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snowfoxrunning's review against another edition
I enjoyed the part about the family’s past life and Roman’s adventures. Didn’t feel like I needed to suffer through the father’s unsuccessful search for his son second half of the book. The book starts good then gets worse as it progresses. Also, Roman’s wife is a total tradwife, and that is what allowed him to succeed as a scientist and go on many of these adventures. I wonder if she had bigger dreams in life than “I don’t want someone else to raise our kids,” as Roman claims. And yeah, the son didn’t follow recommended precautions to travel in an unfamiliar wilderness, and died as a result. Tragic and all, but sounds like a young, dumb white man.
jdybs's review against another edition
sad
slow-paced
2.0
Personal story written by a father whose adult son vanishes and is found dead. The writing isn't very good, the telling is flat, with little insight. What was undoubtedly in real life a deeply emotional story just left me feeling nothing.
gracef1221's review against another edition
I enjoyed the first part of the book, where the author recalls the adventures he took with his family around alaska and the world. I respected the way he raised his children in the outdoors and with books rather than screens. It is very clear this man is an intelligent scientist and avid adventurer in the alaskan wilderness.
Where this book lost me was when he begins to recount his son's travels through Latin America. There was so much blatant racism and disgusting white superiority rhetoric in the writing. As a guest in a foreign country is good to be aware of the challenges you may face as a foreigner; however, these men viewed this places and it's people's as inferior and criminals. The arrogance of his son while traveling is what ultimately made me stop. He describes his method of manipulating other travelers into joining him on his adventures as someone who has no knowledge of the place he is in. Just because you are a talented outdoorsman in one area, doesn't mean you are immune to the dangers of the outdoors, especially in areas so different from those you are familiar with.
Where this book lost me was when he begins to recount his son's travels through Latin America. There was so much blatant racism and disgusting white superiority rhetoric in the writing. As a guest in a foreign country is good to be aware of the challenges you may face as a foreigner; however, these men viewed this places and it's people's as inferior and criminals. The arrogance of his son while traveling is what ultimately made me stop. He describes his method of manipulating other travelers into joining him on his adventures as someone who has no knowledge of the place he is in. Just because you are a talented outdoorsman in one area, doesn't mean you are immune to the dangers of the outdoors, especially in areas so different from those you are familiar with.
lauracadcock's review
2.0
The Adventurer's Son was a heart wrenching story about a father's search for his missing son. It brings up so many questions about the way you parent your kids and the effects that those decisions will have on their future. My one negative: This book has so many details and name mentions. In some ways it connects me to the story but at times it felt like too much to wade through.
The tale itself is a sad one since you know the outcome before you start the book. In part 1, you feel the author's joy as he recounts the many adventures his family had as his children were growing up. One particular trip I loved reading about was the 60 mile journey Roman and his six year old, Cody Roman, took across Umnak in the Aleutian Islands. The trip perfectly encapsulates their goals as parents. We are also trying to raise our children to find wonder in nature albeit in a much less extreme way.
In part 2, you feel the excitement of the author as he sees his child go out and conquer. I loved how Roman (senior) was so proud of Cody Roman and how he was exploring the world. This was a fun section but I was on edge waiting for him to get to Costa Rica where I knew things wouldn't be so happy.
In part 3, you feel the despair of the author as he frantically searches for his son. This was a hard section to read. There were so many false leads and unhelpful people. But also many true friends who rallied around the family. As previously noted, it was a heartbreaking ending but I am so glad the family did get closure.
As a parent and fellow lover of nature and adventure, my heart goes out to this family. I'm sure this was not an easy book for a father to write, but I think it was needed especially after the reality tv nightmare they experienced.
The tale itself is a sad one since you know the outcome before you start the book. In part 1, you feel the author's joy as he recounts the many adventures his family had as his children were growing up. One particular trip I loved reading about was the 60 mile journey Roman and his six year old, Cody Roman, took across Umnak in the Aleutian Islands. The trip perfectly encapsulates their goals as parents. We are also trying to raise our children to find wonder in nature albeit in a much less extreme way.
In part 2, you feel the excitement of the author as he sees his child go out and conquer. I loved how Roman (senior) was so proud of Cody Roman and how he was exploring the world. This was a fun section but I was on edge waiting for him to get to Costa Rica where I knew things wouldn't be so happy.
In part 3, you feel the despair of the author as he frantically searches for his son. This was a hard section to read. There were so many false leads and unhelpful people. But also many true friends who rallied around the family. As previously noted, it was a heartbreaking ending but I am so glad the family did get closure.
As a parent and fellow lover of nature and adventure, my heart goes out to this family. I'm sure this was not an easy book for a father to write, but I think it was needed especially after the reality tv nightmare they experienced.
laurenmiller100's review against another edition
As others have noted, this book is not as advertised and I just don’t care about the background.
lisadsam's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.25
nikiberns33's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.5
abbuelita's review against another edition
I’m sorry but I got about 30% through and it was still just all backstory and much of it about the authors own life not really relevant to what the story is marketed to be about. Too much boring irrelevant detail I did not care to listen to.
suebrownreads's review against another edition
5.0
I just finished this book, and it was really good! I will never experience the kind of adventures that the Dial family had, but I enjoyed hearing about their fascinating life. Unfortunately the final journey for young Roman is a tragic one. What these parents go through will break your heart.