I found myself truly desiring for it to come to an end when it had reached three-fourths of the way. There were certain parts within it that were extremely interesting, captivating my attention and making me eager to know more. However, on the other hand, there were also some sections that didn't quite have the same allure. They seemed rather dull and failed to hold my interest as strongly. In my personal opinion, when comparing it to other works, Alaska is a far better Michener book. It has a unique charm and a more engaging storyline that keeps the reader hooked from start to finish. The descriptions in Alaska are vivid and detailed, painting a beautiful and immersive picture of the place and its people. Overall, while the book I was reading had its moments, it just couldn't quite measure up to the excellence that is Alaska.

A GREAT EPIC PORTRAYAL OF THE HISTORY OF THE JEWS, BUT...

Departing from a digging in an archeological place where important ancient pieces are dug up, Michener reconstructs the whole history of the Jewish people. He starts from the early beginnings of Judaism and takes the readers all the way to the contemporary sabra fighting for Israel independence in the XX century.

Every chapter develops over a specific period in history and relates to a piece found during the archeological digging and later traced back to that particular time. This unique approach makes the story engaging and gives the readers a sense of connection to the past.

Positive: Though the book is recreated with some fictional contents, it is an excellent read for all Jewish people who are interested in a general overview of the history of their ancestors. It provides valuable insights into their heritage and will surely contribute to the strengthening of their identity.

Negative: However, one major flaw of the book is that almost no reference to the Holocaust, the worst atrocity ever perpetrated in the history of mankind, was made. Nazism and Hitler are made to look almost non-existent. This omission is a significant oversight and undermines the overall impact and credibility of the book.

This is a fictional story about the town of Makor in northeast Israel.

The account commences in 1963 at an archaeological dig, where fifteen artifacts are unearthed at various points in time. Subsequently, the story transitions to the individual narratives that encircle each historical object discovered at the archaeological site.

I had a great appreciation for the history of the world as it was revealed in Makor. My favorite single story was that of Jabaal the Hoopoe (966 - 963 BC), who constructed a tunnel to the well to ensure the safety of the town during war. I also relished the final story set in 1948 when Israel became a nation and how it connected to the contemporary story.

The most exasperating aspect was that then and now, Israeli life is governed by an outdated and intricate set of laws from the Torah and the Talmud.

The most astonishing revelation came from the last page of the book (page 1080): “Judaism emphasized neither an afterlife, an after-punishment, nor heaven; what was worthy and good was here, on this day, in Zefat. We seek God so earnestly, Eliav reflected, not to find Him but to discover ourselves.” This profound statement made me pause and reflect on the true essence of religious beliefs and the human search for meaning.

Overall, this fictional account of Makor offered a captivating exploration of history, culture, and human nature.

I have a profound love for history and an equal passion for fiction. Therefore, historical fiction should seemingly be a perfect fit for me. In reality, however, it often doesn't work out as expected. It is extremely challenging to create convincing characters and believable situations that can effectively illustrate the historical aspects. All too frequently, the characters are one-dimensional and are forced into situations that stretch the bounds of credibility. After reading two works by Edward Rutherfurd, namely "Paris" and "New York," I thought it would be worth giving Michener a try. Among the Michener options, "The Source," which traces the story of Judaism from its ancient beginnings to the establishment of Israel, appeared to be an excellent choice.

I was, unfortunately, disappointed.

The work is centered around the story of archaeologists excavating at Makor, a fictional ancient settlement in Israel. Each level of the excavation is linked to a specific period in time. Supposedly, the later times deal with the descendants of those from earlier times.

I wasn't certain at the start how I felt about the framing story, but I gradually became engaged with it. So, I have no problem with that aspect. And in the early stages, I was really into the individual episodes, some of which were very captivating. However, as I continued reading, the connection between the episodes weakened, and the work devolved into a series of disjointed novellas of varying quality. They were so disconnected that I could let months pass between readings of some episodes without feeling any disadvantage due to the passage of time. I was also bothered by Michener's wavering between believable realism and presenting God as a character. By the later portions, Michener's vacillation had reached a point where I lost confidence in the credibility of the supposedly realistic episodes, even within the context of realistic fiction. I never expected the literal accuracy of non-fiction.

I'm not sure of the sequence in which Michener wrote the episodes. But frankly, the last two felt as if Michener was simply going through the motions, more interested in getting the project completed than in maintaining the quality. At least the strong episodes were strong enough to merit a three-star rating rather than something lower.

This novel was truly exhausting! I had a great affection for its concept and form. Archaeologists are seen shoveling their way through the layers of civilization at a tell situated near the Sea of Galilee. As the artifacts come into view, history gradually unfolds. Essentially, this extremely lengthy work is a compilation of "short stories" (at times lasting several hundred pages) that revolve around these unearthed artifacts. Michener incorporates an abundance of fascinating anthropology, religion, and history within these pages. It makes one unable to refrain from admiring the complexity of human existence, even in the most primitive, cave-dwelling state of ourselves.

Regrettably, I didn't always find the stories narrated at each level to be overly compelling. There were moments when the narrative seemed to drag or lacked the necessary spark to fully engage me. However, despite these drawbacks, the overall wealth of knowledge and the unique perspective offered by the author still made this novel a worthwhile read. It provided a captivating exploration of the past and a reminder of the rich tapestry of human history.

Perhaps with a bit more refinement in the storytelling, this novel could have been an absolute masterpiece. Nevertheless, it still manages to leave a lasting impression and offers valuable insights into the evolution of human civilization.

Completing this enormous book was truly no easy feat! However, its greatest strength lies in the fact that you never find yourself losing interest in any of the stories. It offers a highly comprehensive account of the Jews in Israel, providing a great deal of historical and political perspective. That being said, I did feel that the character development was rather weak, if not entirely absent in some cases. Additionally, the debates on religion at times became a bit too tiresome, especially towards the end. On the other hand, the early stories were quite fascinating. As the crusaders arrived and the battles grew bloodier, it was often quite depressing to read about the atrocities committed against the Jews.

All in all, it was an enjoyable read. If Goodreads had allowed it, I would have given it 3.5 stars.

“Life isn't meant to be easy, it's meant to be life.” This profound statement sets the tone for the book under discussion. The book in question is a bit of a chore to start with. It's not the kind of book that you can easily breeze through. In fact, it can be quite difficult to get into at first. However, once it manages to grab your attention, it has a vice-like grip and doesn't let go. Michener has masterfully woven a fascinating story that delves into the history of a fictitious place in present-day Israel. It explores the struggle for the existence of a particular way of life and a religious philosophy, spanning from 30,000 B.C.E all the way to the present (of 1964 C.E.). From the ancient city of Ur to Tabari, the story is anything but “Mickey Mouse crap”. It makes you think deeply about various aspects of life, history, and religion. And that's what I really like about this book. I wholeheartedly recommend it, but it's important to note that it's not for the faint-hearted. After all, it's nearly 50 years old and has withstood the test of time.

Long, but definitely worth it. This book offers a captivating trip through the rich history of the Middle East, seen through the lens of successive archaeological digs. It takes us all the way back to 10,000 years ago and then progresses through the eras of the Canaanites, Hebrews, Phoenicians, early Christians, Greece, Rome, Arabs, Turks, and Crusaders. Michener appears to depict the Crusaders in the least favorable light, perhaps reflecting the darkness that early Europe was believed to have.

It's difficult to determine the exact historical accuracy, but it's likely sufficient to provide a profound understanding of the complex conflicts over land, water, religion, and sex. If you're not well-versed in this subject matter, the book is well worth reading and is almost impossible to put down.

One recurring theme is the use of increasingly ingenious weapons to resolve conflicts on a broader and more destructive scale.

Written in the early 1960s, after the Suez Crisis but before the countless subsequent wars, it has a sense of the contradictions confronting the Israeli state. The discussion at the very end about restitution but not repatriation for those displaced in 1948 foreshadows all that has followed. It still contains more optimism and idealism than one could feel today, and from that perspective, it seems regrettably outdated.

The modern-day characters are interesting, although perhaps somewhat overdrawn, which might be Michener's general style. I've read this book along with "Hawaii" and may take a look at "Tales of the South Pacific" (since the film version sparked my interest in Michener's works), but then I'll probably take a break from his books for a while.

I vaguely remember reading (or skimming) The Source years ago in high school.

But I know I never gave it the concentration it truly deserves. Just last week, I finally finished it.

And I will probably re-read it to better organize the dates and civilizations.

I found it to be highly readable as a novel.

It would appeal to a wide range of readers.

Those interested in Middle East affairs, those interested in the development of Christianity, and those interested in enduring Judaism.

I am involved in Christian education and a nonspecialist student of theology.

The Source raises many questions about the tensions among the People of the Book.

I am (slowly) reading Luke Timothy Johnson's Among the Gentiles and beginning to get a few fingers around what happened in the early centuries of the last millennium between Jews, Christians, Greeks, Romans, and other 'pagans' of the time.

It guarantees to raise more questions and encourage real study of this fascinating time in history.

Wow! What an amazing read this has been!

I am truly astounded by the amount of research that Michener must have poured into creating such a vastly engrossing novel. The way he has wrapped so much history within engaging characters and events is simply remarkable.

Each level of the tale, ranging from the era of cavemen to 1968 Israel, is filled with so much to absorb that I found myself constantly jotting down notes. I can't wait to engage in discussions about this book with both of my book groups.

Never before has a book taken me two months to read. However, due to the density of the storytelling, it wasn't possible for me to devour it in large chunks. Instead, I had to take small bites and savor every detail.

I have thoroughly relished this reading experience and wholeheartedly recommend "The Source" to everyone. But be prepared, it's not a book that you can breeze through!

This book truly could have been better off without the main character's misogyny and mansplaining.

His constant display of such behavior was highly off-putting and made it extremely difficult to develop any sort of affinity for him.

Every time he opened his mouth to mansplain or express his misogynistic views, it felt like a jarring interruption to the flow of the story.

Rather than adding depth or complexity to his character, these traits simply made him seem unlikable and outdated.

It's a shame that the author chose to include these aspects, as they detracted from what could have otherwise been an engaging and enjoyable read.

Hopefully, in future works, the author will focus on creating more well-rounded and respectful characters that readers can actually root for.

Michener once again offers a captivating journey that spans thousands of years within approximately a thousand pages.

The story centers around the excavation of Tell Makor, situated between the Mediterranean Sea and the Sea of Galilee. It guides the reader through around 10 civilizations and eras, interconnected by the layers they create in the tell, and a family with roots tracing back to Ur.

The main theme explores man's relationship with God and culture. Michener vividly depicts how the cultivation of land led to a dependence on gods, how Judaism evolved into monotheism, and particularly how Jewish culture has been shaped by their exile, return, and those who remained.

The role of women in the family, in religion, and as the social fabric is also prominent.

I can also observe how Michener utilized his research for this as素材 for the Israeli character in The Drifters.

As always, upon finishing his story, one feels as if they have experienced parts of several other lives and gained a wealth of knowledge in the process.

One quote that caught my attention is: (p402): "The English and Greeks developed sports. The Romans and the Americans degenerated them into spectacles. And the Arabs and Jews said to hell with the whole silly mess."