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There are currently 29 member reviews
for Extraordinary Adventures
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Amy W. (Annapolis, MD)
A solid book you will remember
I had to wait a few days after finishing this book before writing my review. Now that it has been about a week I am confident that this book will stay with me and Edsel Bronfman will be a character I will remember. Daniel Wallace took on the task of making a character who shouldn't be interesting. Edsel a 34 yr old man who may or may not be a virgin (he isn't quite sure) is tasked with finding a companion for a trip he has won in 79 days. With small steps Edsel slowly inches his way out of his comfort zone towards the goal of creating a life for himself. His journey along the way will make you smile and route for him. I would recommend this book for fans of A Man Called Ove, and The Rosie Project.
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Sue J. (Brookfield, WI)
Extra-Ordinary Adventures
Edsel Bronfman is a thirty-four year old man who leads a very uneventful life. Work and visiting his Mother are his only social interactions. He would like more out of life, but doesn't know how to go about it. A phone call offering a free weekend in Florida, the offer is valid only if you bring a companion with you. Edsel sees this as an opportunity to start taking chances and embracing life. Some interesting adventures come his way, with a bit of a roller coaster ride. Fun read!
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Nancy L. (Staunton, VA)
Coming of Age
The main character of "Extraordinary Adventures" is Edsel Bronfman and I loved this man! In our present day world of electronics and fast paced dating apps, Bronfman is a throwback, as his name Edsel implies, to a simpler time. At thirty four, Bronfman hasn't had a date with a woman in almost twenty years. We follow him as he tries, in tiny increments, to understand the complexities of women and maybe get a girlfriend. The sweetest parts of the story for me are Bronfman's interactions with his mother, who at age seventy is still a pistol despite increasing dementia. This is a character driven novel, and what a strange and wonderful character Daniel Wallace has created in Edgar Bronfman.
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Marcia S. (Ackley, IA)
Edsel Finds His Way!
Edsel Bronfman is a character you can't help but root for, probably the most naive man I've ever read about. Yet, one can't help but hope he finds his way and the companionship and love he longs for. Is it an easy journey— absolutely not. The fact that he initially has a timetable to find someone to take a trip with, is the impetus that forces him from his comfort zone to tentatively and awkwardly reach out to others. The path isn't easy and the other characters are diverse and well written. I really enjoyed this book because it is so different. This would make a fun book club selection.
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Alline A. (Rutledge, MO)
Depressingly Odd Characters
I had not read a book by Daniel Wallace before. I HAD seen the movie "Big Fish;" it was quirky, and charming, so thought I'd take a chance.
What I found was definitely quirky. Very little charm, however. Edsel reminded me a lot of Quoyle in "Shipping News" - a lovable loser, whom one worried about page after page after page. I think the bottom line is that I simply felt extremely uncomfortable while reading this book. Edsel's apartment is robbed by his drug-dealer neighbor and he doesn't move out. His mother is crazier than a loon, and a horrible mother, besides, but he is not dissuaded from any interaction with her. It's just one cringe-worthy episode after another. I didn't find it entertaining - it was just unpleasant.
I REALLY wanted to like this book. I wanted to fall in love with the quirkiness of the characters, and join them on their life-affirming adventures. I wanted to leave a positive review on BookBrowse (which I LOVE). Unfortunately the characters just gave me the creeps. I found that I simply didn't want to spend any time with them, not even to find out if Edsel ever gets to Destin, falls in love, or lives happily ever after.
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Nicole S. (St. Paul, MN)
Sometimes funny, sometimes tedious
The good, I laughed out loud and actually read a passage to a friend because it was funny. The author has a way of making ordinary observations, funny and touching. If this would have been consistent, my review would be stronger.
Also, in the category of the good is Bronfman's relationship with his mother. The author portrays the struggles of adult children with parents who are slowly deteriorating.
The average. Sometimes, the book felt like it droned on, Bronfman's life is meant to feel like average/boring, but we get it. But there is something about this level of dullness that weighs the book down. There is also a piece of this averageness that seems disingenuous given some of the piercing insights that Bronfman has.
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Nancyf
Ordinary at best!
This may be a writing style perspective however I had a difficult time reading this novel. In my opinion there is way too much detail and not enough plot movement. I kept hoping the plot would accelerate but it did not. It was a very unusual story and maybe some readers would appreciate it for that reason. There was some humor that I enjoyed, but not enough to save the book.
