The Very Long, Very Strange Life of Isaac Dahl

by Bart Yates

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 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 8-year-old Isaac and his twin sister, Agnes, survive when they are trapped in an upside-down bathtub. Other days stand apart—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—precious days with significance that grows clear only in hindsight.

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 an emotional depth that reminds us there is no such thing as an ordinary life—and the greatest accomplishment of all is to live and love fully.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, LGBT, Historical, Contemporary, Literary Fiction, Queer

240 pages, Paperback

First published July 23, 2024

About the author

Author also writes as Noah Bly

Bart Yates was born in Cheyenne, WY, raised in Lamoni, IA, educated in Boston, MA, and now lives in Iowa City, IA, with the world's finest and most discerning cat.

In addition to writing, Yates is a musician, and plays clarinet, saxophone, and bass guitar.

His latest novel is THE VERY LONG, VERY STRANGE LIFE OF ISAAC DAHL, available in stores on July 23, 2024.

For personal blogs, reviews, and info about upcoming events, readers can visit his website: bartyates.com

Reviews

[Shelley's Book Nook · Rating 5 out of 5]

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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 with Isaac's fictional ones seamlessly. We get twelve chapters of important events in Isaac's life, in eight-year increments, starting when Isaac was just eight years old in the 1920s.

The book's historical sections are impeccably researched and what I loved the most about the book is the fact that even things that aren't monumental to everyone made it into Isaac's important chapters. Yes, there was war, unbelievable natural disasters and other phenomena but we also get the mundane, like when Isaac's great-nephew goes through puberty one winter weekend at the beach.

The chapters are long and I usually don't prefer that but it was needed in this case to clearly understand why that part of Isaac's life was so important for him to share. Yates' writing style was so absorbing that the twenty-page chapters just flew by. The book itself is fairly short at 240 pages and I was so into it I read it in a couple of sittings. The pages are filled with love, history, loss, adventure and adversity. This book was everything. All. The. Stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.

[Angela M · Rating 5 out of 5]

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, taking us through Isaac’s life from age 8 to nearly 100, memories of those times that add up to an amazing life well lived.

The brutality of an avalanche, the horrors of WWII, the violence reflected during the Civil Rights movement are a few of the things depicted . Life, death, love, ambition, everlasting family bonds and friendship that knew no bounds are reflected. There is a cast of other characters to connect with as well, most notable Aggie , Isaac’s sometimes irritating, but always loving twin sister and Bo, their best friend since childhood, the best anyone could ask for. Their home was in each other, having endured trauma and loss together. It’s not all sad, though, as it is filled with humor and joy and love and life.

“Each day is a story, whether or not that story makes any damn sense or is worth telling to anyone else.” This is the first sentence of the novel and for the record, reading this well written novel was so worth it.

I received a copy of this book from Penguin Random House through Edelweiss.

[Marieke (mariekes_mesmerizing_books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

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[Marilyn (not getting notifications) · Rating 4 out of 5]

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, experiences and accomplishments. Isaac, his twin sister, Aggie, and their best friend, Bo, were first introduced as young children. Bart Yates detailed their distinct personality traits, their strengths, their challenges, their aspirations and assumptions. All of their lives changed in a blink of an eye when an avalanche reared its ugly teeth and decided who would live and who would die. Miraculously, Isaac, Aggie and Bo all survived. Isaac, then continued to share and write about the most significant moments in his life which corresponded with significant historical developments and experiences over the course of his lifetime. These events spanned through nine decades of Isaac’s life. Those events, which totaled twelve in all, were the most memorable and important ones in Isaac’s life. They included but were not limited to the devastating dust storms in Oklahoma (where Isaac and Aggie were taken by their uncle after the avalanche), Isaac’s experiences as a journalist during World War II, living as a gay man when it was far from accepted, the Civil Rights movement, AIDS and more. Each new chapter in Isaac’s life took place eight years after the last one that had been previously described. Isaac’s life was challenging but he met each new struggle, test, new experience or dilemma with a remarkable determination, positive energy and the need to make sure all the people he cared about were safe, happy and loved.

The Very Long, Very Strange Life of Isaac Dahl explored Isaac’s life journey. I enjoyed how it took an up close view of the world of twins. Isaac’s and Aggie’s special bond and non-verbal communication revealed the fascination that only twins get to share. Bo’s relationship with both Isaac and Aggie was deeply rooted in his feelings he had for both of them. I enjoyed the times of his life that Isaac chose to share. They not only reminded each of us about the significance that time played in history but how it affected Isaac’s life and the impressions they left on him. The Very Long, Very Strange Life of Isaac Dahl explored the meaning of family, the special bond twins share, friendship, putting someone’s happiness before your own, protecting those who are close, loss, grief and celebrating the gift of being alive for another year. I really enjoyed listening to the audiobook of The Very Long, Very Strange Life of Issac Dahl by Bart Yates. The narrator, Paul Bellantoni was very good and made my listening experience a pleasure. I highly recommend this unique yet captivating audiobook.

Thank you to High Bridge for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of The Very Long, Very Strange Life of Isaac Dahl by Bart Yates through Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

[Theresa (mysteries.and.mayhem) · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I picked up The Very Long, Very Strange Life of Isaac Dahl, I assumed it would be on the whimsical side, similar to The 100 Year Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window. I was very wrong and so thankful that I was.

The book highlights moments from Isaac's nearly 100 years in 12 chapters, each depicting a formative day from his life. As we read through the 12 days, we learn more about Isaac, his family and friends.

Love of family and friends is a running theme. We see the Dahl family grow and age. We also get to see the United States grow as we watch Isaac and his family go through good times and tragedies.

The writing was beautiful. I wanted to crawl into the pages and spend time with this family unit! I adored them and their love for one another. My heart broke with theirs when awful events struck.

With all of that said, I think my favorite aspect of the book was how gracefully the topic of aging was handled. It sneaks up on a person, I know for a fact. I love how Isaac reflects on the aging of his loved ones and himself. It hit home for me in many ways.

I really can't say much more that isn't better off being read in the book. This was a surprise for me - one of my favorite kind of books! I pick it on a whim and end up loving it beyond words. Five stars. All the stars. All the love.

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

Brava talented author, Bart Yates!

[Carla Black · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway. I was leary about reading this book after looking at some of the reviews. They were all saying it was lacking and that there should have been more. I totally disagree with those opinions. I found the book very well written, the historic events right on point. The life of Isaac Dahl was extremely fascinating and enthralling to me. The book is written with twelve days involved of the very long life of Isaac Dahl. Each chapter is a day, all days exactly 8 years apart in his lifetime. From being a child until he was 96 years old. The closeness of his bond with his siblings, Aggie and Bo were mesmerizing, even though Bo wasn't blood related he was still part of the family. All the things Isaac had dealt with in his life was amazing and he should have never made it to the age of 96 after all the life threatening scenarios he was put through. The love he has for family and friends is gracefully True to himself. I became very fond of these characters. I give 2 thumbs up on this book written by Bart Yates. I don't think anything was lacking in this book. I found it perfect just the way it was. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves something different. This book had everything.

[NicoleR.M.M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,5 stars. Such extraordinary writing and such incredible, lovable characters. This book, and the concept of short chapters jumping 8 years apart in time, worked quite well for me. I got to love Isaac, Aggie and Bo, and the ‘youngsters’ Karen, Ty, Jamie and Elias. They all felt real despite the time lapses. Bart Yates managed to make me feel close to them, which is quite an accomplishment when you tell a life story with this format. I loved Aggie’s banter and humour, she was truly one of a kind.

[Maddy Leigh · Rating 2 out of 5]

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.

[Shruti morethanmylupus · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. Each chapter tells the story of a section of Isaac's life - from surviving an avalanche as a child, to WWII, to the civil rights movement, the AIDS crisis, and beyond. Usually, books that skip through time like this are frustrating for me because I often struggle with the lack of details of what happened in between. That didn't happen here. It was a beautiful story with well-developed secondary characters and storylines. We get enough details of what happened in between that I wasn't spending each chapter trying to guess what that was. Wonderfully narrated on audio, which made it a nice companion for my work commute.

A huge thank you to the author and the publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

[Marcos “MSMDragon” · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book to start 2025 with! The Very Long, Very Strange Life of Isaac Dahl was both heartfelt and heartbreaking. Isaac’s story showed how life can be so simple, yet incredibly complex. Single days, single moments, can leave such powerful impressions on our life story. And it’s not just the big moments, but all the little moments too, that make life meaningful. This was definitely a thought provoking story and the author did such a great job of blending historical moments with the story of a gay man and his family just trying to survive life.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE VERY LONG, VERY STRANGE LIFE OF ISAAC DAHL by Bart Yates

Narration was very well done by, Paul Bellantoni and I enjoyed it immensely.

I wasn’t expecting to like this book as much as I did. The author creates an unforgettable reading experience. It is a historical fiction story presented in the form of a memoir written when Isaac is ninety-six. Sharing the memories of twelve different days in Isaac’s life, beginning in 1926, when Isaac is eight years old. We meet his family, who are immigrants from Sweden, living in a mining town in Colorado. Isaac has a twin sister, Aggie, and best friend, Bo, a young man loved by both Isaac and Aggie. The three stick together through each other’s personal lives and hardships.

The blending of history with fiction that Yates skillfully weaves, brings more depth to Isaac’s life that he tells with insight, and wisdom. The characters are well developed and relatable.

-a reminder that there is no such thing as an ordinary life, and the greatest accomplishment of all is to live and love fully."--Jacket flap

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, I was not expecting this book to hit me the way it did. Love, loss and key events that would change any life if one lived to be 100 years old.
This novel tells of 12 days throughout Isaac Dahl's life. While his life may be fictional the days and events in the book were not. The first day happened in Utah, since I live just 34 miles from the canyon I had to do some research of the avalanche that claimed so many lives that was spoken of. I was amazed as to it was something I never heard of. In fact one of the local papers did a piece of it in February.
The rest of the story was captivating and drew me in. Loved that Isaac's twin and best friend were constantly there as it was simply their story as much as it was Isaac's.
This book does cover the civil rights movement as well as the AIDS epidemic, the hardships of trying to be oneself while also knowing you are queer. Just a very well written fictional book that read like a non-fiction.

[Davida Chazan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who knew this would be SUCH a good book? I laughed, and laughed, and then I cried. My full review is on my blog here. https://tcl-bookreviews.com/2024/07/2...

[Astrid Inge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh how I enjoyed reading this!
Isaac is zo'n mooi personage, lief, grappig, wijs en vol compassie. De opzet van het verhaal is origineel en in historische kaders geplaatst, zodat je leest over de atoomproeven op de Bikini eilanden, de rassenstrijd in de VS, AIDS, en wat al niet meer.
Ik hou van Isaac en zijn familie en vind het jammer afscheid te moeten nemen. Ik mis de karakters nu al...
Zo'n mooi verhaal en prachtig geschreven. Dit is het 4de boek dat ik van Bart Yates lees en ik hoop dat hij nog heel lang blijft schrijven.

"..few things on earth are more frightening than the possibility of love."

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the story of an extraordinary ordinary life. Isaac Dahl sits down to write his memoir at the age of 96. How does one tell a story that spans nearly a century? In Isaac’s case, he highlights twelve days, each separated by eight years.

We meet Isaac at the tender age of 8 along with his twin sister, Aggie. The relationship between the siblings remains a central element of who Isaac is and how he navigates the world. As the mother of boy/girl twins, I found the depiction of their twinship particularly compelling. Both Isaac and Aggie are aware of their connection while trying to establish their individual paths. Their competitiveness, squabbling, interdependence, and deep abiding love spoke to my soul.

Each chapter advances Isaac’s life by eight years. We experience significant historical events through his eyes and see how those shape him. At its core, Isaac’s story is one of relationships - family, friends, and lovers play pivotal roles and his life is richer as a result.

This is a book that prompts the reader to reflect on their own life; to identify the moments and people who played a pivotal role in defining who they are and how they view the world. Isaac Dahl is every man and he reminds us that we each have a unique story to tell.

I loved this book for its simplicity and gentle narrative.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my unbiased review.

[Jp Colasacco · Rating 5 out of 5]

I honestly find myself at a loss for where to begin with this remarkable book.

Bart Yates had me in tears more times than I can count, and his writing offers such a profound and beautiful perspective on life. I was so captivated that I found it impossible to put it down! The emotional bond I forged with the characters is something that will linger in my thoughts for a long time to come. This story took me on an incredible journey, prompting deep reflection about my life—how I perceive things, the connections I've formed, and my family.

Not to sound dramatic, but I sincerely mean it when I say that this book has officially become my favorite of all time (for now)! I would give it a million stars if I could!

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the writing style of this. While a fictional character, seeing only 12 days of his nearly 100 year life was an entertaining way to get to know his story. I found the way that he was involved in so many periods of history eye-opening. It's so easy to forget how recent some of these events really are and I love any opportunity I find that reminds me of this.

This book could make a great discussion for a book club.

[Alex Elliott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly one of the best books I’ve ever read. This was phenomenal. I felt like I knew each character… I laughed with them, felt worried over them and mourned them. Absolutely wonderful writing.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had a lovely time reading this book. My favourite ever book remains to be The Heart's Invisible Furies and this took me right there. The premise is pretty similar, popping in on 12 occasions in the life of a gay man over many years. This time though, it's set mainly in America and sees our protagonist ensure many hardships, including an avalanche, the dust bowl, WWII, earthquakes and tornados!

There was humour and light-hearted moments, but it was also hard hitting emotional at times. At the core of the story was Isaac's relationship with his twin sister and their childhood friend. I loved seeing it develop over the years and where it went. Cradle to grave stories (especially those covering the AIDS crisis) appear to be my favourite books, so I really was set up to love this.

I really would recommend this book widely, but especially those that enjoyed THIF by John Boyne. For me, it wasn't quite as good. It's not getting that fifth star, mainly because I didn't feel as emotionally connected to the characters as I wanted to, but I did really enjoy it and loved the writing style, so I'm keen to investigate other things this author has written.

[Sue Kimmet · Rating 5 out of 5]

best historical fiction I have read in a long time!

I was surprised to find that this story covers so many years, and almost decided not to read it. I am so glad I did! The characters here are so alive, and the events bring back such memories…. I will be reading it again eventually.

[Yamini]

As the title suggests, this was indeed a very strange story.

It's a compilation of 12 chapters that discuss the 12 significant days of Isaac's life and take you deeper into his memoir. It's notable to see that this is a commendable work at the age of 96, where you have surfed your way through life and can now share the magical essence of life.

The author does mention that no life is an ordinary one and if we pay close attention we all have those stories to share (which I absolutely agree with). The book starts with young Isaac and the story of 1st survival that rolls down into a snowball of incidents shaping his life. It is a one-of-a-kind book, where i got glimpses of his life in a distilled manner. I would love to have a chance to discover more about his life and everything that shaped him into this version.

Read this book if you enjoy memoirs with a zest of survival instinct and a will to live each day to the fullest.

[Justin (Bubbas_Bookshelves) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Very Long and Very Strange Life of Isaac Dahl was such an engaging read, capturing a truly full and vibrant life. Isaac’s journey was filled with adventure, hardship, and moments of joy, and I especially appreciated how the book gave him the chance to experience love even in a time when being gay was forbidden and dangerous. That thread of love made the story not just exciting but deeply human, grounding all the strangeness and unpredictability in something universal. It was a beautiful story that really encompassed the richness of an entire life lived boldly.

[Barb Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Very Long, Very Strange Life of Isaac Dahl" is a heartwarming tale that skitters through some of the highlights of one man's life.

Isaac is a 95-year-old gay former reporter who has decided to tell his life story in 12 chapters, each chapter covering a specific time or event. Each chapter covers his life roughly eight years later than the previous one.

Through Isaac's eyes, readers experience an avalanche, the Dust Bowl, the violence of school desegregation in the South, the AIDS crisis and the loss of the family members he loves most.

I had the toughest time reading the chapter about school desegregation. How can anyone justify that level of hatred and violence toward little children? Those people and everyone who agrees with them are despicable.

Overall, this was a sweet little story that I recommend.

[Terry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great book! Isaac writes about his life story by choosing one day per chapter every 8 years from the time he is 8 years old until he is 96. The books tells about historical periods of time, unusual events, and beloved characters. It was a feel good book.

[Jazzy Lemon · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was such a interesting read! The story, told by 90+ year old Isaac Dahl tells the tale of growing up in the Utah Mountains, being orphaned, moving to Oklahoma, and then his world travels. The interesting thing, however, is that he focuses on a single day from about every eight years of his life to tell the tale. It was really extraordinary.

This story got me thinking of my own life and which days stand out as defining moments - days that seemingly start out like any other but become core memories later on.

I thought that Isaac's story is so full of life and experiences and history. It was amazing to think about all the things he had seen and done (I understand it's fiction, but I can also understand how someone living into their 90's has seen and done things we can only imagine).

This was a good read, and I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a good book.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

I put off reading this book for a while because the idea of 12-chapters, each encompassing a day in the life of a man over the course of almost 100-years sounded like it would feel too disconnected and I wouldn’t form a bond with the characters.

I was so wrong. I absolutely loved the main character, his best friend and twin sister. The time jumps weren’t jarring at all. With the skillful writing, my imagination easily filled in the gaps. The story was heartbreaking, heartwarming, just so many feelings.

Based on this book and all of the other books I’ve read by this author (I think I’ve read everything. I need to double check and rectify that if not) he has been added to my short list of authors whose books I will buy immediately on release without reading a synopsis beforehand gladly going in blind to see where he takes us next.

I highly recommend this book. Please give it a try and if you enjoy it definitely check out the author’s other works.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Amy Dalin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Very Long, Very Strange Life of Isaac Dahl was a super heartfelt, interesting, quick read! Each chapter of this book is a different day in Isaac’s life. 12 different days over about 100 years of time. This book was unlike any book I have read before, and I really enjoyed it! The writing it truly incredible and the author does a great job between the time gaps in the different chapters. I would definitely recommend! Thank you NetGalley, Bart Yates, and A John Scognamigilo Book for the sneak peak of this book!