This is a rather challenging review to pen.

The characters that the author crafted were truly captivating, and that's precisely what compelled me to persevere through the more than 1,000 pages.

However, the overall message of the book is disheartening, perhaps even infuriating.

In centering this book mainly on the hardships of Jews in establishing their own state, Michener all but discards the concept of God as a human invention.

And although one could view what is written as merely a fictional storyline, it becomes abundantly clear that he has an ulterior motive to depict the major world religions - albeit with limitations in the case of Islam - as foolish.

The protagonists he most promotes are those who spurn "God" in favor of a practical morality, which appears to be of a higher order in Michener's perspective.

If I had been privy to what the book would entail prior to reading, I most certainly would not have.

Julie is slogging through the arid desert, completely parched as she has no water. Meanwhile, Scott is well-versed in the location of a great well and also has a wealth of fascinating historical knowledge about the Holy Land. There is a plethora of history to share. They both relish a tall glass of refreshing ice water as they engage in a discussion about "The Source" by James Michener.

Goodbye to "Don Quixote" and farewell to "Saratoga Trunk".

My copy of "The Source" has just arrived from Paperback Swap. I had forgotten just how astonishingly large it is. The small print, which usually pleases me, is not so welcome when I'm reading against a deadline.

The Holy Land awaits... in Michener's style!

UPDATE

I must have read this in high school or college, which would have been in the 1970s. I'm astounded at how many of the individual stories I can recall quite well (around page 200).

I'm also amazed at how poorly the framing device has endured. There are some truly interesting attitudes within, such as the archaeologist constantly fretting about being judged for being in his 40s and not yet married.

It's also irritating when a story is fragmented by darting back to The Tell for contemporary comments on the dig at that particular spot. It completely disrupts the building story arc and really, who cares?

FINAL

Overall, it's really a remarkable book, aside from the way Michener interrupts the vignettes by jumping to modern times at the Tell right in the middle of each of those stories (as previously mentioned). I emerged with a much deeper appreciation for that land, those people, and the Jewish faith than I had before.

Good Story #85.

Michener seems determined to undermine the credibility of all religions by suggesting they originated from primitive paganism and early humans' efforts to understand and placate their hostile surroundings. While he does acknowledge some of the positive aspects of each diverse faith, on the whole, he focuses on and highlights the negatives within all religions.

He condemns paganism for the practice of child sacrifice. Judaism comes under fire for what he views as its outdated and cruel marriage laws, as well as its excessive emphasis on the minutiae of religious law. Islam is criticized for its barbaric forced conversions, and Christianity is faulted for its internal feuds over religious doctrine, as well as its murderous crusades and inquisitions.

Subsequently, he situates all of this within the context of modern-day Israel's internal struggle to define itself either as a Jewish state or as a state for Jews, and its conflict with its Arab neighbors and minority populations.

One of my all-time favorite books is this particular one.

It is quite a lengthy read, so it's essential to set aside ample time for it.

The book narrates the story of religion in Israel by means of the discoveries from an archaeological excavation located 90 miles north of Jerusalem. It is divided into stories that are approximately 100 pages long. This division makes it not feel as if one is slogging through a 1,000-page tome. Just like all of Michener's novels, it is extremely well-researched. The characters come across as genuine, and Michener even enriches the portrayal of historical figures.

There is some content related to sex and violence, but it's not excessive or gratuitous. After all, have you read the Old Testament?

I never truly grasped the conflicts in the Middle East until I delved into this book. It provided me with a deeper understanding and a new perspective on this complex region.

This was the #1 bestseller in 1965.

Yes, I have successfully completed my 1964 reading list and have now embarked on 1965.

I made an attempt to read this particular book several years ago, but unfortunately, I was unable to make any significant progress.

However, this time around, I had accumulated sufficient historical knowledge to truly understand what Michener was striving to convey here.

It is a courageous exploration into the three major world religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

As such, it is as relevant as can be in the times we live in today.

The book is not only thought-provoking but also has a propulsive plot that keeps the reader engaged.

Moreover, it strikes a sober balance between hope and realism, which is truly remarkable.

Overall, it is an amazing achievement that I would highly recommend to anyone interested in exploring the intersection of religion and history.

The story of Judaism is vividly told through an archeological dig in northern Israel, specifically at Tel Megiddo.

This remarkable book traverses a span of 15 million days of organized religion, commencing from the time when the first caveman hunter-gatherers began their transition to becoming agriculturists and extending all the way to the modern Jewish state.

Such a vast and detailed history, which could potentially be tiresome to study, is skillfully interwoven into a classic Michener story of fictional characters. This approach not only provides abundant entertainment but also, perhaps, sacrifices some of the factual minutiae. However, for an amateur reader like myself, who lacks a substantial base of knowledge, it serves as a fantastic introduction and is truly an inspiration to know more.

The excavation of the tel traces the path of a single bloodline through the civilizations of Canaanite, Hebrew, Greek, Roman, Ottoman, and finally modern Israel.

Although this book indeed covers many aspects of the long and complex political struggle in the region, it offers so much more. It enables me to understand how Ashkenazi Jews have very different roots from Sephardi Jews, about the Torah's 613 laws (with 365 prohibitive laws for each day of the year and 248 affirmative laws - one for every bone in the body), the important interpretation of Deuteronomy, the accusation that the Jews murdered Christ, or Maimonides' 13 rules for what makes a Jew, or the significance of Cohens, Levis, and Israels. It even delves into how carbon dating science works or the fact that nine out of ten Jews have never visited Israel. The list of topics is exhaustive.

Possibly, many people with far more knowledge than I will point out numerous errors in the details. But for me, it was an inspiring read, and I eagerly anticipate engaging in some in-depth discussions with my Jewish (or perhaps other opinionated) friends about what is right and wrong and what we can learn and take away from this fascinating exploration of Judaism.

The current news of a 1,500-year-old church uncovered in an archaeological dig in Israel was like déjà vu for me after reading The Source early this New Year's.

This picture above, and its story could be straight out of a movie version of The Source. I think the book's dig was based on Tel Megiddo, but Michener observed archaeologists at work at Hazor to prepare for writing this book.

As you can tell from reading the other reviews here, the conflicts between peoples and the layering of religious histories in the Middle East are traced here to their earliest roots in James A. Michener's signature historical fiction style.

In Melissa's Review, she writes that Michener traces the history of a single town in Israel/Palestine through the ages - from man's earliest attempts to tame nature and understand the supernatural, through the evolutions of the world's greatest religions, to the contemporary struggles that mark the land.

I was surprised and encouraged to see so many reviewers remarking upon how many times they'd re-read this book and how many archaeologists here on GR are reviewing and rating this book, many even awarding the book some claim on creating the ambition and interest that led them to pursue the field of archeology in the first place.

It is a compelling read that illustrates the multidisciplinary nature of archeology and its reliance on a knowledge of history, language, science, engineering and architecture. Wonderful stuff and even more wonderful to have all of it bound between the covers of one book!

My paperback copy felt like it might be as old as the church uncovered by this dig and Michener's fictional equivalent. It literally fell into about four sections somewhere in Phoenix during my New Year's journey's stopover on the way home, so I haven't finished it yet! Half of it went into the circular file at PHX. This is truly a story of biblical proportions, so losing half of it can still mean you were already a few hundred pages into the story! I'll be getting a hardbound or kindle edition to use for reading the second half!

The discovery of the ancient church in Israel has brought to light a fascinating piece of history. It makes one wonder about the countless stories and events that took place within its walls over the past 1,500 years. The connection to The Source adds an extra layer of intrigue, as Michener's fictional account seems to parallel the real-life discovery.

The reviews of The Source highlight its ability to engage readers and provide a comprehensive look at the complex history of the Middle East. The fact that it has inspired so many archaeologists is a testament to its power and influence.

Despite the unfortunate fate of my paperback copy, I am determined to finish reading The Source. I look forward to delving deeper into the story and learning more about the rich history and cultures that are intertwined within its pages.

Overall, the combination of the real-life archaeological discovery and the fictional account in The Source makes for a captivating and thought-provoking experience. It reminds us of the importance of preserving our history and understanding the roots of the conflicts and religions that shape our world today.

Plodding,

Disjointed,

Racist,

Sexist,

And un-recommendable.

I had high hopes for this book, expecting to find a wealth of history rather than just fiction.

However, the blatant anti-semitism within its pages is truly difficult to overlook.

Although there are a few isolated moments that manage to pique one's interest,

overall, this work fails to meet even the most basic standards of quality.

As a result, I have no intention of reading any more of Michener's works.

I am deeply disappointed by this experience and would strongly caution others against wasting their time on this book.

It is a prime example of how a lack of sensitivity and respect for different cultures and beliefs can undermine what could have been a potentially engaging and educational read.

My Favorite Michener Book

At one of the lowest points in my life, a friend presented this book to me. I wish I could claim that it inspired me to pick myself up, dust myself off, and begin anew. However, that's not quite the case. Nevertheless, I did take pleasure in reading the book. I enjoyed it to such an extent that when I managed to find my way out of the stark black and grey forest of depression, I picked it up once more. And I enjoyed it just as much, albeit for different reasons.

Like all of Michener's books, this one contains stories that can appeal to a wide variety of tastes, emotions, and attitudes. I have derived enjoyment from many of his works, with some being more to my liking than others. But for some inexplicable reason, I find that almost all of the tales in this particular book are extremely satisfying. I have a great fondness for it. I truly hope that you will also come to appreciate it as much as I do.

In this article, I will be reviewing the one-star reviews of a particular book.

The first reviewer starts by being extremely critical, stating that the book is "painfully simplistic" and contains gaping inaccuracies, anachronisms, and sheer fallacies. They even had to stop reading less than halfway through. While I appreciate the use of the word "anachronisms," I would have liked to see some examples.

The second reviewer is refreshingly honest, admitting that they didn't finish the book because they felt it was too speculative and not connected to biblical history. I was left wondering which biblical history they were referring to and if they think speculative historical fiction is ever justified.

The third review is hilarious, comparing the difficulty of reading the book to natural labor. I laughed out loud at this one and can't wait to see what the reviewer comes up with next.

The fourth review is quite revolutionary, completely disproving the theory of evolution and suggesting a conspiracy among scientists. While I don't necessarily agree with the reviewer's观点, I have to admit that it's a thought-provoking review.

Finally, the fifth review is full of unmitigated joy and enthusiasm, with a whopping six exclamation marks in the first sentence alone. I highly recommend reading this review multiple times to fully appreciate the reviewer's excitement.

Overall, these one-star reviews offer a diverse range of opinions and perspectives on the book, and I found them all to be quite interesting and engaging.

I used to be an avid reader of Michener during the 1970s and 1980s when I was in my twenties. His works were long sagas that spanned thousands of years in specific locations. He would begin with prehistory and progress all the way to modern times.

Recently, I borrowed "The Source" from the library, a book I hadn't read in my twenties. I had forgotten how much I adored Michener's sagas. Each chapter is a self-contained story that also contributes to the larger narrative of the place he is writing about. In this case, it's a small town called Makor in what is now modern-day Israel. He tells the stories of individual people who lived in that land over many centuries, and the aggregation of their tales creates a broader history of that part of the world and how its three religions evolved, with a particular focus on Judaism.

Every single one of the stories is a precious gem. However, like any collection of stories, I had my preferences. My favorite was "Psalm of the Hoopoe Bird," which is about an architect living around 1000 BC who bestows a great gift upon Makor. I was captivated by his passion and dedication to his work.

In every story, Michener manages to bring a historical period to life vividly and make us care about his characters. He also uses the stories to educate his readers. He did an excellent job of revealing how Judaism developed over the past 4000 years.

My only criticism of this book is from a feminist perspective. Michener was writing in the 1960s, and like most men of his generation (and many of the current generation), he didn't understand women well enough to write about them effectively. He wrote 16 stories, and in only one of them is the main protagonist a woman. And she hardly counts as she is a humble widow who is essentially inhabited by Yahweh. There are a few strong women in the other stories, but even they are more objects than fully developed characters. The woman in the modern story that ties together the historical ones is especially objectified. She is a competent archaeologist and a war hero, for goodness sake, yet she is described using words like "delectable" and "adorable." Worse still, she is a sort of trophy for three different men who want to marry her. These flaws didn't ruin the book for me, but they were annoying. I think we have to forgive men who wrote in the pre-feminist era, especially a man who wrote such an engaging book, but we also need to point out their mistakes.

Like my reviews? Check out my blog at http://www.kathrynbashaar.com/blog/

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The Source is yet another remarkable epic fictional history penned by James Michener.

This particular work delves into a region of northern Israel, traversing through the eras of paganism, the rise of Jewish independence, the ascendancy of Christianity, the Muslim conquest, the resurgence of Judaism as a nationality, and finally, the establishment of Israel.

It's important to note that a portion of the story unfolds in Italy during the Middle Ages, as Michener vividly描绘s the plight of Jews there and their momentous decision to migrate to the Land of Israel.

The narrative is masterfully told through the lens of an excavation at a site in northern Israel, where numerous cities have been built and demolished over the centuries. By examining the artifacts unearthed at the site, Michener transports us back to different ancient periods, meticulously exploring the evolution of religion and monotheism.

While much of his account is based on assumption rather than historical fact, Michener deftly weaves the story with the facts of the time, crafting a truly spellbinding novel.

For those with an interest in Judaism and Jewish nationality, The Source is an absolute must-read. Even without that specific interest, it remains a simply outstanding novel.

The opening of the novel can be a bit dense, as Michener painstakingly explains various archaeological terms and work methods. However, once you persevere through that initial section, you'll be left with a page-turner that is rich with a whole gamut of emotions: love, happiness, loneliness, fear, anger, religious zeal, and rapture.

I have an abiding love for this book and wholeheartedly recommend it to all.