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booksandchicks's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars. And props to me for finishing it! I found the book fascinating then it got a little laborious as it explained the history then fascinating again, I think part of the problem for me was I know so little of the Arab conflicts in general. This book covered 1946-1956 in Palestine/Jerusalem between he Jews and Palestinians. I'm well aware of the culture, but the history amazes me at the dangers that pride allows. I do recommend to those stalwart historical fiction readers. I'm so glad a I read it, but I'm also glad I'm done reading it.
trunuyawkr's review against another edition
2.0
I normally love Leon Uris' work so when I saw this in the library I eagerly added it to my stack and ran home to read it. Maybe it's a product of my being a mom and trying to instill a sense of fairness in my kids; maybe it's being a Jew in the thick of the Bible Belt, hyper aware of how I present myself and my viewpoints so that I don't offend or alienate anyone. However, I found myself putting the book down about 1/4 of the way through because I just couldn't handle the smug "Jews are always superlative Arabs are always ignoramuses who need the Jews to help them figure out how to even breathe" tone any more. I still love Uris, and will continue to pick up his work wherever I can find it - hopefully the next book will be a little more equitable in it's opinions. :)
bobbo49's review against another edition
4.0
I have always admired Uris' ability to provide real history in a very good work of fiction, and The Haj is no exception. Tracing the history of Palestine through the lives of an Arab family from the 1920s to the mid-1950s, Uris presents a daunting view of the internecine conflicts that continue to dominate the Moslem Arab world to this day. I thought that he showed some bias in his story favoring Israel and the Jewish settlers, but overall the history is reasonably reflective of the facts on the ground (which I studied in some depth in my return to university in the early 2000s). Overall, a very worthwhile read.
kinpaws12's review against another edition
2.0
This was my second Uris book after Exodus. Not having known about either the author or what the book was about going into it, I had thoroughly enjoyed Exodus; although, there were things I had observed, but not given much thought to: the one-dimensional portrayal of most parties involved, and especially the contrast in the manner in which Jews and Arabs were portrayed. The Arabs did not have a major role to play in Exodus, with the focus instead being on the English and the part they played in the Palestinian conflict (it's been a while since I read it so the details are murky in my mind, so it might not be accurate, but this is what I remember of it).
The Haj is another book centered around the events surrounding the formation of Israel, and focuses on a family of Palestinian refugees. There are a lot of similarities between Exodus and The Haj in the setting and the principal cast of characters, even their personalities and relationships. One major difference is that the main character, the titular Haj Ibrahim, is an Arab, and we spend most of the story following his actions, partly through a third-person omniscient narrator, and the rest through his son, Ishmael. And in this, the seemingly minor flaw in Exodus turns into the major problem of this book: blatant racism.
The Arab society is portrayed as one-dimensional, a society centered around mutual hatred, a society that cannot govern itself because the hatred among its people - among sons and fathers, among brothers - would never let two people agree on one point; a society that cannot maintain its own land, one symbolized by violence; this is in sharp contrast to the portrayal of Jews, who are highly progressive, seek nothing but peace, and are willing to co-exist with the Palestinians. Some reading around shows that the real history was a lot dirtier and does not paint such a black-and-white picture after all. Perhaps, if the story was set in a fictional world with fictional factions, I would have enjoyed it better.
Now that that's done, there's some other aspects which were rather off-putting. The inconsistency in the narration - which alternates between an omniscient third-person narrator and the titular character's son - was a major turn-off. A lot of the times, the first person narration didn't feel convincing, and many times I felt it would be better if the author had just stuck to the third-person narration. (Spoilers beyond this point) This brings us to one major issue that doesn't fit in well with the rest of the book: the ending. In the ending, Ishmael goes insane, and this is reflected in the narration as well. At which point, then, did he narrate the story?
It was not a hard book to read by any means, and the pacing is also pretty good. At no point did it stagnate or feel too boring. But the problems I've mentioned are, at least for me, quite serious, and I couldn't really enjoy the book as much as I wanted to as a result.
The Haj is another book centered around the events surrounding the formation of Israel, and focuses on a family of Palestinian refugees. There are a lot of similarities between Exodus and The Haj in the setting and the principal cast of characters, even their personalities and relationships. One major difference is that the main character, the titular Haj Ibrahim, is an Arab, and we spend most of the story following his actions, partly through a third-person omniscient narrator, and the rest through his son, Ishmael. And in this, the seemingly minor flaw in Exodus turns into the major problem of this book: blatant racism.
The Arab society is portrayed as one-dimensional, a society centered around mutual hatred, a society that cannot govern itself because the hatred among its people - among sons and fathers, among brothers - would never let two people agree on one point; a society that cannot maintain its own land, one symbolized by violence; this is in sharp contrast to the portrayal of Jews, who are highly progressive, seek nothing but peace, and are willing to co-exist with the Palestinians. Some reading around shows that the real history was a lot dirtier and does not paint such a black-and-white picture after all. Perhaps, if the story was set in a fictional world with fictional factions, I would have enjoyed it better.
Now that that's done, there's some other aspects which were rather off-putting. The inconsistency in the narration - which alternates between an omniscient third-person narrator and the titular character's son - was a major turn-off. A lot of the times, the first person narration didn't feel convincing, and many times I felt it would be better if the author had just stuck to the third-person narration. (Spoilers beyond this point) This brings us to one major issue that doesn't fit in well with the rest of the book: the ending. In the ending, Ishmael goes insane, and this is reflected in the narration as well. At which point, then, did he narrate the story?
It was not a hard book to read by any means, and the pacing is also pretty good. At no point did it stagnate or feel too boring. But the problems I've mentioned are, at least for me, quite serious, and I couldn't really enjoy the book as much as I wanted to as a result.
chuckri's review against another edition
dark
informative
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
dangitall's review against another edition
2.0
On a purely aesthetic level, I enjoyed this book. Judging it purely as a novel, I'd rate it higher; I like Uris's writing style and the plot drew me in. But as a work of historical fiction, it scores lower for me. Without knowing enough about the Arab-Israeli conflict to be able to specifically dispute any of the historical analysis implied by the story, I came away feeling that the it couldn't be anything other than biased. As I recall it, the Jews come off as nobler people, entirely wronged and victimized whereas the Arabs are depicted as having a fundamental racial or social flaw which is the root of all conflict in the region. Even though the major characters are all presented sympathetically, they can't overcome the fundamental problem that all Arabs are craven (at best) or evil. I was frustrated with the treatment and came away with a bad feeling about the book.
clockless's review against another edition
4.0
The only other Uris book I have read so far was Armageddon, and both the successes and failures of that book were present here, too. The story is well-written, brilliantly constructed, and the history was perfectly accurate. But, again, Uris somehow felt the need to make sure that his heroes were perfectly heroic and his villains were perfectly villainous. And again, like Armageddon, this was just not necessary. The "bad guys" Uris is relating really were bad, no honest account would state otherwise, no embellishment or mustache twirling needed. Likewise, your "good guys" don't have to have every modern, politically correct opinion. If anything, Uris' black/white style undermines the story and, I have no doubt, gives people the impression that his account is inaccurate. It isn't, at all, but his persistent minor exaggerations harm his own case.
Uris is a great writer, but he doesn't trust his readers.
Uris is a great writer, but he doesn't trust his readers.
komet2020's review against another edition
5.0
Several years ago, I read Leon Uris' epic best-seller [b:Exodus|42697|Exodus|Leon Uris|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1359742531s/42697.jpg|804397]. At that time, I had also purchased his other Middle East based novel, [b:The Haj|42691|The Haj|Leon Uris|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1359743182s/42691.jpg|798555], which roughly encapsulates the same time period as covered in [b:Exodus|42697|Exodus|Leon Uris|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1359742531s/42697.jpg|804397], albeit from the Arab perspective. But I was hesitant to begin reading it. And so, I didn't begin reading 'The Haj' until about 10 days ago.
'The Haj' is an epic novel centered on the lives of Haj Ibrahim al Soukouri al Wahhabi (the Muktar of Tabah) and his family. It is a story that is told through a number of voices - the land itself, formerly named Palestine from the 1880s when it was a largely barren province of the Ottoman Empire, and on into the mid-1950s following the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948 and its varied impacts on the surrounding Arab nations; and from the perspective of Haj Ibrahim's youngest son, Ishmael. Indeed, it is through Ishmael that the reader becomes witness to the life of the Arabs in Tabah, a village near Lydda and Ramle in what is today the West Bank. In Tabah, Haj Ibrahim is absolute ruler, fulfilling the role of sage, judge, and arbiter of all disputes and issues therein. And, though illiterate, Haj Ibrahim is knowledgeable about the economics of his domain through his brother Farouk (who had been fortunate enough to have been the recipient of a Christian education from missionaries, which made him both literate and skilled in accounting).
Up til he was 8, Ishmael (who was born in 1936, the year the Arab uprising in Palestine against British rule broke out; it would last for 3 years) was largely overlooked by his father and lived in the part of the household where his mother Hagar and the other women held sway. Ishmael and his mother were especially close. He was also close to his sister Nada (who was slightly older than him and figures prominently later in the novel). Ishmael, unlike his 3 older brothers, has a great curiosity about the world around him and develops a thirst for knowledge. He wants to learn, to be able to read and write. Whenever Ishmael tried to impress his desire for an education to Haj Ibrahim, he is treated with disdain. Haj Ibrahim sees no need for him to be educated because as the youngest son, he is expected to become a herder of goats. On the other hand, Hagar recognizes that Ishmael has a sharp mind and urges him to try to make himself useful to his father by finding out the true number of all his land holdings in Tabah. In the process of doing this, Ishmael learns that his Uncle Farouk has been pocketing some of the annual profits, and shares this knowledge with his father. At first, Haj Ibrahim is inclined to ignore his son's claims out-of-hand. But when Ishmael is able to present incontrovertible evidence of Farouk's deception, he begins to see that, perhaps, this son can be of use to him. Thus, Ishmael is allowed to attend school, where he becomes one of the best students in class.
The novel also explores the relationship Haj Ibrahim had with Gideon Asch, a Jewish revolutionary leader he first crosses paths with when Asch and a group of Jewish pioneers come into the area during the early 1920s to establish a kibbutz near Tabah. Though Arab and Jew are sworn enemies, the 2 men over the next 30 years develop a close, brotherly friendship that Haj Ibrahim takes considerable pains to keep unknown to his community.
But in the main, "The Haj" is a novel about family and how the convulsive history of the Middle East as played out over the past century affected family relationships and livelihoods. It makes for compelling and at times, maddening and heartbreaking reading. For anyone wanting to get a better understanding as to why the Middle East is what it is today, "The Haj" is a good place to start.
'The Haj' is an epic novel centered on the lives of Haj Ibrahim al Soukouri al Wahhabi (the Muktar of Tabah) and his family. It is a story that is told through a number of voices - the land itself, formerly named Palestine from the 1880s when it was a largely barren province of the Ottoman Empire, and on into the mid-1950s following the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948 and its varied impacts on the surrounding Arab nations; and from the perspective of Haj Ibrahim's youngest son, Ishmael. Indeed, it is through Ishmael that the reader becomes witness to the life of the Arabs in Tabah, a village near Lydda and Ramle in what is today the West Bank. In Tabah, Haj Ibrahim is absolute ruler, fulfilling the role of sage, judge, and arbiter of all disputes and issues therein. And, though illiterate, Haj Ibrahim is knowledgeable about the economics of his domain through his brother Farouk (who had been fortunate enough to have been the recipient of a Christian education from missionaries, which made him both literate and skilled in accounting).
Up til he was 8, Ishmael (who was born in 1936, the year the Arab uprising in Palestine against British rule broke out; it would last for 3 years) was largely overlooked by his father and lived in the part of the household where his mother Hagar and the other women held sway. Ishmael and his mother were especially close. He was also close to his sister Nada (who was slightly older than him and figures prominently later in the novel). Ishmael, unlike his 3 older brothers, has a great curiosity about the world around him and develops a thirst for knowledge. He wants to learn, to be able to read and write. Whenever Ishmael tried to impress his desire for an education to Haj Ibrahim, he is treated with disdain. Haj Ibrahim sees no need for him to be educated because as the youngest son, he is expected to become a herder of goats. On the other hand, Hagar recognizes that Ishmael has a sharp mind and urges him to try to make himself useful to his father by finding out the true number of all his land holdings in Tabah. In the process of doing this, Ishmael learns that his Uncle Farouk has been pocketing some of the annual profits, and shares this knowledge with his father. At first, Haj Ibrahim is inclined to ignore his son's claims out-of-hand. But when Ishmael is able to present incontrovertible evidence of Farouk's deception, he begins to see that, perhaps, this son can be of use to him. Thus, Ishmael is allowed to attend school, where he becomes one of the best students in class.
The novel also explores the relationship Haj Ibrahim had with Gideon Asch, a Jewish revolutionary leader he first crosses paths with when Asch and a group of Jewish pioneers come into the area during the early 1920s to establish a kibbutz near Tabah. Though Arab and Jew are sworn enemies, the 2 men over the next 30 years develop a close, brotherly friendship that Haj Ibrahim takes considerable pains to keep unknown to his community.
But in the main, "The Haj" is a novel about family and how the convulsive history of the Middle East as played out over the past century affected family relationships and livelihoods. It makes for compelling and at times, maddening and heartbreaking reading. For anyone wanting to get a better understanding as to why the Middle East is what it is today, "The Haj" is a good place to start.
phxkevin's review
3.0
The summary is a story of hate and love, vengeance and forgiveness. It's a little "light" on the love and forgiveness"
It's an interesting read. I recommend it, but parts of it our depressing in that it seems to mirror the middle east today.
The author is an excellent story teller, even though the reader my not want to hear about certain parts of the story.
It's an interesting read. I recommend it, but parts of it our depressing in that it seems to mirror the middle east today.
The author is an excellent story teller, even though the reader my not want to hear about certain parts of the story.
raehink's review
3.0
A fictional depiction of the Arab-Israeli conflict from World War One to the aftermath of World War Two.
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