Review of Man Mission
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Hazel Arnaiz
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Review of Man Mission
[Following is a volunteer review of "Man Mission" by Eytan Uliel.]
A group of college boys dreams of embarking on a food and wilderness adventure across the globe. But life seems to catch up after graduation. After several years, the first spontaneous trip materialized. Thus begin the annual ritual of four friends exploring the world for gastronomic and extreme physical challenges. They hike, paddle, pedal, and test the limits of their palettes. The bruises, chaffing, and conquests are manly badges. And over the years, the takeaways of the escapades redefine them as men.
Man Mission by Eytan Uliel is a novel about the annual boys-only escapades of four long-time friends. The book reads like a travel journal and has a load of adventure, culture, discovery, humor, and reflection. The first-person perspective works well in giving a more personal account of the experience. The audience sees the world and the characters from the narrator. Each chapter accounts for a specific travel destination. The flashbacks of their ordinary lives weave into the story. It shows how their temporary escapes relate to their real-world concerns. Likewise, the annual adventures follow a chronological order. It makes a clear presentation of how the characters and their circumstances change over the years.
The chapters follow a typical structure. It opens with several quotations. A map follows, which gives a sneak peek of the activities and the location. It closes with a short outline of the statistics of the trip. It serves as a post-evaluation of the adventure.
The book is an eye-opener into the male psyche. It examines the feelings and thoughts of men about social constructs like marriage, family, domestic roles, success, and even the association of the color pink to gender. The book breaks away from the idea that men and women are from different worlds. It is what I appreciate most in the book. Like their female counterparts, the male of the species has their share of pressures and frustrations from society. They may look tough on the outside, but they also need to process their emotions. And during these times, the support from significant people in their lives is crucial. In this aspect, men and women are not so different. The approach may differ, but they both search for meaning and purpose in an ever-changing society.
There is nothing I dislike in the book. The adventures and humorous banter are entertaining. At the same time, the reflections of the characters are insightful. But I have a comment about the quotations at the beginning of the chapters. It seems that their purpose is to inspire reflection. However, they are not so memorable. They tend to fade as the readers immerse into the adventures. It might help if their connection with the story is more evident. But this did not diminish the enjoyable reading experience.
The words are straightforward, and the language is conversational. The steady pace does not drag. The editing is also neat, which contributes to the smooth flow of the story. There are swearwords and sexual references, but the contents are inoffensive to any religious group. This book is suitable for an audience of sixteen years old and above. It is an inspiring reference to those who want to explore and try out challenging outdoor activities. Those who enjoy stories about self-discovery and friendship will find this book appealing.
The book offers a refreshing perspective of the male psyche. The adventure, humor, and insights provide a balance between entertainment and points for reflection. Exploring beyond the traditional notions of what a man should be is a manly mission that deserves four out of four stars.
******
Man Mission
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes
A group of college boys dreams of embarking on a food and wilderness adventure across the globe. But life seems to catch up after graduation. After several years, the first spontaneous trip materialized. Thus begin the annual ritual of four friends exploring the world for gastronomic and extreme physical challenges. They hike, paddle, pedal, and test the limits of their palettes. The bruises, chaffing, and conquests are manly badges. And over the years, the takeaways of the escapades redefine them as men.
Man Mission by Eytan Uliel is a novel about the annual boys-only escapades of four long-time friends. The book reads like a travel journal and has a load of adventure, culture, discovery, humor, and reflection. The first-person perspective works well in giving a more personal account of the experience. The audience sees the world and the characters from the narrator. Each chapter accounts for a specific travel destination. The flashbacks of their ordinary lives weave into the story. It shows how their temporary escapes relate to their real-world concerns. Likewise, the annual adventures follow a chronological order. It makes a clear presentation of how the characters and their circumstances change over the years.
The chapters follow a typical structure. It opens with several quotations. A map follows, which gives a sneak peek of the activities and the location. It closes with a short outline of the statistics of the trip. It serves as a post-evaluation of the adventure.
The book is an eye-opener into the male psyche. It examines the feelings and thoughts of men about social constructs like marriage, family, domestic roles, success, and even the association of the color pink to gender. The book breaks away from the idea that men and women are from different worlds. It is what I appreciate most in the book. Like their female counterparts, the male of the species has their share of pressures and frustrations from society. They may look tough on the outside, but they also need to process their emotions. And during these times, the support from significant people in their lives is crucial. In this aspect, men and women are not so different. The approach may differ, but they both search for meaning and purpose in an ever-changing society.
There is nothing I dislike in the book. The adventures and humorous banter are entertaining. At the same time, the reflections of the characters are insightful. But I have a comment about the quotations at the beginning of the chapters. It seems that their purpose is to inspire reflection. However, they are not so memorable. They tend to fade as the readers immerse into the adventures. It might help if their connection with the story is more evident. But this did not diminish the enjoyable reading experience.
The words are straightforward, and the language is conversational. The steady pace does not drag. The editing is also neat, which contributes to the smooth flow of the story. There are swearwords and sexual references, but the contents are inoffensive to any religious group. This book is suitable for an audience of sixteen years old and above. It is an inspiring reference to those who want to explore and try out challenging outdoor activities. Those who enjoy stories about self-discovery and friendship will find this book appealing.
The book offers a refreshing perspective of the male psyche. The adventure, humor, and insights provide a balance between entertainment and points for reflection. Exploring beyond the traditional notions of what a man should be is a manly mission that deserves four out of four stars.
******
Man Mission
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes
Latest Review: A Dream For Peace by Dr. Ghoulem Berrah
