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4.1 AVERAGE
4.1 AVERAGE
This is my first Michener book and I was wildly disappointed.
I love reading about archeology. I remember hearing an archeologist say that knowing the reason a "find" was used is up to the archeologist who found it until someone else comes up with something better. The Source finds various "finds" and they try to interpret them correctly. But the story goes back in time to see what really happened. In the telling of this history, it was completely godless.
The stories flow and are interesting. The archeological team is interesting and I enjoyed reading their story as well.
What I couldn't deal with was the idea that creation happened without God. Sorry, that just really bugged me. And, instead of God, things always resort to sexual deviance. Enough of the Old Testament was used to recognize it, minus God and His dealings with His people.
Also, the idea that Jews are the chosen people because of The Law that somehow protects them. I don't understand why the Law would be so important to them without a connection with God and what He thinks. It bordered on blasphemy for me.
But then, I'm no brainiac when it comes to what prolific writers write.
I love reading about archeology. I remember hearing an archeologist say that knowing the reason a "find" was used is up to the archeologist who found it until someone else comes up with something better. The Source finds various "finds" and they try to interpret them correctly. But the story goes back in time to see what really happened. In the telling of this history, it was completely godless.
The stories flow and are interesting. The archeological team is interesting and I enjoyed reading their story as well.
What I couldn't deal with was the idea that creation happened without God. Sorry, that just really bugged me. And, instead of God, things always resort to sexual deviance. Enough of the Old Testament was used to recognize it, minus God and His dealings with His people.
Also, the idea that Jews are the chosen people because of The Law that somehow protects them. I don't understand why the Law would be so important to them without a connection with God and what He thinks. It bordered on blasphemy for me.
But then, I'm no brainiac when it comes to what prolific writers write.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Some interesting things in here -- I learned a lot about history, religion & the region. But I grew weary of all the violence and almost gave up somewhere in the 700-800 page range. (Not that one can really complain about too much violence in historical fiction.) I didn't feel an emotional connection to the members of the archaeology team (had a hard time getting past the way Cullinane seemed to feel he had some right to Vered). There were characters through history that I cheered for, but I didn't feel heavily invested in the characters or the continuance, like I remember feeling when I read previous Michener books. Over all, I'm glad I read it, but I'm even more glad that I'm done.
My favorite part was Ur and his family, with the start of farming and all the changes that forced. While I was reading this, we took our summer vacation to the Mesa Verde cliff dwellings, where our tour guide talked about some of transition from hunter-gatherer to dry farming, and then to building communities. So it was neat to make that connection.
Side note: I checked out the book, too, but primarily listened to the "book on tape" version of this, available on Audible. The narrator has a dry, monotone quality, so it's not the most pleasant way to listen. Wish they had a modernized audiobook option.
Quotes:
p. 814: "Judaism can be understood... only if it is seen as a fundamental philosophy directed to the greatest of all problems: how can men live together in an organized society?"
p. 1080: "Life isn't meant to be easy, it's meant to be life. And no religion defended so tenaciously the ordinary dignity of living. Judaism stressed neither an after-life, an after-punishment, nor heaven; what was worthy and good was here, on this day, in Zefat. We seek God so earnestly... not to find Him but to discover ourselves."
My favorite part was Ur and his family, with the start of farming and all the changes that forced. While I was reading this, we took our summer vacation to the Mesa Verde cliff dwellings, where our tour guide talked about some of transition from hunter-gatherer to dry farming, and then to building communities. So it was neat to make that connection.
Side note: I checked out the book, too, but primarily listened to the "book on tape" version of this, available on Audible. The narrator has a dry, monotone quality, so it's not the most pleasant way to listen. Wish they had a modernized audiobook option.
Quotes:
p. 814: "Judaism can be understood... only if it is seen as a fundamental philosophy directed to the greatest of all problems: how can men live together in an organized society?"
p. 1080: "Life isn't meant to be easy, it's meant to be life. And no religion defended so tenaciously the ordinary dignity of living. Judaism stressed neither an after-life, an after-punishment, nor heaven; what was worthy and good was here, on this day, in Zefat. We seek God so earnestly... not to find Him but to discover ourselves."
This book is absolutely a huge time investment, and completely worth it. I rooted for characters of all backgrounds and moral compasses. The theoretical religious commentary and stories were fascinating.
informative
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This book didn’t age well. I tried to overlook the casual sexism and the racist tropes on the “this is a product of its time” basis. But 1100 pages of suffering was ultimately more than I could overlook. Life is short. Moving on.