Review of Man Mission
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Khaleel Rahman
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- Latest Review: Man Mission by Eytan Uliel
Review of Man Mission
[Following is a volunteer review of "Man Mission" by Eytan Uliel.]
A captivating narrative portraying the lives of four young men over 15 years. What began as a casual friendship between four Australian guys grows and endures until they are well into their forties. A crazy idea turns into reality when two of them; the narrator and his friend Sam agree to go on a wild trip together. Two years later they are joined by their friends Alec and Daniel. The rules of these men-only trips are spartan: extreme adventure from point A to point B, going beyond their limits with no luxuries allowed and travelling under one's power. Each year an exotic location is decided on and preparations are done sometimes weeks in advance. Beginning in New Zealand their annual escapades range from Japan, Fiji, Spain, South Africa, Peru and more similarly far-flung places. Result: every trip revolves around some extremely demanding sport like kayaking, cycling, or hiking in tough terrains around the world.
Every year they take about a week off to go on a trip only for macho males, leaving behind the cares of work and family. To discard the realities of daily life and do something physically demanding. Camping in the wilds and living rough. Playing, laughing, swearing and making up silly rules and traditions; in other words, just being boys. The protagonist is a humorous character, someone who is always inviting ridicule when among friends. The four of them grow from carefree bachelors to responsible adults while juggling busy careers and family lives. They support each other at every turn. Over time they begin to experience problems in their day-to-day lives like financial losses, divorce and health problems. These annual trips become a necessity to escape reality, even if only for a few days. These crazy action-packed trips turn into journeys of self-discovery for the four of them. Roughing it against the elements and being one with nature; learning what it means to be a man. The adrenaline-charged physical activities and the injuries sustained, both physical and psychological only help the four friends to heal themselves. Their interactions with people of different cultures and lifestyles, only further serve to help them deal with their real-life problems back home.
I found Man Mission by Eytan Uliel very fascinating. Into the middle of each adventure, the author weaves the flashbacks so expertly that the reader is never perplexed. Eytan Uliel has some exceptional writing skills. He provides vital statistics at the end of each adventure and I found that mightily helpful. The description of each location is provided in such detail that one feels as if one is there. The author cleverly depicts the transition of youth to middle-aged men, intertwining the threads of love and friendship. Some interesting insights into the male mind are provided. The author has admirably tackled the subject of social norms which prevent men from expressing their sentiments or emotions. Challenges the expectations society burdens a man with. Eytan Uliel drives home the fact that men too are humans with emotions, who need a shoulder to cry on. I did not find anything negative about the story.
Man Mission has been exceptionally well edited. I give the book a rating of 5 out of 5 stars.
I recommend that older people read this book. An extraordinary blend of action and drama with a huge dose of humour thrown in. I am convinced that women who are trying to figure out the workings of the male mind, will undoubtedly learn a lot from the narrative. In short, it is a riveting read.
******
Man Mission
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes
A captivating narrative portraying the lives of four young men over 15 years. What began as a casual friendship between four Australian guys grows and endures until they are well into their forties. A crazy idea turns into reality when two of them; the narrator and his friend Sam agree to go on a wild trip together. Two years later they are joined by their friends Alec and Daniel. The rules of these men-only trips are spartan: extreme adventure from point A to point B, going beyond their limits with no luxuries allowed and travelling under one's power. Each year an exotic location is decided on and preparations are done sometimes weeks in advance. Beginning in New Zealand their annual escapades range from Japan, Fiji, Spain, South Africa, Peru and more similarly far-flung places. Result: every trip revolves around some extremely demanding sport like kayaking, cycling, or hiking in tough terrains around the world.
Every year they take about a week off to go on a trip only for macho males, leaving behind the cares of work and family. To discard the realities of daily life and do something physically demanding. Camping in the wilds and living rough. Playing, laughing, swearing and making up silly rules and traditions; in other words, just being boys. The protagonist is a humorous character, someone who is always inviting ridicule when among friends. The four of them grow from carefree bachelors to responsible adults while juggling busy careers and family lives. They support each other at every turn. Over time they begin to experience problems in their day-to-day lives like financial losses, divorce and health problems. These annual trips become a necessity to escape reality, even if only for a few days. These crazy action-packed trips turn into journeys of self-discovery for the four of them. Roughing it against the elements and being one with nature; learning what it means to be a man. The adrenaline-charged physical activities and the injuries sustained, both physical and psychological only help the four friends to heal themselves. Their interactions with people of different cultures and lifestyles, only further serve to help them deal with their real-life problems back home.
I found Man Mission by Eytan Uliel very fascinating. Into the middle of each adventure, the author weaves the flashbacks so expertly that the reader is never perplexed. Eytan Uliel has some exceptional writing skills. He provides vital statistics at the end of each adventure and I found that mightily helpful. The description of each location is provided in such detail that one feels as if one is there. The author cleverly depicts the transition of youth to middle-aged men, intertwining the threads of love and friendship. Some interesting insights into the male mind are provided. The author has admirably tackled the subject of social norms which prevent men from expressing their sentiments or emotions. Challenges the expectations society burdens a man with. Eytan Uliel drives home the fact that men too are humans with emotions, who need a shoulder to cry on. I did not find anything negative about the story.
Man Mission has been exceptionally well edited. I give the book a rating of 5 out of 5 stars.
I recommend that older people read this book. An extraordinary blend of action and drama with a huge dose of humour thrown in. I am convinced that women who are trying to figure out the workings of the male mind, will undoubtedly learn a lot from the narrative. In short, it is a riveting read.
******
Man Mission
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes
Latest Review: Man Mission by Eytan Uliel
