The Very Long, Very Strange Life of I..., Bart Yates
The Very Long, Very Strange Life of I..., Bart Yates
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The Very Long, Very Strange Life of Isaac Dahl

Author: Bart Yates

Narrator: Paul Bellantoni

Unabridged: 8 hr 36 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 07/23/2024

Categories: Fiction, Family Life, Lgbtq+


Synopsis

At the age of ninety-six, Isaac Dahl sits down to write his memoir. For Isaac, an accomplished journalist and historian, finding the right words to convey events is never a problem. But this book will be different from anything he has written before. Focusing on twelve different days, each encapsulated in a chapter, Isaac hopes to distill the very essence of his life.

There are days that begin like any other, only to morph through twists of fate. An avalanche strikes Bingham, Utah, and eight-year-old Isaac and his twin sister, Agnes, survive when they are trapped in an upside-down bathtub. Other days stand apart in history—including a day in 1942, when Isaac, stationed on the USS Houston in the Java Sea as a rookie correspondent, confronts the full horror of war. And there are days spent simply, with his lifelong friend, Bo, or with Danny, the younger man whose love transforms Isaac's later years.

From the Oklahoma Dust Bowl to a Mississippi school at the apex of the civil rights movement, Isaac tells his story with insight, wisdom, and emotional depth. The Very Long, Very Strange Life of Isaac Dahl is a wonderful, singular narrative that will spark conversation and reflection—a reminder that there is no such thing as an ordinary life, and the greatest accomplishment of all is to live and love fully.

About Bart Yates

Bart Yates is the Alex Award-winning author of novels including Leave Myself Behind, The Brothers Bishop, and The Third Hill North of Town, written as Noah Bly. He is also a musician, and plays clarinet, saxophone, and bass guitar. He lives in Iowa City, Iowa, and can be found online at bartyates.com.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Shelley's Book Nook on July 09, 2024

My Reviews Can Also Be Found On: The Book Review Crew Blog The absurdity of my very long, very strange life hits me, too, and suddenly I’m laughing with him. What else can I do? I loved this book and Isaac Dahl so much. The format Bart Yates used was wonderful. He wove real-life historical moments......more

Goodreads review by Angela M on April 29, 2025

Snapshots of the country and the world, natural disasters and historic events, seemingly unrelated are connected by Isaac Dahl’s presence in this fictional autobiography of an unforgettable character. It’s told in an unconventional way, twelve days in a life, each chapter 8 years after the previous,......more

Goodreads review by Marieke on March 10, 2024

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 A......more

The Very Long, Very Strange Life of Isaac Dahl was the first book that I had the pleasure of reading by author, Bart Yates. It was a very uniquely but well written book. The Very Long, Very Strange Life of Isaac Dahl captured the essence of Isaac’s life by delving into his character, relationships,......more

Goodreads review by Laurie on July 12, 2024

I laughed & cried as I read my new historical fiction THE VERY STRANGE LIFE OF ISAAC DAHL which was mostly sad but somewhat humorous, as well. Book Clubs will enjoy the relationship of main characters: Isaac, his twin sister, Agnes & friend, Bo with several family saga themes to provide discussion.......more