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There are currently 35 member reviews
for The Very Long, Very Strange Life of Isaac Dahl
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Barbara H. (Tempe, AZ)
Connections with life
This is a book about relationships. Bart Yates creates a main character, Isaac, with a small family and a few friends. He becomes a reporter and is privy to the many important events of his long life. He is a keen observer of the human condition. The characters unfold gradually to create a compelling read. As a senior citizen, I appreciated the way the characters aged.
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Susan S. (Salida, CO)
Short capsules of a long life
TVLVSLoID - What a mouthful! And yet, the author manages to live up to the title. Each chapter is a capsule snapshot of the life of Isaac Dahl, taken every 8 years. Each of those years is significant in history, both for our main character and for the world – catastrophes, wars, social upheaval, etc. And ID's role in them as well as their effect on his life, are explored in sufficient detail to hold your attention throughout. Some characters come and go, some are with us for all or most of ID's life. All are richly developed and authentic. Each chapter is a short story, independent and yet connected to all the rest. Told from ID's viewpoint as an autobiography but with an angle from journalism as his occupation and avocation. Contemporary fiction but believable and very readable. Great for book clubs to open conversations about historical events, family, survival and where we might fit in each category.
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Ellen H. (Leonia, NJ)
Great Book Club read
What a clever way to tell a story! Bart Yates shares Isaac Dahl's life history by revisiting 12 days in Isaac's lifetime and manages to weave in plenty of historical and cultural context. Each of those days takes us back to important events and depicts what was happening to the main characters then. Isaac, his sister Aggie, and best friend Bo have relationships that date back to when they were 8 years old and their acceptance and love of each other and their children is the constant theme of the book. Each of the characters is well developed and quirky as they find their way through some of the major events of their lives from their youth to old age. I think a book club could have some very interesting discussions with this book.
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Theresa P. (Arkport, NY)
A life in 12 days
I absolutely loved this book. I have promised to buy a copy for my dad's birthday (he will be 93!), and have suggested he create a Very Long Life story as Isaac did. I so appreciated the structure of the story as much as the story itself. It will be enthusiastically suggested to our library patrons, and I expect they will also promote its readership. Thank you for the wonderful ARC!
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Elizabeth V. (Bellbrook, OH)
Short but Very Sweet
Isaac may have had a long, strange life but the book about him is short but sweet. I was a little skeptical that a book about a man's life that skips ahead every eight years would tell a coherent story, much less an enjoyable one. I was very wrong. Bart Yates did a masterful job of creating characters who came to life despite the gaps in the timeline. Each chapter presented new characters who added depth to Isaac's story and immediacy to the historical events each chapter depicted. I read the entire book in one sitting and was very sorry when it was finished. This one will go on my favorites shelf.
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Mary lee C. (Fleetwood, NC)
The Very Long, Strange Life of Isaac Dahl
Ninety-six year old Isaac Dahl writes his memoir which describes 12 significant days across nearly 100 years of his life. His descriptions starting at the age of eight and ending in his nineties succeed in encapsulating a fascinating, well lead life. I was amazed at how many traumas and natural disasters he lived through and survived. His very close relationship with his twin sister, Agnes, and his childhood friend, Bo, helped him to deal with so many tragedies and traumas in his life. It reminded me how important connections can be in our lives. I only wish he could have found more close intimate relationships. This was difficult for a gay male at that time. I frankly could not put the book down and loved reading about his life. His descriptions in the twelve different chapters made you feel like you were right there with him.
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Laurie L. (Warwick, RI)
An enjoyable ride through the life of a precious and wise man!
This book was everything I enjoy reading in a novel--fictional memoir laced with historical fiction with an interesting, insightful main character ( Isaac). I was intrigued by the structure of the book which divided Isaac's life into 12 chapters, each covering a single day in his very long and very well lived life. The chapters eloquently transported me through the life passages of Isaac, with each highlighting a defining moment for him. Bart Yates effectively drew me into the heart and soul of Isaac. The emotions of Isaac during some of the harrowing moments of his experiences were palpable to me. This book would be an excellent choice for a book discussion group since the many cental theme in the book- family, friendship, love, loss, survival, -- would provide a plethora of topics to explore.
I look forward to reading some of Bart Yates' other works. Thank you for providing me with this complementary copy!
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