Review by GrahamL2 -- Man Mission by Eytan Uliel
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GrahamL2
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- Latest Review: Man Mission by Eytan Uliel
Review by GrahamL2 -- Man Mission by Eytan Uliel
[Following is a volunteer review of "Man Mission" by Eytan Uliel.]
Man Mission by Eytan Uliel may not be what most people would think of as a first choice read for a 30-year-old female, but I found this book to be relatable and entertaining. While it follows a group of 4 male friends on their annual travel adventure, starting when they are fresh out of college and continuing for 15 years as they experience numerous life changes, it could just as easily be a group of 4 women, who experience and feel many of the same things that these friends do.
The writing style of Uliel was appealing to me; each chapter starting with a couple of relevant quotes, and a teaser of sorts, looking ahead to some aspect of the adventure the men would experience in the coming pages, and leaving you curious about how they had reached that point... and thus eager to read on. At the end of each chapter, the "vital statistics" for each Man Mission provide a funny and enlightening summary of the preceding chapter and adventure.
Every theme throughout the book made the characters relatable, for men and women alike. Whether identifying with the contagious excitement as the men began to plan the very first man mission, to the interesting dialogue and struggles the men battled in facing the pressures of growing up, any adult reader can relate. We've all felt the tug-of-war of trying to feel content, but also feeling a loss of freedom, adventure, and room for dreaming as we grow up. The "other people have it worse" and "I don't have a reason to be unhappy" mental struggles that these men grapple with are identifiable and relatable, and made me a more invested and sympathetic reader.
The other beautiful thing about this writing is the parallels it draws between people from different cultures, something that is so needed in our world today. While differences in societal norms are evident, the author also finds things to connect the characters from very different backgrounds by finding their commonalities. For example, while giving toasts in Japan, in a language probably not even understood by many in the room, a wonderful scene of togetherness is portrayed.
The only aspect I didn't love throughout the book was the somewhat negative connotation of the women in the men's lives - which, obviously being a book titled Man Mission , is to be expected. However, it painted the women often in the role of being the ones to hold back the men from what they truly desired to do, and even though this was often times remedied by the men's further exploration of their feelings and lives, was a negative connotation in many senses.
Overall, I would recommend this book to any adults, male or female, who have a sense of adventure, a curiosity about the world around them, and love relating to those from different backgrounds and cultures. It should be noted that some profanity is included throughout the book. I think that Uliel did an incredible job of making this massive world we live in feel just a little smaller and more united. 4/4 stars.
******
Man Mission
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes
Man Mission by Eytan Uliel may not be what most people would think of as a first choice read for a 30-year-old female, but I found this book to be relatable and entertaining. While it follows a group of 4 male friends on their annual travel adventure, starting when they are fresh out of college and continuing for 15 years as they experience numerous life changes, it could just as easily be a group of 4 women, who experience and feel many of the same things that these friends do.
The writing style of Uliel was appealing to me; each chapter starting with a couple of relevant quotes, and a teaser of sorts, looking ahead to some aspect of the adventure the men would experience in the coming pages, and leaving you curious about how they had reached that point... and thus eager to read on. At the end of each chapter, the "vital statistics" for each Man Mission provide a funny and enlightening summary of the preceding chapter and adventure.
Every theme throughout the book made the characters relatable, for men and women alike. Whether identifying with the contagious excitement as the men began to plan the very first man mission, to the interesting dialogue and struggles the men battled in facing the pressures of growing up, any adult reader can relate. We've all felt the tug-of-war of trying to feel content, but also feeling a loss of freedom, adventure, and room for dreaming as we grow up. The "other people have it worse" and "I don't have a reason to be unhappy" mental struggles that these men grapple with are identifiable and relatable, and made me a more invested and sympathetic reader.
The other beautiful thing about this writing is the parallels it draws between people from different cultures, something that is so needed in our world today. While differences in societal norms are evident, the author also finds things to connect the characters from very different backgrounds by finding their commonalities. For example, while giving toasts in Japan, in a language probably not even understood by many in the room, a wonderful scene of togetherness is portrayed.
The only aspect I didn't love throughout the book was the somewhat negative connotation of the women in the men's lives - which, obviously being a book titled Man Mission , is to be expected. However, it painted the women often in the role of being the ones to hold back the men from what they truly desired to do, and even though this was often times remedied by the men's further exploration of their feelings and lives, was a negative connotation in many senses.
Overall, I would recommend this book to any adults, male or female, who have a sense of adventure, a curiosity about the world around them, and love relating to those from different backgrounds and cultures. It should be noted that some profanity is included throughout the book. I think that Uliel did an incredible job of making this massive world we live in feel just a little smaller and more united. 4/4 stars.
******
Man Mission
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes
Latest Review: Man Mission by Eytan Uliel
