastime there.

Lobstergirl wrote: "I wonder if you're looking for the same book as this thread:

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Someone suggested..."

Nope, definitely not that one. The main character in mine was living on his own. I think he may have been in his late 20s/early 30s. Most of the book took place in the U.S. or Canada, not Europe.

Are you positive about the years? The novel 'Hope' by Glen Duncan was compared to Portoy's complaint. There's a prostitute in it that the MC meets in London. But it's from the late 90's.

Hope for Jesse's suggestion.

Jesse wrote: "Are you positive about the years? The novel 'Hope' by Glen Duncan was compared to Portoy's complaint. There's a prostitute in it that the MC meets in London. But it's from the late 90's."

No, it isn't Hope. Too new and there wasn't a porno obsession or London prostitute in mine.

Thanks for trying.

I've cross posted this over at Reddit's 'What's That Book' board and someone there remembered reading it as well, but can't remember title or author either. Nuts.

If I haven't read Por- Com , how can I help find this for you ?

Eric wrote: "If I haven't read Por- Com , how can I help find this for you ?"

I don't know that you can. The phrase in the first post is the only thing I remember clearly about the book. There were some other things I thought I remembered, but I reread Portnoy's Complaint and found they were from it.

J.P. Donleavy looks like an author worth investigating. The right era, and much (most?) of his catalog can best be described as humorous sleaze (or sleazy humour). Schultz doesn't sound quite right (no prostitutes), but there's one in A Fairy Tale of New York. I didn't go all the way through his books, so there may be more possibilities,

Alan wrote: "J.P. Donleavy looks like an author worth investigating. The right era, and much (most?) of his catalog can best be described as humorous sleaze (or sleazy humour). [book:Schultz|808..."

I'll take a look at him. Thanks, Alan.

No luck with J. P. Donleavy. The search goes on.

Long shot, One Hundred Dollar Misunderstanding?

Rainbowheart wrote: "Long shot, One Hundred Dollar Misunderstanding?"

Nope, not that one. Thanks for trying.

The Hand-Reared Boy by Brian W. Aldiss has been compared to Portnoy's Complaint.

Lobstergirl wrote: "The Hand-Reared Boy by Brian W. Aldiss has been compared to Portnoy's Complaint."

Darn, not it nor any of the other books in the series. Thanks for trying.

Time Must Have a Stop features a young man who visits a hedonistic uncle in Italy and loses his virginity.

Bargle wrote: "I've cross posted this over at Reddit's 'What's That Book' board and someone there remembered reading it as well, but can't remember title or author either. Nuts."

Any new ideas from Reddit?

Lobstergirl wrote: "Bargle wrote: "I've cross posted this over at Reddit's 'What's That Book' board and someone there remembered reading it as well, but can't remember title or author either. Nuts."

Any new ideas fro..."

It's not "Time Must Have a Stop". Reddit hasn't had anything new to say. You can't bump your threads there. You have to wait a while, then repost the question. Probably time to do that. Thanks for thinking of my query.

A reviewer compared Run with the Horsemen to Portnoy's Complaint. It's the first in a trilogy so look at all of them. A southern family. In the later books he goes to medical school and goes to war.

Lobstergirl wrote: "A reviewer compared Run with the Horsemen to Portnoy's Complaint. It's the first in a trilogy so look at all of them. A southern family. In the later books he goes to medical school a..."

Not any of them, I'm afraid. In mine the main character was in his late 20s or early 30s and was a standalone book. No medical school aspect, he was in some sort of office job. Thanks for thinking of my thread. You never know when or where the right one will pop up.

Portnoy's knockoff bump.