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There are currently 35 member reviews
for The Very Long, Very Strange Life of Isaac Dahl
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Evelyn K. (Davis, CA)
Historical Novel - The Very Strange Life of Isaac Dahl
I enjoyed this book very much! It was unlike any book I've read.
It was well written and I felt so completely involved I had trouble putting it down.
I will suggest it to my book group.
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Diane T. (Slingerlands, NY)
12 Days of One Life
The Very Long, Very Strange Life of Isaac Dahl is one of a kind and a book that I believe will be talked about for many years. Isaac's life, 96 years long, is encapsulated in 12 chapters that dig deep into not only Isaac's psyche but in what was happening in the world and how it both swelled around snd intersected Issacs' life. In 226 pages we learn more about Isaac than any epic of 500 pages could ever cut through to the heart of theatter. Isaac lived a life that was full of poignancy that will resonate with anyone who reads it. He is, to me, the common man who experiences both the joy and pain of living. And in that experience allows us to realize what we have lived, still have to live and how it will affect us and our loved ones.
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Susan W. (Berkley, MI)
This is a wonderful book about family
This book had a slow start for me, in fact I wasn't sure I was going to like it. First person narrative doesn't always work for me. However, the author won me over with great characters, captivating descriptions, and an interesting structure to the book. I enjoyed the history intertwined with the lives of the characters and how it moved the action along. At times I wished for more at the end of a chapter; I wanted to know what happened the next day, the next week. But the narrator moved us eight years forward to another day in his life. It was never boring.
The main characters were all strong in their own way. If this were a television series, each one of them could have had their own "spin off." Each character was complete, yet there was plenty of room for my imagination to invent a future story line for each of them. The historical narrative never was contrived nor was the insertion of the characters.
I described this as a book about family because it felt like Isaac was taking me into his confidence, as he described his memories of these people whom he considered to be his family. I felt like part of his family. His was not the typical family of the 20th century by any means, but it felt like the families of today, diverse, spread out over miles, multigenerational. I loved this book.
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Judith H. (Exeter, NH)
A life-spanning novel encapsulated within 12 vignettes
The characters offer a glimpse into 20th century American history, often during tumultuous times, that show the many dimensions of pain, growth, loss, humor, intelligence, love and endurance that people who lead rich lives are likely to experience. Readers who enjoy strong story-telling, evocative writing, and characters who linger in the imagination long after the book is finished will likely relish this tale.
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Leslie S. (Chapel Hill, NC)
A Clever Device for a Heartwarming Story
At first I thought this was a YA book, but as I read further I appreciated the subtlety woven throughout the telling of the story of Isaac and his friends and family, which made it extremely adult.
The clever device used was the way the story was told as a biography with the highlights of Isaac's life being major events in US History: The sinking of a battleship, a "war" at school, Atomic Bomb test, the "war" with AIDS and so on. And woven throughout is Isaac's loving relationship with his sister, Agnes, his dearest friend and lover, Bo, and the many people who pass through this strange, interesting, creative life.
It's difficult to go more deeply into the story without spoiling the many "catches" in Isaac's life (almost 100 years!) and the adventures of this seemingly simple man whose excitement starts as a child under an old metal bathtub.
I will read this book again and look for things I may have missed during his "strange" yet exciting life.
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Judith G. (Greenbrae, CA)
The Very Long, Very Strange Life of Isaac Dahl -Bart Yates
Isaac Dahl has indeed had a long life with enough strange—or at least unusual—episodes to justify the book's title, and at ninety-six, the former. journalist, decides to write a memoir. He tells his story in a series of single days set years apart, days when he experiences both natural disasters—an avalanche, a tornado, an earthquake,—man-made disasters—the Dust Bowl, WWII at sea, Nuclear Tests in the Pacific, Civil Rights violence in Mississippi, AIDS—and more personal moments with his beloved twin sister and their best friend, his nieces and nephews, and the often painful drama of a gay man making his way through the twentieth century. Through it all, the author manages to weave together the personal and the historical so well that what emerges entertains, gives historical perspective to the century and also gives the reader a very human, warm and relatable story. I really enjoyed traveling through the twentieth century with Isaac and would recommend the book.
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Rosemary C. (Golden, CO)
Sweeping Story, Unique Format
This is a lovely book that kept me entranced. I highly recommend it, and it might appeal most to older readers. It's fascinating that the concept of writing twelve not lengthy chapters, each covering one day in the life of a long-lived man, works so well. Blending real life historical events/time periods with seemingly mundane life events results in a story about interesting, sympathetic people. I really loved all of them and appreciated the lessons about love of friends and family. I can also see this book generating lots of discussion in book groups.
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