Review by dostoevskyy -- Man Mission by Eytan Uliel
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dostoevskyy
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- Latest Review: Man Mission by Eytan Uliel
Review by dostoevskyy -- Man Mission by Eytan Uliel
[Following is a volunteer review of "Man Mission" by Eytan Uliel.]
Man Mission, by Eytan Uliel, is a tale of epic proportions that at times seems far too gritty to be mere fiction. Written in the style of a memoir, with bits of comedy, travel tips, and soberingly painful realizations about life, this book will appeal to fans of both fiction and nonfiction alike.
The plot follows a group of college students as they embark on annual "Man Missions," beginning with a short, two-person hike that ends far too abruptly, and ending with an Icelandic ice trek; the missions between range from bicycle tours to sailing across open seas. It's impossible, however, to fully describe the adventures Uliel has penned; they are as diverse as and thrilling as an episode of Planet Earth.
Simultaneously, the book weaves in chapters of less intense but certainly more relatable life experiences. One by one, each of the men deals with his own personal struggle, from divorce to unemployment to financial ruin. Along with these struggles, however, come realizations about inner turmoil; though at times these sections appear bleak, with no end in sight, the true purpose of the missions is to reinstill a sense of purpose and, most importantly, define what each of the men values most in life, whether family, love, or inner peace. Thus the missions serve as a source of companionship as well as boyish adventure much needed in these men's lives.
The characters had a strong, brotherly bond that remained strong throughout the years, though at times it certainly was strained. As was to be expected in a novel about several men embarking on "man missions," there was never a lack of misogynistic statements, especially when the unnamed main character reflected a desire to cheat. Although it was difficult to read without feeling a sense of disgust towards the main character, Uliel certainly depicted this moment as a low point in the novel and the character growth that followed helped to redeem him. I do think that one of the better parts of this novel is the way we are able to see the men's lives change and their personalities develop from rambunctious college students to older, wiser men with children of their own.
I would give this book a 4 out of 4 stars. Although at times the writing seemed stilted and oddly formal for a close-knit group of friends, the story was engaging and would appeal to any fans of adventure novels or memoirs, as this novel combines the two perfectly. Perhaps it will inspire those intrepid enough to venture out on their own missions of self-exploration.
******
Man Mission
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes
Man Mission, by Eytan Uliel, is a tale of epic proportions that at times seems far too gritty to be mere fiction. Written in the style of a memoir, with bits of comedy, travel tips, and soberingly painful realizations about life, this book will appeal to fans of both fiction and nonfiction alike.
The plot follows a group of college students as they embark on annual "Man Missions," beginning with a short, two-person hike that ends far too abruptly, and ending with an Icelandic ice trek; the missions between range from bicycle tours to sailing across open seas. It's impossible, however, to fully describe the adventures Uliel has penned; they are as diverse as and thrilling as an episode of Planet Earth.
Simultaneously, the book weaves in chapters of less intense but certainly more relatable life experiences. One by one, each of the men deals with his own personal struggle, from divorce to unemployment to financial ruin. Along with these struggles, however, come realizations about inner turmoil; though at times these sections appear bleak, with no end in sight, the true purpose of the missions is to reinstill a sense of purpose and, most importantly, define what each of the men values most in life, whether family, love, or inner peace. Thus the missions serve as a source of companionship as well as boyish adventure much needed in these men's lives.
The characters had a strong, brotherly bond that remained strong throughout the years, though at times it certainly was strained. As was to be expected in a novel about several men embarking on "man missions," there was never a lack of misogynistic statements, especially when the unnamed main character reflected a desire to cheat. Although it was difficult to read without feeling a sense of disgust towards the main character, Uliel certainly depicted this moment as a low point in the novel and the character growth that followed helped to redeem him. I do think that one of the better parts of this novel is the way we are able to see the men's lives change and their personalities develop from rambunctious college students to older, wiser men with children of their own.
I would give this book a 4 out of 4 stars. Although at times the writing seemed stilted and oddly formal for a close-knit group of friends, the story was engaging and would appeal to any fans of adventure novels or memoirs, as this novel combines the two perfectly. Perhaps it will inspire those intrepid enough to venture out on their own missions of self-exploration.
******
Man Mission
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes
Latest Review: Man Mission by Eytan Uliel
