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There are currently 35 member reviews
for The Very Long, Very Strange Life of Isaac Dahl
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Karna B. (Urbandale, IA)
I am genuinely mourning the end of this book
"The Very Long, Very Strange Life of Isaac Dahl" by Bart Yates is unlike any book I have read before, and I can't remember the last time I loved a book this much. It chronicles the life of Isaac Dahl from age 8 to 96, with each chapter depicting a different day or part of his life. The 12 chapters leap eight years ahead each time, making for an engaging and unique narrative. Yates excels at bridging the gaps between these time jumps, creating a seamless and compelling story. The characters are so well-developed that I feel as if I know them personally, and I am genuinely mourning the end of the book, as I will miss them greatly.
I love this book so much that I would read it again, which is rare for me. I typically only reread books I encountered in high school to understand why I liked them, especially as my memory in my 60s can be unreliable. The fact that I would read this book multiple times makes it a 5-star read. In full disclosure, my personal connection to the story might influence my opinion. Half of my ancestors hail from Sweden, and my Dad was in the 34th Infantry - Red Bull, sharing experiences with Bo in places like Ireland, Africa, and Italy. Having lived two-thirds of my life in Des Moines, IA, and having significant ties to Iowa City, the book resonates deeply with me. It has enough memory hooks to feel personal. I have spent a lot of time speculating about the lives of my ancestors. There are several people in my family tree for whom I would love to have a book like this written.
And then there is this: "Each day is a story, whether or not that story makes any damn sense, or is worth telling to anyone else." "What matters is that we're fine right now." and "I want to see how this story ends."
Thank you to BookBrowse, the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book.
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Viqui G. (State College, PA)
The Very Long, Very Strange Life of Isaac Dahl
This novel was delightful to read. The premise of reviewing Isaac Dahl's life based on 12 specific days spaced 8 years apart was a surprisingly effective way to understand the individual. The 12 days chosen to describe Isaac were a mixture of mundane events and significant historical events such as the WW2 naval battle in which the USS Houston sank. Throughout Isaac's life he was fortunate to have a close relationship with both his sister, Agnes and his best friend, Bo. The positive value of these friendships was an important theme in the novel and helped tie all the days of his life together. I strongly recommend this novel to all readers of fiction.
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Colleen C. (Bourne, MA)
The Very Long, Very Strange Life of Isaac Dahl
I totally enjoyed this book, loved that the book interwove fiction and non-fiction into one book. The book takes 12 twelve monumental days in history and forms a fictitious story with Isaac Dahl as the main character, along with family and friends. The three main characters - Isaac, his twin sister Agnes and Bo have a special relationship that lasts a lifetime, through life's trials and tribulations. A beautiful story that begins in Utah, 1926 and ends in California,2014 filled with humor, tenderness and sadness.
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Jodi S. (Goldens Bridge, NY)
Loved this!
What an interesting premise for a book. A day here and another day there. Some important days some ordinary days. But put them all together and they make up the very long, very strange life of Isaac Dahl. I loved the story and the way the booked flowed, even though it jumped by 8 years every chapter. If you want to read a book that tells a life story in an interesting, historical manner, read this book!
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Mary Z. (Lake Forest, IL)
A Unique Read
I liked this book and felt it was well written. I thought the idea of advancing 8 years each chapter was a unique way of telling the story. Also the use of historical events. I don't think we realize how many historical events we witness or perhaps participate in until we look back. It made me realize how unique each one's life is.
Originally I felt that the advancement of 8 years left gaps and questions in the story as well as not developing the characters as much as I would like but found most questions were answered and you realize it was done on purpose. I really liked how this was done and why. Not a spoiler here!
I recommend this book and think it would be a great book for a book club.
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Allison R. (Twinsburg, OH)
A long and interesting life
I enjoyed how this book allowed the reader to dive deep into 12 significant days in Isaac's long life, starting from his childhood and going well into his old age. This was a unique and insightful way to get to know someone and see their development over the course of a life. The author also did a great job incorporating real and interesting events in history throughout, along with developing the characters and their relationships. I found myself invested in both Isaac and his story as well as the historical events and settings from the 1920s to the 2010s. The format give you a deeper appreciation for how people change and think at different stages in their lives. I am not sure if Isaac's life was truly strange, but it surely was interesting.
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Jane B. (San Ramon, CA)
The very long, very strange life of Issac Dahl
I could not put this book down once I started reading it. The format of the 12 days in the long life of Issac was brilliant. It made me review my life and try to pick out the most pivotal points I would have included in a book like this. I particularly enjoyed the conversations of Agnus, Issac and Bo. It gave comic relief to the book and reinforced that our personalities do not change that much as we age and mature. It shows the complexities that life throws at us and how we need a core of people to help us through. Mr Yates was able to dial down to the emotions of his different days and show the reader how it affected Issac. I was rightly horrified with the USS Houston chapter and it stayed with me for a long time. I also liked the My Autobiography page at the end of the book so that I could go back to it and see the time line that Issac used and the exact dates. This book was a well written, thought provoking book that stays with the reader.
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