2 out of 5 stars
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Thirty-seven years after the Second World War, physician James Paul arrived in Munich, Germany, for a European vacation. Going in and out of cathedrals, coffee shops, and restaurants, Paul shares his sentiments about religion and current socio-political issues. A mix between a travel diary and a memoir, A Man Like You And Me by Paul Joel sheds light on the author's true-to-life travels and life experiences.
As I started reading this book, I struggled to understand what it was all about. James Paul, the primary persona of the narrative, arrived in Germany to kick off an exciting European trip. The confusion began when the author started digressing a lot from the main narrative by sharing his critique of social and religious topics. The character serves as a mouthpiece for the author's controversial opinions. There were so many paragraphs dedicated to these that one would start wondering about their relevance to the main subject of the book. The narrative goes back and forth between Paul's experiences in the past and his present travels, rendering me confused at times with the rocky transitions.
The writing style appears to be that of a diary entry. It is straightforward, like how one would write a memoir or a travelogue. Except for a few changes in the narrative, the book is nonfiction material reflecting the author's real-life experiences.
I admit that I find some of the author's arguments agreeable. He made some excellent points concerning his scrutiny of Christian belief. What I like the most about the book is that it continuously raises questions about religious and political topics.
My rating for A Man Like You And Me would be 2 out of 5 stars. I deducted points because, while I appreciate the thought-provoking nature of the book and the exceptionally flawless editing, the writing is lacking in terms of objective literary merit. There seems to be a lack of coherence in the flow of the narrative, as the author has a tendency to digress a lot from his main point. If you don't mind the said issues and you're looking for a short, thought-provoking piece to kill time, then you might want to try this book.
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A Man Like You and Me
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