Review by Christina Clayton -- Man Mission by Eytan Uliel
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Christina Clayton
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Review by Christina Clayton -- Man Mission by Eytan Uliel
[Following is a volunteer review of "Man Mission" by Eytan Uliel.]
This story begins as we learn how a group of four friends meet at University in Australia and begin to forge a bond that will last throughout the next couple of decades. Man Mission by Eytan Uliel is an epic journey into what it feels like to become a man. Our narrator is saddled with the expectations of what he thinks a man truly is and sets out to fulfill his quest for the ultimate exercise in manhood every year for fifteen years, side by side with his best mates. Along this journey are vivid and lively descriptions of remote vacation destinations from New Zealand to Vietnam to Iceland and many places in between.
The first couple of chapters had me riveted. The character introductions are flawless, the writing exciting and bold, the insights into the male psyche intriguing. "Ego mixed with adrenaline will drive men to do crazy things" after all. As the story progresses I find myself debating whether or not our narrator is a hard-working, deserving man who is simply misunderstood; or if he is a selfish man-child who continually abandons his family in pursuit of filling a void in his life that he, himself, has created.
As time marches forward we witness relationships lead to marriage, the birth of children, and the securing of professions. With all of these responsibilities our narrator becomes increasingly unhappy as a wealthy, successful lawyer and begins to question his life choices. He becomes an over-indulged, middle-aged, selfish wanker who pays zero attention to his wife and kids, yet seems genuinely surprised when she becomes unhappy.
What I enjoyed most about this book was the impeccable storytelling abilities of the author. Uliel uses such inspiring descriptions that you feel as if you are truly there enjoying the views, smells, and tastes of it all. I physically felt the dirt, the grime, the adrenaline, the emotions, and the chaffing. The enduring spirit of the friendships between these four men as they navigate their personal lives is inspiring. The true bright spots for me are the introduction of the narrator's mother nearing the end. I found her delightful and spot-on in her responses to the direction her son's life had taken. The second bright spot is the exceptional editing executed throughout the book.
What I enjoyed least was the lack of depth for the wives' characters. I felt like there should have been more. What were the wives doing while their husbands were trekking through Iceland trying to find themselves? How did they handle being left to care for the children and the home while never having adventures of their own for fifteen years?
I give this book 4 out of 4 stars based solely on the writing and editing. Any writer who can make you care about the characters, even if you hate them, is worth reading! I feel the audience for this book is largely middle-aged men with a bonus for travel enthusiasts and foodies.
******
Man Mission
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes
This story begins as we learn how a group of four friends meet at University in Australia and begin to forge a bond that will last throughout the next couple of decades. Man Mission by Eytan Uliel is an epic journey into what it feels like to become a man. Our narrator is saddled with the expectations of what he thinks a man truly is and sets out to fulfill his quest for the ultimate exercise in manhood every year for fifteen years, side by side with his best mates. Along this journey are vivid and lively descriptions of remote vacation destinations from New Zealand to Vietnam to Iceland and many places in between.
The first couple of chapters had me riveted. The character introductions are flawless, the writing exciting and bold, the insights into the male psyche intriguing. "Ego mixed with adrenaline will drive men to do crazy things" after all. As the story progresses I find myself debating whether or not our narrator is a hard-working, deserving man who is simply misunderstood; or if he is a selfish man-child who continually abandons his family in pursuit of filling a void in his life that he, himself, has created.
As time marches forward we witness relationships lead to marriage, the birth of children, and the securing of professions. With all of these responsibilities our narrator becomes increasingly unhappy as a wealthy, successful lawyer and begins to question his life choices. He becomes an over-indulged, middle-aged, selfish wanker who pays zero attention to his wife and kids, yet seems genuinely surprised when she becomes unhappy.
What I enjoyed most about this book was the impeccable storytelling abilities of the author. Uliel uses such inspiring descriptions that you feel as if you are truly there enjoying the views, smells, and tastes of it all. I physically felt the dirt, the grime, the adrenaline, the emotions, and the chaffing. The enduring spirit of the friendships between these four men as they navigate their personal lives is inspiring. The true bright spots for me are the introduction of the narrator's mother nearing the end. I found her delightful and spot-on in her responses to the direction her son's life had taken. The second bright spot is the exceptional editing executed throughout the book.
What I enjoyed least was the lack of depth for the wives' characters. I felt like there should have been more. What were the wives doing while their husbands were trekking through Iceland trying to find themselves? How did they handle being left to care for the children and the home while never having adventures of their own for fifteen years?
I give this book 4 out of 4 stars based solely on the writing and editing. Any writer who can make you care about the characters, even if you hate them, is worth reading! I feel the audience for this book is largely middle-aged men with a bonus for travel enthusiasts and foodies.
******
Man Mission
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes
Latest Review: The Reel Sisters by Michelle Cummings
