Review of Man Mission
Posted: 14 Oct 2022, 20:43
[Following is a volunteer review of "Man Mission" by Eytan Uliel.]
Man Mission, the debut novel of Eytan Uliel, follows the journey of a man as he travels across different countries for a planned annual vacation with his friends and as he discovers what it truly means to be a man. It talks about issues or concerns experienced by a man in relation to his marital relationship, friendship, career, and purpose. This novel shows the other side of the coin to the readers.
The two aspects of the novel that stood out the most to me while reading the book are the following: the good characterization and the way the author conveyed the theme of the story.
I like how Uliel fleshes out his main character. As opposed to a manly man who is popularly believed as someone who is athletic and can hold his drink, the main character is not athletic at all, which can be inferred from these lines from the book, "But I seldom used my upper body for anything more strenuous than lifting a morning coffee. Consequently, I found kayaking for hours on end to be completely exhausting." He is also someone who prefers the sweet taste of Irish cream over the taste of a beer. He is also whiny which is evident from the way he often receives the pink bracelet, an item given to someone who whines the most during their trips. I like how Uliel gave the main character qualities which are not traditionally ascribed to a man. The author's good characterization helped in pushing the plot forward and in building a strong foundation for the tension and the theme of the story.
The other aspect of the book which I like is the author's technique of conveying the theme to the readers. With these lines from the book, "I've survived it all. I'd been rugged and tough. I had been a real man" and "I smiled, feeling proud of my virility and, hence, my self-evident manliness," Uliel was able to leave little clues about where the story is leading to. Furthermore, with these lines from the book, "From the time I could walk, I had been taught that my job—my primary manly purpose in life—was to grow up and take care of others . . . a good man would study hard, work hard, and one day provide a home and security for his family . . . would always strive to do the right thing, even if that meant sacrificing himself for the benefit of others," Uliel was able to put an emphasis on the society's expectations or standards for men; thus gradually revealing the theme of the story. This novel truly opened my mind to a reality viewed from the perspective of a man. Though this is a male-dominated world, men have their own struggles, restrictions, and sacrifices as well.
I did not find anything I dislike about this book; thus I will rate it 4 out of 4 stars. This novel is well written and properly edited. With the main character's humor, the playful banter among friends, and thrilling adventures, this book is indeed a fun read. I like to recommend this book to readers who like to read travel-centric stories and to women who wanted to understand the inner workings of a man's mind.
******
Man Mission
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes
Man Mission, the debut novel of Eytan Uliel, follows the journey of a man as he travels across different countries for a planned annual vacation with his friends and as he discovers what it truly means to be a man. It talks about issues or concerns experienced by a man in relation to his marital relationship, friendship, career, and purpose. This novel shows the other side of the coin to the readers.
The two aspects of the novel that stood out the most to me while reading the book are the following: the good characterization and the way the author conveyed the theme of the story.
I like how Uliel fleshes out his main character. As opposed to a manly man who is popularly believed as someone who is athletic and can hold his drink, the main character is not athletic at all, which can be inferred from these lines from the book, "But I seldom used my upper body for anything more strenuous than lifting a morning coffee. Consequently, I found kayaking for hours on end to be completely exhausting." He is also someone who prefers the sweet taste of Irish cream over the taste of a beer. He is also whiny which is evident from the way he often receives the pink bracelet, an item given to someone who whines the most during their trips. I like how Uliel gave the main character qualities which are not traditionally ascribed to a man. The author's good characterization helped in pushing the plot forward and in building a strong foundation for the tension and the theme of the story.
The other aspect of the book which I like is the author's technique of conveying the theme to the readers. With these lines from the book, "I've survived it all. I'd been rugged and tough. I had been a real man" and "I smiled, feeling proud of my virility and, hence, my self-evident manliness," Uliel was able to leave little clues about where the story is leading to. Furthermore, with these lines from the book, "From the time I could walk, I had been taught that my job—my primary manly purpose in life—was to grow up and take care of others . . . a good man would study hard, work hard, and one day provide a home and security for his family . . . would always strive to do the right thing, even if that meant sacrificing himself for the benefit of others," Uliel was able to put an emphasis on the society's expectations or standards for men; thus gradually revealing the theme of the story. This novel truly opened my mind to a reality viewed from the perspective of a man. Though this is a male-dominated world, men have their own struggles, restrictions, and sacrifices as well.
I did not find anything I dislike about this book; thus I will rate it 4 out of 4 stars. This novel is well written and properly edited. With the main character's humor, the playful banter among friends, and thrilling adventures, this book is indeed a fun read. I like to recommend this book to readers who like to read travel-centric stories and to women who wanted to understand the inner workings of a man's mind.
******
Man Mission
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes