Reviews

Comments from a publisher:
Your manuscript was chosen for publication from hundreds of others we receive each year because our editors greatly enjoyed reading your work.

Review from Onlinebookclub.
Everything fits perfectly in the story, and I read it quickly. Fast readers would be able to finish it in one sitting. There is nothing I disliked about it. That’s why I rate the book five out of five stars. I highly recommend it to people who love travelling and love reading about it. It would inspire people to go out there and do what they have always wanted to do. Everyone should read this book, from teenagers to adults and seniors.

Review from Literary Titan.
At the age of 82, Hans Bodmer intricately blends his rich background in IT and passion for creative writing, taking readers on a trek that transcends physical boundaries. His character's walk, spanning twelve days, explores scenic trails and the complex terrain of human emotions through unexpected encounters and surreal experiences.
"The Elderly Gentleman’s Ulyssee" is not just a travelogue but a canvas of introspection and social commentary. The protagonist navigates through charming and challenging interactions with people ranging from delightful women to less savory characters. His journey is punctuated by vibrant and often whimsical narratives and profound philosophical insights. Each step and each thought invites
the reader to ponder life’s larger questions and the myriad of human emotions that accompany our quests for meaning.
Literary Titan praises the book, stating, "The narrative is a blend of personal musings, social
commentary, and surreal adventures experienced during the twelve-day trek. The writing style is distinctively personal and occasionally whimsical, which adds charm to the narrative. This review highlights the unique voice of Hans Bodmer, who captures the fluctuating emotions of his protagonist in a manner that is both genuine and relatable.

From Goodreads.

The Elderly Gentleman's Ulyssee by Hans Bodmer is an account of his hike from Zurich to Geneva. Elders often have a way of making things seem simple, or profound, depending on what's their take on things. This book is an example for the same where the author chronicles his journey by foot with commentaries and more. He also includes sayings or songs that suit the occasions!

Nowadays, not many of us resort to hiking or whatever - thanks to modern innovations, especially in transportation. Gadgets have made us all islands and almost no one talks to anyone physically these days. But throughout his journey, he talks to everyone he meets along the way, or just ponders about everything and gives his inputs.

It's nice to read these pages from his view and I love how his take on life and everything is. For someone in his eighties, he's an inspiration for those who restrict themselves to four cubicles as they age.

From Lovereadings.
I was a little unsure when I chose to read The Elderly Gentleman's Ulyssee, as non-fiction books describing someone undertaking a walking challenge have not always kept my attention, largely because I have found all too often they become tedious. So it was much to my surprise and delight that having exited my reading comfort zone, I was fully entertained by this one. The story revealed itself with humour, current affair observations, impacts of an aging body being pushed beyond its limits and left me really enjoying myself along the walking journey. The author would also, very subtly, insert phrases ranging from Mark Twain and Victor Hugo to religious references. These were perfect to enhance the walker's mood or thinking. At the end of the day, I engaged with my friend, the aging walker, and that has often been my problem with other such tales of people testing themselves.
Phyl Smithson, A LoveReading Ambassador

by Emmanuel olowolayemo
This review makes *The Elderly Gentleman's Ulyssee* by Hans Bodmer sound like a captivating and reflective read. The story of an older man hiking from Zurich to Geneva, combined with its unique writing style, promises both humor and depth. The short, succinct prose, balanced with philosophical musings and real-life challenges, seems to offer an engaging narrative without unnecessary details. The book's brevity and the reviewer’s praise for its originality and inspiration make it appealing for anyone interested in travel and personal growth. I'm definitely interested in reading it

By by Kutloano Makhuvhela » 27 Aug 2024, 17:56

The elderly Gentleman’s Ulyssee by Hans Bodmer is a non-fiction travel journal book that details the twelve-day hike journey taken by the author from Zurich to Geneva. The book takes the reader on day-to-day events from start to finish as the hiker encounters strange people, places, and practices along the way. It’s written in a different way to get the message across. It’s short, beautiful, hilarious, and adventurous.

The book opens with a prologue/vision, where we are introduced to an older gentleman by the name of Hans. It is revealed that he has done the Zurich-Geneva trip before, but it was through other modes of transportation like trains and aeroplanes. So, this time he is planning to do it differently, and what is the best way to do that except on foot? That is what he does. There are many things he has to take into consideration first before he can embark on this treacherous journey. His age is the first. He is old. Can he be able to hike all the way? What does he need to sustain himself on the journey? After everything is sorted, the journey begins. The first day is not easy as the weather is not exactly desirable, but he is not planning on postponing or cancelling. He goes right in. He meets people, and they are curious about him. Along the way, he muses about many things, such as life, humanity, the future, and other philosophical and moral questions. The rest of the journey is filled with many adventures.

Read this book to find out if this man will succeed in his journey. I enjoyed reading this book. The first thing that attracted me about it was, of course, its synopsis when I saw it. It talked of a man who is trying something new, who pushes himself out of his comfort zone, and that drew me in. I found it inspirational before I could even read about him. When I did, I was glad I chose it because it was worth it. The author wrote so succinctly that I found myself drawn to the next word, as I did to the one before that. I was flipping the pages, indulging myself.

The author used a technique that I had not seen before using short sentences throughout the book. Before one could assume that would make the book monotonous, I should assure you that was not the case. The author made sure that this technique was balanced by humour in the form of musing. So while the sentences might be short, you will be interested in the story. The author included quotes, sayings, lyrics, and proverbs here and there to best illustrate what he was talking about.

The book did not rely much on descriptions. They were there when he arrived at the new places, so the reader could have an idea of where he was. When people appeared, like waitresses and receptionists, they were described a little but not too much. The dialogue was also in small doses. It was perfect and moved the story forward. This type of writing was new and fantastic. I also noted the style of writing from the third-person point of view, as if the hiker was not the author himself. This brought an unexpected flavour to the book.

The journey was so real, and I found myself inside the story because of how it was portrayed. The challenges that the author had to overcome—some of them scary, others hilarious—were realistic. Encountering the police who searched him and asked him to call them at a certain time of the day to confirm a few things was something I did not see coming. The attitude of some receptionists didn’t sit well with me. The refusal of card payment surprised me, as I thought that is what would be mostly encouraged rather than paying in cash. This and much more added to the sense of mystery and suspense in the book.

I loved how short it was. The author could have gone on and on and tried to talk about everything, even risking straying off the topic, but he did not. Everything fits well in the story, and I read it quickly. Fast readers would be able to finish it in one sitting. There is nothing I disliked about it. The errors I detected were small and didn’t ruin the quality of the book. That’s why I rate the book five out of five stars. I highly recommend it to people who love travelling and love reading about it. It would inspire people to go out there and do what they have always wanted to do. Everyone should read this book, from teenagers to adults and seniors.

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