Review of The elderly Gentleman's Ulyssee

[Kutloano Makhuvhela]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The elderly Gentleman's Ulyssee" by Hans Bodmer.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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The elderly Gentleman’s Ulyssee by Hans Bodmer is a non-fiction travel journal book that details the twelve-day hike journey taken by the author from Zurich to Geneva. The book takes the reader on day-to-day events from start to finish as the hiker encounters strange people, places, and practices along the way. It’s written in a different way to get the message across. It’s short, beautiful, hilarious, and adventurous.

The book opens with a prologue/vision, where we are introduced to an older gentleman by the name of Hans. It is revealed that he has done the Zurich-Geneva trip before, but it was through other modes of transportation like trains and aeroplanes. So, this time he is planning to do it differently, and what is the best way to do that except on foot? That is what he does. There are many things he has to take into consideration first before he can embark on this treacherous journey. His age is the first. He is old. Can he be able to hike all the way? What does he need to sustain himself on the journey? After everything is sorted, the journey begins. The first day is not easy as the weather is not exactly desirable, but he is not planning on postponing or cancelling. He goes right in. He meets people, and they are curious about him. Along the way, he muses about many things, such as life, humanity, the future, and other philosophical and moral questions. The rest of the journey is filled with many adventures.

Read this book to find out if this man will succeed in his journey. I enjoyed reading this book. The first thing that attracted me about it was, of course, its synopsis when I saw it. It talked of a man who is trying something new, who pushes himself out of his comfort zone, and that drew me in. I found it inspirational before I could even read about him. When I did, I was glad I chose it because it was worth it. The author wrote so succinctly that I found myself drawn to the next word, as I did to the one before that. I was flipping the pages, indulging myself.

The author used a technique that I had not seen before using short sentences throughout the book. Before one could assume that would make the book monotonous, I should assure you that was not the case. The author made sure that this technique was balanced by humour in the form of musing. So while the sentences might be short, you will be interested in the story. The author included quotes, sayings, lyrics, and proverbs here and there to best illustrate what he was talking about.

The book did not rely much on descriptions. They were there when he arrived at the new places, so the reader could have an idea of where he was. When people appeared, like waitresses and receptionists, they were described a little but not too much. The dialogue was also in small doses. It was perfect and moved the story forward. This type of writing was new and fantastic. I also noted the style of writing from the third-person point of view, as if the hiker was not the author himself. This brought an unexpected flavour to the book.

The journey was so real, and I found myself inside the story because of how it was portrayed. The challenges that the author had to overcome—some of them scary, others hilarious—were realistic. Encountering the police who searched him and asked him to call them at a certain time of the day to confirm a few things was something I did not see coming. The attitude of some receptionists didn’t sit well with me. The refusal of card payment surprised me, as I thought that is what would be mostly encouraged rather than paying in cash. This and much more added to the sense of mystery and suspense in the book.

I loved how short it was. The author could have gone on and on and tried to talk about everything, even risking straying off the topic, but he did not. Everything fits well in the story, and I read it quickly. Fast readers would be able to finish it in one sitting. There is nothing I disliked about it. The errors I detected were small and didn’t ruin the quality of the book. That’s why I rate the book five out of five stars. I highly recommend it to people who love travelling and love reading about it. It would inspire people to go out there and do what they have always wanted to do. Everyone should read this book, from teenagers to adults and seniors.

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The elderly Gentleman's Ulyssee
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[Emmanuel olowolayemo]

This review makes *The Elderly Gentleman's Ulyssee* by Hans Bodmer sound like a captivating and reflective read. The story of an older man hiking from Zurich to Geneva, combined with its unique writing style, promises both humor and depth. The short, succinct prose, balanced with philosophical musings and real-life challenges, seems to offer an engaging narrative without unnecessary details. The book's brevity and the reviewer’s praise for its originality and inspiration make it appealing for anyone interested in travel and personal growth. I'm definitely interested in reading it.

[Omutsiambo Silvio]

I am a travel enthusiast and books like this will attract me any day. I hope to get it someday and explore the Zurich-Geneva journey with Bodmer but from my home

[Mercy Ndungu 9]

The Elderly Gentleman’s Ulyssee by Hans Bodmer is a captivating travel journal chronicling the author's twelve-day hike from Zurich to Geneva. The book offers a fresh perspective on adventure through the eyes of an older gentleman, showcasing his reflections, challenges, and encounters along the way.

[Elsa Davis]

An interesting and engaging read that captures the essence of the book and its unique storytelling style. Great for anyone interested in travel and personal journeys!

[Sushan Ekanayake]

Hans Bodmer’s The Elderly Gentleman’s Ulyssee is a short, witty, and adventurous account of a 12-day hike from Zurich to Geneva. Packed with humor, musings, and real-life challenges, it’s an inspiring reminder to push boundaries and embrace the unknown. Perfect for travel lovers. Congratulations on being BOTD!

[Uchenna Precious]

Hans Bodmer’s The Elderly Gentleman’s Ulyssee is an engaging narrative of a 12-day hike by an elderly man from Zurich to Geneva. It is infused with adventure and humour which makes it even interesting.
Thank you for a great review.

[Bertha Jackson]

I enjoy reading books about older individuals who have the courage to try something new that takes them out of their comfort zone. Thank you for your review.

[Radhika Sharma 19]

The elderly Gentleman’s Ulyssee by Hans Bodmer , a non friction book based on travel journey of the author from Zurich to Geneva. Intresting as a travel enthusiast I love to now more about new places to travel

[Devesh Patel]

This review captures the charm of "The Elderly Gentleman’s Ulyssee" beautifully. It highlights the book’s unique writing style, humor, and philosophical musings while emphasizing its inspirational tone. The concise sentences, vivid encounters, and realistic challenges create a captivating narrative that resonates with travel enthusiasts and readers seeking adventure and self-discovery.

[Meghan Greenleaf]

I appreciate how much this review shared about the story without sharing too much; while I feel like I have a good idea about the contents of the book I don't feel like anything had been given away. In fact, the small amounts of details provided along with the adjectives used, have left me quite intrigued.

[Fanisa Ndhabambi]

The Elderly Gentleman's Ulyssee: IN TWELVE DAYS ON FOOT FROM ZURICH TO GENEVA by Hans Bodmerer .This is a travellers quest book and the experiences along the way that was carefully documented. If you embark on a journey of discovery read this book.

[Chris Agbara]

"The Elderly Gentleman's Ulyssee" by Hans Bodmer is a charming, inspirational travel journal that chronicles the author's 12-day hike from Zurich to Geneva, filled with humor, philosophical musings, and unexpected adventures.

[Tasha Marie Poole Sullivan]

Since I am not a big traveler I would probably not have picked this book up if it were not for your review. You did a great job telling how it is not just another dry and boring travel book. I like journal style books, and your review commenting on this one being both journal-style, yet written from the third person perspective intrigues me. This is now at the top of my must read list!

[Chinazo Anozie]

The Elderly Gentleman’s Ulyssee by Hans Bodmer sounds like a travelogue that could inspire wanderlust! Unfortunately, it might not be a perfect fit for me since I don't read nonfiction.