After reading the description, The Very Long, Very Strange Life of Isaac Dahl became one of my highly anticipated reads. I loved the eccentric idea of 12 chapters, highlighting 12 different days (in 8 year increments) throughout the protagonist’s 96 years of life. I felt as though this unique approach may offer an opportunity to enhance the complexity of the characters and their stories. I expected this story to be compelling and consuming - leaving me emotional and hungover. Unfortunately, this was not the case.

The 12 chapter, 12 day approach did not cultivate the complexity I had envisioned. Instead, I found the chapters to read as separate short stories which often glossed over opportunities to provoke emotion or truly engage with the book’s vulnerable themes. I think one of the most notable missed opportunities was with the character Elias. Throughout the book, I often found it difficult to empathize with the events due to the superficial nature of the story. Additionally, I found myself struggling to adapt to Yates style of writing and found the lengthy, borderline run on sentences to be disengaging.

With that said, I still feel as though this is a good book for someone looking to read a quick, light, feel good story focused on themes of family, friendship, and platonic love. Specifically, I appreciated the full circle moment in Aggie’s letter to Isaac in the final chapters. Personally, I just wanted this book to be more memorable as I feel there was potential within the story to have a profound impact.

I would rate this book 2.5/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and Kensington Books, for the ARC.

The Very Long, Very Strange Life of Isaac Dahl is a unique story. It’s short and describes in 12 chapters 12 days (or periods) in Isaac’s 96-year-long life. Each chapter is eight years apart from the former one.
 
The heart of this story is the (platonic) love triangle between Isaac, his twin sister Aggie, and his best friend Bo, but there are a lot of side characters, too (Elias and Danny being my favorites). I loved being in Isaac’s head while he aged, as a young boy, surviving an avalanche, as a young journalist in WWII, as a fourty-eight-year-old participating in the Civil Rights Movement, as an older gay man in the eighties when AIDS suddenly reared its head, and as a senior when his body became less cooperative but his mind still remained sharp.
 
Sometimes, I wanted to know more about what had happened, but on the other hand, those little snippets taken out of a long and satisfying life are what make this book so captivating. It’s a story to curl up on the couch and just read, sipping from your drink and smiling, and occasionally shedding a tear.
 
Thank you, Kensington Books and NetGalley, for allowing me to read this precious story early. I’ll definitely check out Bart Yates’ other work.

Bart Yates’ "The Very Long, Very Strange Life of Isaac Dahl" is a poignant journey spanning nearly a century, unfolding through the eyes of its protagonist, Isaac Dahl. Set against the backdrop of significant historical events, Yates crafts a narrative that delves into the complexities of identity, love, and loss.

The strength of the book lies in its portrayal of Isaac's struggles as a gay man navigating a world rife with prejudice and fear. Yates skillfully captures the nuances of Isaac's journey, from the challenges of concealing his true self to the heartache of losing loved ones. Through Isaac's eyes, readers are transported to pivotal moments in American history, including the Dust Bowl, World War II, the civil rights movement, and the HIV crisis, each vividly depicted with palpable emotion.

Yates excels in creating atmosphere, immersing readers in the sights and sounds of each era. From the claustrophobic confines of a battleship to the tense streets of the segregated South, the author brings these settings to life with remarkable detail.

However, the book is not without its flaws. While the witty banter between characters initially adds depth to the narrative, it becomes repetitive and superficial over time, detracting from the richness of the characters. Additionally, the second half of the book lacks the same vibrancy as the first, resulting in a somewhat uneven pacing.

Furthermore, while Isaac's journey is compelling, there is a missed opportunity for deeper exploration of supporting characters and Isaac's own internal struggles regarding his sexuality. Certain key moments feel glossed over, leaving readers longing for a more profound understanding.

Overall, "The Very Long, Very Strange Life of Isaac Dahl" is a captivating exploration of one man's journey through the tumult of the 20th century. Despite its flaws, Yates delivers a powerful narrative that resonates long after the final page.

Themes and triggers: Love, loss, LGBTQ struggles, aging, family, HIV, war, violence, racism, natural disasters.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for providing an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

I give this book four out of five stars.

This book is an autobiography of Isaac Dahl, written at the suggestion of his sister Aggie to be about 12 distinct days of his life. It reads like a rambling narrative told by an aging man in a rocker, backtracking and winding to figure out where he is in the telling. In his narrative, what shines through the most is his love of his family, particularly his twin sister and his best friend, Bo.

The concept for the book intrigued me, but I wasn’t a fan of how it was executed. I found the chapters too short to really immerse myself in the scene. Each new chapter felt like a new book because there were brand new characters and a unique setting, and I had to re-orient myself each time. In addition, while this book is supposed to be about 12 unique days, much of the “days” were comprised of a period of a few days to round out the story, and a good proportion of the chapter was spent in flashbacks and explanations.

In the Author’s Note, Yates said “The odd love triangle of Isaac, Agnes, and Bo ended up being the heart of the novel” and I fully agree. While Isaac travelled as a journalist, his heart always remained with his sister and best friend, and their connection was sweet and soothing amidst all the chaos of the book.

I really enjoyed this! This is a historical fiction novel following the life of Isaac Dahl, a twin born in 1920s Utah. Each chapter flashes forwards 8 years (until the year 2014), and features a day in his life from that year.

I absolutely love any type of character study/slice of life story, so following Isaac and the rest of his family/friends through this novel was an absolute joy. I really got to know the characters and felt like I was a member of the family by the end. I laughed with them, cried with them, and survived 3 natural disasters with them! I also loved the diversity and rawness of our cast of characters. Definitely recommend for fans of historical fiction, or anyone who likes to be taken on a journey.

Thank you to NetGalley for the e-ARC :)

i really liked this book until chapter 6. truely, i was going to give it 4 stars, but it really went downhill from the halfway point. the racism in chapter 6, was so unexpeted, and i dont undertand why is was there. i also didnt really think his life was all that strange, i was expecting a wild ride, instead it was somewhat uneventful and regular. it was still well written, dont get me wrong it was interesting, with likeable characters.

The Very Long, Very Strange Life of Isaac Dahl is such a treasure! It tells the story of Isaac Dahl from the time he was 8 years old until age 96. There are 12 chapters and the first one begins when Isaac is 8 years old. Each chapter jumps forward 8 years until we end with Isaac at age 96 in chapter 12.

Isaac's life was very strange, indeed. When we first meet Isaac in 1926, he, his twin sister, Aggie, and their best friend, Bo are 8 years old. Throughout Isaac's life, he survives an avalanche, the Dust Bowl. WWII, being gay at a time when it was illegal to be so, a tornado, and an earthquake. Other topics in the book include AIDS, cancer, love, children, divorce, tragedy, homophobia, and deaths. As bleak as this all sounds, it really is an enjoyable book. The author does such a spectacular job telling the story thst you feel the same fears, anxiety, suffocation, anger, sorrow, and love as the characters . Isaac is an absolute gem, as are Aggie, Bo, Elias, and the rest of the family, each in their own unique way. This book showcases the themes of friendship, family, and love and will leave you wanting to read more of Isaac's very long, very strange life.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for an advance copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

This was a wild one! I totally judged this book by its cover and it was nothing like I thought it would be but in a good way. This book follows Issac Dahl’s life journey over his long life of 96 years. Themes include love, loss, family and perseverance. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

Isaac Dahl truly has led a very long and strange life - he has survived the Oklahoma Dust Bowl, World War II, and being a gay man in a time when that was a criminal offense. He has reported on and participated in the Civil Rights movement and protesting atomic bombs. All of these events and themes are explored in Bart Yates book with great research and care. But even more than the history, this book explores relationships, love, and family (whether formed by blood or bond).

*4.5 stars* Fans of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and A Gentleman in Moscow will love this beautiful book.

Publishing on 7/23/24

Thank you, NetGalley and Kensington Books, for the ARC.