What readers think of The Very Long, Very Strange Life of Isaac Dahl, plus links to write your own review.

Bart Yates has written a book that in 12 chapters covers the lifetime of Isaac Dahl in 8 year increments which blends historical fact and fiction. The book opens with the twins, Isaac and Aggie, surviving an avalanche in 1926 in Bingham Canyon, Utah in a tarnished bathtub. The twins with their best friend, Bo, and their children, Ty, Karen, and Elias, live through character-busting dust storms,battles aboard USS Houston,atomic bomd tests,Civil Rights demonstrations,the raising of the Mary Rose, idle days at the movies, Saint Remy, France,Italy, and Massachusetts, as well as a tornado and an earthquake. The characters remain virtually unchanged despite the scope of their adventures. The "life" of Isaac Dahl and his co-characters encompass enough trauma to change a mirade of characters, but these characters remain circumspect. So if you're seeking a novel where the characters undergo momentious changes, this is not a novel for you.

As a reader in the twilight years (70) of my life, I found this book very poignant. I have often looked at my life reflecting on the passage of time as I have moved through history and experienced personal growth through experience. The author did a wonderful job in using historical events not widely known. My only criticism is that the personal relationships or chance meetings that Isaac mentions besides his family are not well developed.

This book was a good read and I really liked the format. Lots of anchor points of historical events and movements of the time. Great well developed characters. The story tells of the power of family and friendships through tragedy and triumphs. I would recommend this for book clubs because of its diversity.

Isaac Dahl was a witness to many of the major events of the 20th century. During his long life he experienced natural disasters, wrote about wars and nursed loved ones through devastating illnesses. Yet despite the backdrop of violence, tragedy and loss, Isaac and his family persevered with determination and love for one another. The family saga is chronicled in twelve chapters with each describing one day in Isaac's life from age 8 to 96. When his sister suggests this format to him she says "this will allow you to explore the scattershot richness of your past, without getting bogged down in the minutiae." (pg. 218) And indeed that is the beauty of this book. It invites you to know a man well loved and to appreciate a life that was filled with adventure, service and success.

I was very hesitant to read this book, it didn't sound like something I would like but I was pleasantly surprised. I enjoyed the character of Isaac Dahl, his ruminations, his relationships, his take on life.

I would definitely recommend this story, told over 96 years, in the course of 12 chapters of 8 year intervals.

This book is an enjoyable read. The author has an easy-going, low-key style. He invites the reader into the story rather than just presenting the story. And what an amazing life he describes. So amazing that by Day Eight the story becomes unreal. Reading each day becomes a "what next?" exercise. By the end of the book, all credibility for the story is questionable. So sad because this book is an enjoyable read.

I enjoyed this book. It's a relatively easy read, basically broken into several short stories documenting different stages and happenings in the life of Isaac Dahl. Some were more interesting than others; I particularly enjoyed the stories about his childhood in Utah, the dust bowl days in Oklahoma, and his adventures in WWII. I think it's really as much about Isaac's family as it is about Isaac himself, which added much to the depth and breadth of the story.

There was one part of the book that I found implausible. The author claimed that Isaac and his sister had orange juice and crackers for breakfast regularly when they were poor kids in a mining town in Utah in 1928. I don't know where they would have gotten the orange juice but I find it unlikely that they would have access to and/or be able to afford it. There was another spot (page 42?) where a sentence contained a line of gibberish - I suspect a spell-check gone wrong (hopefully not an example of what we have to look forward to with AI). I'm sure the editors will correct that as it goes to print.

I thought the repeated theme of homosexuality was a little much; However, it was done tastefully and was not overdone.

All told I enjoyed the book. It's a light read, something to bring on vacation or to take your mind off the troubles of the day. I'll mention it to some of my friends.

Issac's tale is an American life adventure highlighting 12 Days. It deserves a '4' for the energy and delightful detail in the first Day alone. By far the best chapter, maybe ever! While the title of the book had me prepared for a Gumpish story filled with famous characters, this is not the case. The book is very much a character study of 'ordinary' people; a very close-knit family/friendship that spans 96 years and counting, according to Issac in the last location of Napa Valley. Such a long life does, of course, involve some monumental events like an avalanche, the Dustbowl, and an earthquake but the people are without question the heart of the story. So, sentimentality rules...Issac cries a lot... but with a strong peppering of jokes and wisecracking throughout. The book also reveals Isaac's additional trials of being gay even while finding total love and acceptance within his family.

It is almost guaranteed that readers will be reflecting on their own life's 'moments' while reading. That was my experience and it made me wish I could coax more days' adventures from my dad who will be 100 in November!

P.S. I'm not crazy about the book's title. How about "No Such Thing as an Ordinary Life."
Thank you Book Browse and Kensington Publishing Corp. for this reading experience!