Scan barcode
annacantcook's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
bookbelle5_17's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Review of Damascus Gate
By: Robert Stone
This is normally not my thing, but the plot sounded intriguing and its relevant to what is going in the middle east today. American journalist Christopher Lucas travels to Jerusalem to write a book about religious fanatics but finds himself caught in the middle of the war between the Muslims, Christians, and the Jews. He falls for this beautiful singer Sonia, who is part of one of these religious groups, and pair work together to stop a bomb threat that her group might be part of.
As I said, this not normally my type of read but the discussion of religion and the wars for religious power in Israel sounded like an intriguing plot, especially considering the horrifying events that happened in 2023. Lucas is trying to learn and understand, but his religious background, being born Jewish, and being an American making him a target. He is right in the middle of the scary mess that was going on in the 90s. Sonia is also a target as she is black and Jewish, but her being black makes the Jewish community see her as a fraud. She is someone with strong and it is not surprising that she gets caught and what clearly is a religious cult. This cult seems harmless at first until we learn what they, along with all the other religious groups will do, to prove their religion is the superior one. There is no villain per say, but we do have some characters who what they believe they have to do for things to work in their favor. Stone spends a lot of time immersing you in Jerusalem and showing the horrors of what was going on there and probably still going on. There is a quite a bit of discussion on this holy city and religious justice. Each group believes themselves to be the true people of God.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Religious bigotry, Violence, Gaslighting, Child death, Racial slurs, Addiction, Cursing, Genocide, Murder, Antisemitism, and War
dbot16's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
motormouth95's review against another edition
Very rarely do I not finish a book, but after 100 pages of this book, I had to throw in the towel. I just couldn't get interested in it, especially since there was 400 more pages to read. It was a super slow buildup that didn't seem to be going anywhere.
kingbob's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
rufus666's review against another edition
5.0
lots of poignant scenes. i donated my copy to a library my university was setting up. there was that wonderful pathetic passage about "the weak straining to look agreeable to the strong" or something like that. also that passage about mary magdalene and jesus was quite humorous, in a bleak and sad way.
marit28's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
cookewitch's review against another edition
1.0
I originally bought this in hardback when first released more than 20 years ago, I never got past the first chapter but for some reason the book and cover stayed in my head.
Having just finished it I can confirm that I hated the first 60% of the book and just disliked the next 30%...the last 10% was just relief that the end was near!
Found it pretentious old twaddle, I should have been able to learn something from this type of book...but nope!!
Having just finished it I can confirm that I hated the first 60% of the book and just disliked the next 30%...the last 10% was just relief that the end was near!
Found it pretentious old twaddle, I should have been able to learn something from this type of book...but nope!!
steveab's review against another edition
3.0
I found Damascus Gate a rich and rewarding read. It probes the inner life and turmoil of a disparate group of seekers who find themselves living in Jerusalem in the early 1990s. Mostly the characters come from the United States and Europe, and mostly they reflect Jewish, Christian or "other" sensibilities.
In Damascus Gate, you find highly permeable lines between different religious, cult, messianic identities, just as you find highly permeable lines between the Jewish and Palestinian sections of Jerusalem. I wondered how true either remains, twenty years later.
In the background of the book, presented more as secondary characters, you encounter native Israeli Jews and Palestinians. The settlers seem mostly like maniacs and the Gaza Palestinians mostly miserable.
Still through it all I learned a lot more than I knew before about the complexity of religious and cultural traditions, the ancient structures and buildings associated with them, as well as the geography and life of the area generally. Richness and complexity does not necessarily lead to unraveling what will truly bring peace and justice between Israel and Palestine. That's part of why I liked but didn't love the book.
The book gets billed as a thriller. It works OK for that. I wouldn't put it in the same league as Robert Ludlum or John Le Carre. Also part of why I liked and didn't love.
Mostly what you have, and what works, is philosophical and religious explorations of some interesting characters, smart and intriguing dialog, with lots of cultural references you can know, research or glide over as you go. I mostly loved the language. I liked at least the two main characters, Chris, Jewish Christian American journalist, and Sonia, Christian Jewish, white / African American singer, Sufi and seeker, and a softspot for Nuela, the idealistic Irish revolutionary. That leaves about a half dozen to a dozen other well described folks, who come into contact, collaborate and conflict with each other. If this sounds intriguing you will also like the book.
In Damascus Gate, you find highly permeable lines between different religious, cult, messianic identities, just as you find highly permeable lines between the Jewish and Palestinian sections of Jerusalem. I wondered how true either remains, twenty years later.
In the background of the book, presented more as secondary characters, you encounter native Israeli Jews and Palestinians. The settlers seem mostly like maniacs and the Gaza Palestinians mostly miserable.
Still through it all I learned a lot more than I knew before about the complexity of religious and cultural traditions, the ancient structures and buildings associated with them, as well as the geography and life of the area generally. Richness and complexity does not necessarily lead to unraveling what will truly bring peace and justice between Israel and Palestine. That's part of why I liked but didn't love the book.
The book gets billed as a thriller. It works OK for that. I wouldn't put it in the same league as Robert Ludlum or John Le Carre. Also part of why I liked and didn't love.
Mostly what you have, and what works, is philosophical and religious explorations of some interesting characters, smart and intriguing dialog, with lots of cultural references you can know, research or glide over as you go. I mostly loved the language. I liked at least the two main characters, Chris, Jewish Christian American journalist, and Sonia, Christian Jewish, white / African American singer, Sufi and seeker, and a softspot for Nuela, the idealistic Irish revolutionary. That leaves about a half dozen to a dozen other well described folks, who come into contact, collaborate and conflict with each other. If this sounds intriguing you will also like the book.
steviec's review against another edition
3.0
This book held my attention well. He does a great job of showing the Palestinian/ Israeli tensions of that area. It wasn't an amazing novel, in my own opinion, but wasn't a waste of time either. The characters are pretty well written, the thriller aspect is suspenseful, and the setting is well described.