Review of Man Mission

[Sou Hi]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Man Mission" by Eytan Uliel.]

---

4 out of 4 stars

---

Share This Review

---

MAN MISSION: FOUR MEN, FIFTEEN YEARS, ONE EPIC JOURNEY by Eytan Uliel starts with a fated encounter. Ever since he was young, the narrator had been dreaming of visiting exotic lands to taste their food and enjoy outdoor activities. Nobody seemed to understand his weird hobby until he met Sam, a stranger who agreed to explore the Food Fair with him.

Several years later, while the narrator was enduring his dull job, another fateful phone call came from Sam. That was the birth of their yearly Man Mission, starting with Harper's Pass Trail. What was Man Mission? How did the other two guys join the party? What did these men gain from these annual journeys?

Even though this is a novel, it feels like an actual adventurer's memoir. I reckon it is because the book is written by a wanderer himself. For instance, one night in New Zealand, Sam and the narrator find themselves among a herd of glowing eyes that float eerily in the darkness. That totally freaks them out. Just as they are about to fight for their lives, the enemies decide to greet them with a special sound. Another time, the Japanese think that the protagonists are madmen after seeing their behaviors. Still, our men also witness a lot of crazy things in this nation.

Additionally, the characters are very realistic. For example, those with a pot belly will be able to relate to the narrator. It's funny to see how his three buddies tease him about his midsection. The way he tries to suck in his gut to hide it is also very hilarious.

My only complaint is about the EPUB version. Each page has a watermark behind the text. It is not very glaring, but it may be distracting. You can't copy the text, and if you want to locate a specific part, you will have to go over the pages again to find it.

Since the negative aspect is insignificant, I gladly rate this novel 4 out of 4 stars. The editing is quite good, but some readers may not fancy the missing and redundant commas. This is a perfect read for adventure lovers. Whether it is cycling, hiking, kayaking, sledding, sailing, or ice climbing, the cast is always ready to challenge foreign routes all over the continents. Interlaced with these trips are their issues with their jobs and their families, showing that life is not just a bed of roses. The novel is not religious, but there are a lot of vulgar talks and profanities.

******
Man Mission
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes