Official Review: Man Stuff by L. A. Robinson

[JKO]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Man Stuff" by L. A. Robinson.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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Who is Thomas Kemera (TK)? Man Stuff by L. A. Robinson is a collection of stories that can help readers draw informed conclusions on the answer to the previous question. This book helps provide answers by giving readers first-hand insights into TK’s life at different stages through the stories told by the man and his friend, Stephen Aubrey (Stevie).

The story starts as we see young TK get into a fight that is caused by the most unusual reason. After then, we read through TK's conversation with his worried father as they take a mom-influenced ride to nowhere. We also see how TK's relationship with Stevie develops. Also, the events that led to the introduction of disfigured Richard Charon into TK's life and TK's quest to save him from himself were detailed. We also learn how TK met his wife, Jessica, as well as details of his previous relationship. Finally, we get to see his connection with some of his colleagues at the office as he lectures them on how to be successful in their respective marriages. In all these stories, we discover just how unconventional a thinker TK is, from his teenage years to his sixties.

I think Robinson has done an excellent job of compiling stories that paint an interesting picture of TK. Readers are sure to find TK unusual but charming. I found him to possess a rich blend of philosophy, humor, and intelligence. I loved the way TK drifted off-topic during some of his conversations; I found several topics he talked about philosophical and thought-provoking. A typical example was where I read about his observations when he talked to Jessica about the temptations of Jesus Christ.

Another thing I liked about this story was the way the author developed each character, writing in first-person from TK or Stevie’s eyes. He achieved this by giving a detailed description of each characters' features. Also, the dialogue that was employed between the characters helped me understand each characters' thought process and behavior.

Additionally, I was happy that I had a few laughs as I read through some of TK's reactions to questions. While I don’t think he intended to be funny, it was often hilarious the way he answered questions. For example, when 65-year-old TK was lecturing his young colleagues, Vivek and Dharmesh, on how to be successful in their marriages, he tried to use "schmuck" as a metaphor to describe his and Dharmesh's looks. When TK was asked what he meant, It was funny to imagine the look on Dharmesh's face when an answer to the question was provided.

One other thing that stands out about this book is its editing. I didn’t come across any errors throughout the text, and I can confidently state that this read has been edited by a professional. However, I was displeased to see that profane words were frequently used, even when they were unnecessary. For example, when fifteen-year-old TK was having a conversation with his dad, there were a lot of non-borderline profane words used by TK, and his father didn’t even find it offensive. I don’t know if it was acceptable to talk to your parents using profane language in the sixties, but I didn’t enjoy that aspect of this book.

Overall, this is a good book that would appeal to people that love to read other people’s memoirs, and I highly recommend it. Despite my reservations, I have decided to rate Man Stuff 4 out of 4 stars because the positive aspects of this book completely outweigh the sole negative aspect I discussed. However, I urge sensitive readers to steer clear of this read because of the non-borderline use of profane words contained throughout the text.

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Man Stuff
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[RHD]

TK surely does seem out-of-the-ordinary. I like that his life and interactions have some teachings and emulations. Thanks for such a detailed review

[Luluwa79]

Tk seems to be an unusual fellow, I like his personality and I would love to read this.