Review of Man Mission
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Review of Man Mission
[Following is a volunteer review of "Man Mission" by Eytan Uliel.]
Man Mission by Eytan Uliel is a novel that chronicles the yearly retreats of four friends. These are; the narrator, Sam, Alec, and Daniel. Sam is a friend the narrator met in Law school, the latter two were childhood friends. The narrator and Sam hatch an outlandish plan to make out time every year and travel to a location of their choosing, terming it a man mission. At that time it seems nothing more than a pipe dream but after three years when they had both graduated, they manage to actualize it, traveling to New Zealand to hike. Eventually, Alec and Daniel join and it becomes an annual ritual for the four of them, one that lasts fifteen years. The book though is a lot more than buddies engaging in annual events of sightseeing, kayaking, hiking, and cycling, it also gives us an insight into the lives of the friends, their travails and triumphs, especially those of the narrator. It's a story of hurt and healing and above all, of finding yourself.
There are a lot of things to love about the book, the way the plot is presented is unique, alternating between the man mission of the year and flashbacks that give a summary of events in the narrator's life leading up to this point, more like a summary of his life from the end of last year's man mission to the beginning of the current one. The novel is also highly touching, and relatable. We get to see the narrator transform from an ambitious youth to a middle-aged man. We see him go through a lot of things, from marriage to parenting to divorce, we see him make big mistakes and pay dearly for them, we see him hit rock bottom plenty of times, and eventually after being in an emotional chasm, manage to pull himself out and find himself again. Men are constantly maligned emotionally and required to show no emotion, however, this book squarely tackles that notion, and shows that men have emotions too. The character development is spot on, we see the narrator and his friends evolve and become rounded characters. We learn that none of them are perfect, each having personal demons to contend with but at the end of the novel, they all manage to make it out alright. The book is also didactic, it teaches us to follow our dreams, not shy away from our problems or allow anyone to make decisions for us. It emphasizes the importance of communication in marriage, and also that when you're depressed and shattered you should look for help and that along with your inner strength will help you pull through.
The book is beautifully written and the editing is brilliant, I have no grouse with this exceptional work. The book is flawlessly written, driving the message of the narrator home, it's also very immersive, funny, and didactic. It is nigh-perfect writing by the author.
I rate the book 4 out of 4 stars. The book is beautifully written, well-edited, and without flaws of any kind.
I recommend this book to everyone who loves adventure, everyone who is depressed and needs a hand. I would also recommend it to all couples and people in a mid-life crisis. Finally, without fail, I must recommend this to people who love traveling and tourism, they will love the book.
******
Man Mission
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes
Man Mission by Eytan Uliel is a novel that chronicles the yearly retreats of four friends. These are; the narrator, Sam, Alec, and Daniel. Sam is a friend the narrator met in Law school, the latter two were childhood friends. The narrator and Sam hatch an outlandish plan to make out time every year and travel to a location of their choosing, terming it a man mission. At that time it seems nothing more than a pipe dream but after three years when they had both graduated, they manage to actualize it, traveling to New Zealand to hike. Eventually, Alec and Daniel join and it becomes an annual ritual for the four of them, one that lasts fifteen years. The book though is a lot more than buddies engaging in annual events of sightseeing, kayaking, hiking, and cycling, it also gives us an insight into the lives of the friends, their travails and triumphs, especially those of the narrator. It's a story of hurt and healing and above all, of finding yourself.
There are a lot of things to love about the book, the way the plot is presented is unique, alternating between the man mission of the year and flashbacks that give a summary of events in the narrator's life leading up to this point, more like a summary of his life from the end of last year's man mission to the beginning of the current one. The novel is also highly touching, and relatable. We get to see the narrator transform from an ambitious youth to a middle-aged man. We see him go through a lot of things, from marriage to parenting to divorce, we see him make big mistakes and pay dearly for them, we see him hit rock bottom plenty of times, and eventually after being in an emotional chasm, manage to pull himself out and find himself again. Men are constantly maligned emotionally and required to show no emotion, however, this book squarely tackles that notion, and shows that men have emotions too. The character development is spot on, we see the narrator and his friends evolve and become rounded characters. We learn that none of them are perfect, each having personal demons to contend with but at the end of the novel, they all manage to make it out alright. The book is also didactic, it teaches us to follow our dreams, not shy away from our problems or allow anyone to make decisions for us. It emphasizes the importance of communication in marriage, and also that when you're depressed and shattered you should look for help and that along with your inner strength will help you pull through.
The book is beautifully written and the editing is brilliant, I have no grouse with this exceptional work. The book is flawlessly written, driving the message of the narrator home, it's also very immersive, funny, and didactic. It is nigh-perfect writing by the author.
I rate the book 4 out of 4 stars. The book is beautifully written, well-edited, and without flaws of any kind.
I recommend this book to everyone who loves adventure, everyone who is depressed and needs a hand. I would also recommend it to all couples and people in a mid-life crisis. Finally, without fail, I must recommend this to people who love traveling and tourism, they will love the book.
******
Man Mission
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes
Latest Review: Crimson Aria by Fyra B Ginn
