Review by Nkoo -- Man Mission by Eytan Uliel

[Nkoo]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Man Mission" by Eytan Uliel.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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Man Mission: Four Men, Fifteen Years, One Epic Journey by Eytan Uliel is an intriguing and passionate coming-of-age story of four Australian men. The main character and his friend; Sam are the pioneers of this men-only adventure called man mission. These adventures became a form of escape for them to get away from normal life and unwind. The book is divided into three major parts and captured in fifteen suspenseful chapters, each one chronicles events at each location.

What the protagonist merely conceived on campus and hinted to his friend, Sam during a food fair took shape and became a reality years later. When Sam called the main character on the phone and reminded him of their earlier proposed trip, man mission was born. New Zealand became the pilot location. Daniel and Alec were later inducted into the group. Annually, over fifteen years, the men embarked on trips to various exotic locations around the world. From river kayaking in Australia to safaris in South Africa. Japan, Spain, and Iceland were some of the other exotic locations traversed by these buddies.

I found the constant switching of narratives from their escapades at these locations to the events in their individual and personal lives interesting and skillful by the author. The switching between narratives provided the necessary suspense for me. The inclusion of maps and locations at the beginning of each chapter made the storyline unique. Philosophical and biblical quotations heralded each chapter and provided an insight into what was to be expected by the readers. The story is recounted from the first-person standpoint of the narrator.

The characters are well-developed and relatable; I was at home with all of them. The writing style is simple. The layout is well-coordinated. The diction is top-notch and indicates that the author is erudite. Everyone can read and understand this book. The tone is conversational, friendly, and casual. The book is a page-turner. Readers would learn a lot of new words and their usages just like I did. The book provides a revelation into the workings of the male mind on issues such as marriage, work, family, relationships, fatherhood, courage, and many more.

One of the things I found profound about this book is the author’s capacity to vividly capture events, scenes, and locations. His descriptions left absolutely nothing to the imagination. Readers would get a feel of the locations and events by his expert storytelling skills. I particularly liked the humorous nature of this book. For the most part, I had to stop mid-way while I read and had a good laugh before I proceeded. I also felt their pain at other times. I liked the fact that a lot of life lessons were taught through the pages of this fiction book. The storyline appeared true; I found it incredible that this book is not the author's autobiography.

There was nothing I disliked about this book; I loved everything about it. Surprisingly, I found no errors in it; it appeared to be professionally edited. For the foregoing reasons, without a shadow of a doubt, I hereby award Man Mission: Four Men, Fifteen Years, One Epic Journey, four out of four stars. I didn't award it a lower rating because it has the potential of making a great movie. It is recommended for everyone who loves a good and captivating get-away read. Intended tourists and travelers to those locations will also find it useful. Readers who are offended by profanity are hereby forewarned.

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Man Mission
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[kdstrack]

I read this book when it was BOTM. I like the way you highlight how all this started as an idea that progressed to actions and a book. A little seed grew into a big tree. I like you idea of making it into a movie. Great review!

[unamilagra]

I also loved this book and the way the author's ability to transport the reader to all the places the narrator visited. Great review!

[Nkoo]

I read this book when it was BOTM. I like the way you highlight how all this started as an idea that progressed to actions and a book. A little seed grew into a big tree. I like you idea of making it into a movie. Great review!

Thank you for your kind words and for leaving a comment.

[Nkoo]

I also loved this book and the way the author's ability to transport the reader to all the places the narrator visited. Great review!

The author surely is gifted with words. Thanks for leaving a comment.

[kandscreeley]

I'm glad you liked this one so well. I do like living vicariously through other's travels. For that reason alone, I should probably pick this up. Thanks.

[mary-annef]

Great review. I was also surprised to discover it wasn't autobiographical. And I agree that it would make a good movie.

[Kelyn]

Biblical? I've read several reviews of this book, and that's the first I've heard of that. Good catch! I'm not so sure I'd be willing to undergo what these guys did in the name of bonding. At least they got to see the world! Thanks for recommending it!

[Bigwig1973]

I really like your review of this book! You point out so many positives in a way that appeals to a variety of readers. You mention humor, quotations, escapades, that it is a page-turner - these are things the majority can define. You also use terms like "narratives" and "diction" which appeal to the more bookish of readers. I also found it hard to believe that it wasn't autobiographical - I still kind of don't believe it! Really nice review on a hilarious book!