Scan barcode
chevaliercreates's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
This reads like a much larger book that’s been chopped away by a cleaver-swinging editor to make it come in under 300 pages. I love Uris but this is a very strangely edited book.
glowe2's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-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
3.0
islagilmer's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
jgolomb's review against another edition
3.0
“…the very soul of Greece danced by firelight.”
from Leon Uris’ “The Angry Hills"
"The Angry Hills" is an enjoyable read; there are parts that are memorable, but it's uneven. I believe this is Uris' second novel, and while it evokes a depth and nuance of a burgeoning author of historical epics, it also hints at something that's rushed, and perhaps could've used a more firm editorial hand.
“The Angry Hills” refers to World War II Greek resistance against German infiltration. While Germany invaded Athens and started to clamp down upon, and imprint it’s mark on Greecian government, resistance remained strong and unmoved within the hilly and remote countryside. An American writer comes across a list of Greek government leaders who are quietly supporting Germany. His goal is to get that list out of the country and into Allied hands. Michael Morrison is chased across the countryside avoiding capture, and finds himself enmeshed within the heart of Greece and its culture.
The primary plot thread is fine. It’s a little confusing in parts, but makes for a strong enough hook to propel the story. In parallel, Uris introduces us to Morrison who’s recently lost his wife, and whose kids are with their grandparents in the U.S. Generally, he’s not a happy man. And as we travel through a couple of very remote villages, we find ourselves tracking a man who seeks contentment. This contentment makes itself apparent always slightly beyond Morrison’s graspable horizon through 2/3 of the book.
What Uris does extremely well, is put flesh on the land that is Greece. Uris is known to travel extensively and thoroughly research his subjects. I don’t doubt that this is the case with “Angry Hills”. We’re exposed to a Greece whose collective long-range outlook is optimistic, while pragmatically accepting a fate marked by poverty, and acted out as a pawn in a much larger world war.
“Hills” could easily double in size (my addition came in at only 248 pages), and scope, which might have accommodated Uris’ exploration of the land and heart of the country in which his story is based. Several different Greeks fall in love with Morrison throughout the tale, each in a unique way: a shy farm girl, a hulking farmer who’s lost his son, a world-wise and savvy rebel, and even a prostitute. Honestly, each happens a little too easily and far too quickly.
I’m traveling to Greece for the first time this summer, and I found this book to be a terrific primer on ‘the soul of Greece’. This is a well-written and enjoyable war-time thriller.
from Leon Uris’ “The Angry Hills"
"The Angry Hills" is an enjoyable read; there are parts that are memorable, but it's uneven. I believe this is Uris' second novel, and while it evokes a depth and nuance of a burgeoning author of historical epics, it also hints at something that's rushed, and perhaps could've used a more firm editorial hand.
“The Angry Hills” refers to World War II Greek resistance against German infiltration. While Germany invaded Athens and started to clamp down upon, and imprint it’s mark on Greecian government, resistance remained strong and unmoved within the hilly and remote countryside. An American writer comes across a list of Greek government leaders who are quietly supporting Germany. His goal is to get that list out of the country and into Allied hands. Michael Morrison is chased across the countryside avoiding capture, and finds himself enmeshed within the heart of Greece and its culture.
The primary plot thread is fine. It’s a little confusing in parts, but makes for a strong enough hook to propel the story. In parallel, Uris introduces us to Morrison who’s recently lost his wife, and whose kids are with their grandparents in the U.S. Generally, he’s not a happy man. And as we travel through a couple of very remote villages, we find ourselves tracking a man who seeks contentment. This contentment makes itself apparent always slightly beyond Morrison’s graspable horizon through 2/3 of the book.
What Uris does extremely well, is put flesh on the land that is Greece. Uris is known to travel extensively and thoroughly research his subjects. I don’t doubt that this is the case with “Angry Hills”. We’re exposed to a Greece whose collective long-range outlook is optimistic, while pragmatically accepting a fate marked by poverty, and acted out as a pawn in a much larger world war.
“Hills” could easily double in size (my addition came in at only 248 pages), and scope, which might have accommodated Uris’ exploration of the land and heart of the country in which his story is based. Several different Greeks fall in love with Morrison throughout the tale, each in a unique way: a shy farm girl, a hulking farmer who’s lost his son, a world-wise and savvy rebel, and even a prostitute. Honestly, each happens a little too easily and far too quickly.
I’m traveling to Greece for the first time this summer, and I found this book to be a terrific primer on ‘the soul of Greece’. This is a well-written and enjoyable war-time thriller.
flamingtashhh's review
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I couldn’t add a specific content warning for this, but I feel like an important one would be refugee crises/ exile/ migration.
I bought this book kind of on accident, and didn’t realize it was a World War II novel- not at all my genre, but I’ve loved other works by the author. I actually ended up liking it much more than I expected, but took two stars because of the tragically underdeveloped female characters, who were really just objectified, and the way that the main character never really developed- in fact I think his development was stunted completely by the introduction of love interests.
Otherwise, the novel was a really good, if subtle, representation of the military industrial complex in action, and how colonization through savior-war works. I was really pretty impressed too with the way that the novel resisted and beat back an American narrative of war being heroic and tragic and fraternal- it was an absolute waste, frantic, it felt senseless to the point of almost random. Notably, the Greeks, including the Jewish Greeks, were not aided by any of the war-waging in this novel, which felt accurate.
I bought this book kind of on accident, and didn’t realize it was a World War II novel- not at all my genre, but I’ve loved other works by the author. I actually ended up liking it much more than I expected, but took two stars because of the tragically underdeveloped female characters, who were really just objectified, and the way that the main character never really developed- in fact I think his development was stunted completely by the introduction of love interests.
Otherwise, the novel was a really good, if subtle, representation of the military industrial complex in action, and how colonization through savior-war works. I was really pretty impressed too with the way that the novel resisted and beat back an American narrative of war being heroic and tragic and fraternal- it was an absolute waste, frantic, it felt senseless to the point of almost random. Notably, the Greeks, including the Jewish Greeks, were not aided by any of the war-waging in this novel, which felt accurate.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Genocide, Gun violence, Death, Fatphobia, Grief, Murder, Racism, Violence, Alcohol, Antisemitism, Child death, Colonisation, Torture, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Sexual assault, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual violence, and Rape
Minor: Sexual content
The female characters are ridiculously underdeveloped. Like, RIDICULOUSLY underdeveloped.
More...