Isaac Dahl looks over his life at the age of 96 in a series of 12 vignettes. Many thanks to NetGalley for this lovely ARC/audiobook.

The Very Long, Very Strange Life of Isaac Dahl consists of 12 chapters, highlighting 12 different days (in 8-year increments) throughout the protagonist’s 96 years of life.

These chapter feature Isaac’s adventures throughout his life including the dust bowl, to war, to civil rights, and AIDS surge in the 80s. It also features his close relationship with his twin sister, his best friend, and a family that grows over time.

I feel like the author takes monumental historical moments—the bombing of Bikini atoll or integration efforts, and glosses over the events. It keeps the book easy and light hearted, but misses an opportunity to provide context and complexity. I would have like to learn how Isaac ends up on the right side of history so to speak. What informs his opnions. How these events impact his life moving forward. While his relationship with loved ones is fleshed out, his mindset, regrets, lessons learned, and who he is isn’t as well developed.

The result? I saccherine look through time, through the eyes of a gay, white man. I recommend if you are looking for a Forrest Gump-esque summer beach read.

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

This was such an enjoyable read! Looking back on your life, which moments, events, or days - if you will - would you highlight? Living to be 96 and choosing only 12 seems like it would be a challenge. It makes sense, then, for the days Isaac chooses to often also be connected to major historical events involving some people who are with him throughout his life and others who are other there for a short while.

It's "strange" how life works out. Countless things happen to us of both mundane and major significance. They all add up to who we are and what we've done with the time given to us in this one life.

Since these are stories being told by an elderly man who is looking back on his life, I am hesitant to be too critical about a couple of things because they may be intentional. I feel that there wasn't much in the way of explanations or reflections about some of the very tragic/traumatic/upsetting/painful things that Isaac experienced. But, maybe Isaac just isn't the type of person to expound on such matters? Maybe he either doesn't recognize how much these events have impacted him or he wasn't moved in ways we are readers would expect him to be? He is a journalist, after all, so maybe he didn't consider how he should include more of that in his memoir because it isn't what he's accustomed to writing.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy.

Thank you netgalley and HighBridge Audio for the free ALC. My opinions are being left voluntarily. This was a quirky book and quite enjoyable. I found the chapters a bit too long and i thought the narration was done well.

4.5/5☆