Uris, Leon

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The Ode to Promise Land
Rebirth of a Nation
Great historical fiction takes you back to birth of Israel
Great Book
Really good historical fiction

Exodus
Leon Uris
Manufacturer: Bantam
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0553258478
Release Date: 1983-10-01

Book Description

Exodus is an international publishing phenomenon--the towering novel of the twentieth century's most dramatic geopolitical event. Leon Uris magnificently portrays the birth of a new nation in the midst of enemies--the beginning of an earthshaking struggle for power. Here is the tale that swept the world with its fury: the story of an American nurse, an Israeli freedom fighter caught up in a glorious, heartbreaking, triumphant era. Here is Exodus --one of the great best-selling novels of all time.

Customer Reviews:

The Ode to Promise Land.......2007-04-04

One of the most powerful books of the last century, Leon Uris "Exodus" (1960) is an exiting and deeply moving novel which was written by a talented and passionate man. The best, the most inspirational parts of the book are the depictions of the historical events dealing with the origins of ghetto system, pogroms in Russia, the long and fascinating journey of two brothers from a small Russian town to Palestine by foot, the ideas of Theodor Herzl, the birth of kibbutzes in Palestine, and enormous labor of kibbutznicks to make the land fertile, to grow plants and trees where the desert, rocks, and swamps had been. Uris was also able to find the compelling words, images, and characters to reflect on the tragedy of European Holocaust, on the dramatic story of United Nations voting for partition of Palestine in 1947 and on the war of the infant state of Israel against its multiple and hostile neighbors for the right to exist and be an independent country. I took the book with me in my trip to Israel a year and a half ago and reading it while be able to see the places it describes with such passion and love, to see the land that is called "promised land" or "Holy land" WAS one of the most emotional and unforgettable experiences in my life.

Rebirth of a Nation.......2007-01-18

In the same manner that Herman Wouk's "Winds of War" and "War and Remembrance" took us through the vast event that was WWII, as seen through the eyes of a family of beloved fictional characters -- so does Leon Uris' "Exodus" carry us through the labor pains and birth of the modern State of Israel, as seen through the eyes of a family of fictional figures in that resurrected nation.

The story is huge in scope and Uris covers a lot of territory within the allotted pages. He takes us from the Jewish displaced persons camps of post war Europe, through the Zionist immigration into Palestine(much of it illegal) under the British mandate, then through the rebuilding of the land and the growing skirmishes leading to all out war for survival as the Britsh withdrew (as prescribed by the UN) and the State of Israel was birthed - and immediately and overwhelmingly attacked by the surrounding Arab nations. Miraculously, Israel overcame their attackers, survived, and even thrived.

As best I can judge from comparison to other sources, the historical sequence of events as described by Uris is accurate. The information is highly educational. More subjectively, Uris was Jewish and writes from a Zionist perspective. He depicts the Hebrews as noble, resourceful, and courageous. Generally, the Arab elements are portrayed as cruel, deceptive, cowardly, and not given to playing by the rules. The British are painted as anti-Semites. I'll leave it to the reader to root out the truth of the matter.

Uris does not neglect the spiritual aspect and the acknowledgment of the supernatural provisional and protective hand of God . . . the God of the Hebrews. Uris employs this sometimes by intimation and sometimes very directly.

The author did masterful research and presentation relating to the historical facts. However (at least in this early novel), his character development and continuity, and dialogue, is not on par with other 20th century master novelists (use Herman Wouk again for comparison). Some characterizations are overstated, others are fluid and changing, some are borderline silly. Also, Uris could have given us a little better peek at the personalities, quirks, foibles, etc. of the actual historical political and military figures of the era (David Ben Gurion is barely mentioned just a couple of times). He didn't. A shame.

Still - this is an epic piece of modern historical fiction. If you deeply love or hate Israel, this is worth the read and highly recommended.

Great historical fiction takes you back to birth of Israel.......2007-01-10

I bought this book because I've enjoyed numerous other books by Uris, and always felt he tried to do right by his historical subject. Given the turmoil that's marked Mid East history seemingly forever, I thought this would be an intersting way to learn a piece of history about which I knew little. Just how did the modern state of Israel come into existence? The answer may surprise you. Most of us know it came on the heels of the Holocaust, but how many readers are aware that England endorsed the formation of a Jewish state thirty years earlier, then reversed itself out of fear over losing favor with the Arab oil sheiks? They actually gave aid and comfort to the Arabs while trying to squash the flegling Israeli army. The US was then and now their only true ally. Even still, real assistance from the rest of the world came mostly in the form of private donations of money and supplies. Outnumbered 100:1, the fact that Israel prevailed in it's war for independence was nothing short of a miracle.
Understandably, no one should take any book at 100% face value whether sold as non-fiction or a novel. There is another side to the story. But you should come away asking some serious questions.

Great Book.......2007-01-05

Although the actual story has some historical inaccuracies, it's a true masterpiece and a must-read for any zionist. It give us a deep perspective into the importance of the State of Israel, especially nowadays, when the whole world seems to forget the legitimacy and importance of the State of Israel.

Really good historical fiction.......2006-12-17

In the Jewish Torah (also known as the first five books of the Christian Old Testament), the central story deals with the return of the Israelites from the bondage of Egypt to the land of Canaan. This exodus from Egypt may be viewed as legend or fact depending on your point-of-view. What is clearly fact is the modern Exodus, when Jews (the descendants of the Israelites) returned to Palestine (the area formerly known as Canaan or Judea, and soon to be known as Israel). This Exodus is chronicled in Leon Uris's book of the same name; it is a novel filled with historical fact, and for the most part, it is successful.

Exodus tells of the years right after World War II, primarily from 1946 to the establishment of Israel in May, 1948. Against this epic backdrop is told the story of four principal characters. Karen Clement is a teenage Jewish girl who was successfully hidden in Denmark during the war; of her entire family, she may have been the only survivor; only her father's fate remains in doubt. Dov Landau is of a similar age to Karen, but he had a much rougher time during the war, barely surviving the terrors of the concentration camp. Ari Ben Canaan grew up in Palestine and is an avid Zionist, fighting for the creation of a Jewish homeland. The most important character, however, is the non-Jewish one, Kitty Fremont. A nurse who has recently suffered the deaths of her husband and infant child, she views the Jews with suspicion. While not really anti-Semitic, she clearly views Jews as somewhat alien. Nonetheless, she finds herself falling for Ari and developing maternal instincts for Karen. More than for anyone else, Exodus is Kitty's story, the tale of the transformation of her character; she is a different person by the end of the book.

The first half of the book focuses on an effort to move a group of children from a Displaced Persons camp in Cyprus to Palestine. The transportation of these children (on a ship called the Exodus) really just serves as a framing story for a series of tales giving the histories of Ari, Dov and Karen (and to a much lesser extent, Kitty). After the voyage of the Exodus is completed, the second half of the novel begins, dealing with the move towards establishing the Israeli state. Of course, the reader knows that this will end in victory for the Jews, but what the costs will be to the individual characters is less certain.

Although written in the late 1950s, there is much that is relevant in this book even today. The story gives a perspective on the sources of Middle Eastern strife. What I found more interesting, however, is how it presented terrorism: essentially, one man's terrorist is another's freedom fighter. In today's world, when terrorism is often equated with pure evil, it is illuminating to read a story where some terrorists (particularly the Jews) are depicted as heroic. Of course, the terrorists of Exodus (who are more interested in sabotage than murder) are not nearly as nasty as, say Al Qaeda, but it is worthwhile to note the parallels and differences between the different groups.

If there are villains in Exodus, it is less the Arabs who resist the founding of Israel as the British, who come off looking bad as a group (although there are definitely some British "good guys"). It is the Brits, who clinging to their dwindling empire, who are shown to be the biggest source of the problems, reneging on promises and condoning atrocities.

As a historical novel, Uris sometimes focuses a little too much on the history and his characters sometimes disappear as the narration tells of actual events. Overall, however, this is a really good book. Good companion pieces to this book would be James Michener's The Source (which tells of the earlier history of Palestine/Israel) and Herman Wouk's pair of books, The Hope and The Glory (which tell the story of Israel from its founding to the 1980s). You don't have to be Jewish to get something out of Exodus; the story it tells, and the lessons that can be learned from it, are important for anyone.

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Time to read The Haj
GET A GRIP FOLKS!
enlightening
timely book
Mazel Tov, Leon Uris, Mazel tov!

The Haj
Leon Uris
Manufacturer: Bantam
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0553248642
Release Date: 1985-05-01

Book Description

Leon Uris retums to the land of his acclaimed best-seller Exodus for an epic story of hate and love, vengeance and forgiveness and forgiveness. The Middle East is the powerful setting for this sweeping tale of a land where revenge is sacred and hatred noble. Where an Arab ruler tries to save his people from destruction but cannot save them from themselves. When violence spreads like a plague across the lands of Palestine--this is the time of The Haj.

Customer Reviews:

Time to read The Haj.......2007-04-14

Leon Uris is among my favorite authors. With my interests in both WW II and in Ireland, I read most of his good books decades ago. But I'd never gotten around to reading this one because I was rather less interested in Arab culture at that time.

Now here we are with the war in Iraq, Syrian interference in Lebanon, and much more going on in the Middle East. I was ready. I picked up The Haj and was glad I did. I found it just as engaging as anything I've read by this author; featuring rich settings populated with fascinating characters, and well grounded in careful research. And on top of that, the book is remarkably relevant in terms of current events.

GET A GRIP FOLKS!.......2007-03-05

THIS IS HISTORICAL FICTION.. A NOVEL!!! Not unlike Herman Wolks "Winds of War" or War and Rememberance.

enlightening.......2007-02-07

I haven't yet finished this book. It does verify what I experienced living in an Arab country for two years. Some Arabs are taught to hate other cultures since an early age. I had a member of a royal family in a class I taught. She hated Hindi's. I asked why, she only said, "Because." I know she heard it from her family and friends that Indians and Hindis are the servants and do work unfit for an Arab.

This book won't solve problems, but will help to gain some insight into the mind of an Arab (since when would God send a prostitute for use to a believer to show him something???)

timely book.......2007-01-30

Leon Uris has captured the mind of the people we are fighting and those we are trying to help. Thouigh it is a novel, it lends a great deal of insight into why the Arab nations are where they are today.

Mazel Tov, Leon Uris, Mazel tov!.......2006-12-24

I think that what was so remarkable in Mr. Uris novel was his ability to re-create an era and characters that existed and lived in a not-so distant past. I do not think that Uris wanted to disgrace anybody. He was just describing a part of a world as he saw it

Imagine if we were to write a novel about the United States in the 1940's-50'surely we would see some marked differences between now and then. Uris transports us back in time in the company of realistic characters, but above all, this is a work of fiction, not a documentary.

Uris bring passion to his stories. I couldn't take sides while reading this book. I felt sorry for Nada, who suffered a traumatic mutilation of her female parts in the name of family honor. It sure backfired in ways the Haj never thought possible.

Reading this book I felt rage, pity, remorse and even felt guilty that the whole tragedy ever happened at all. Uris opens a window to the world of Islam and the Arabs, the British and the Israelis, everyone of them contending for a place to call "home" in the Middle East.

5 stars, well deserved

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Another classic by leon Uris....
Cold War Fact/Fiction - Enthralling!
Another Timeless Classic
The earliest rumblings of the Cold War
It is a novel after all.

Armageddon
Leon Uris
Manufacturer: Doubleday
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0385003560
Release Date: 1964-05-05

Customer Reviews:

Another classic by leon Uris...........2007-06-23

Great book about Berlin after the War. It certainly sheds light on an interesting period in time. It makes the Russians look really bad. It makes you proud of what mankind can do if they really want to. Highly recommend this book.

Cold War Fact/Fiction - Enthralling!.......2006-05-26

Leon Uris is a brilliant writer! This is #4 on the top best seller list for the year I was born, 1964. Gripping, edge-of-your-seat novel! Of course, since this is based on the Cold War (end of of WW II), there is a lof of fact in it as well. My opinion is that this should be a book that should be required reading in high school. Great work of fact/fiction entwined. I was never really too knowledgeable about this time era but I am really glad I read this book & am more educated because of it. A must read!

Another Timeless Classic.......2006-05-22

When Friday night turns into Saturday, and you have been up all night to finish a book, but sorry that it came to an end, then you know that you have read a classic. That is how I feel about Armageddon by Leon Uris.

It is set near the end of World War II in England and continues in Germany through the Berlin Airlift.The development of the characters is superb, their stories exciting.

Nevertheless, I found some of the assumptions about Germans quite incredible, even a little absurd. Uris describes their love of the forest as an almost mystical Teutonic reverance, which I never observed despite living amongst Germans of all backgrounds, and having travelled extensively through their forests above several tons of tracked aluminum.

Uris also describes Americans in a way that we would like to think of ourselves, which is, in a word, righteous. Unfortunately, if that ever existed during the Berlin Airlift, it is not in evidence today.

But against the backdrop of the airlift which was America's most spectacular strategic, tactical and propaganda victory ever against communism, the characters from the pilots, to the Germans, to the leaders of all sides, come to life in realistic and dramatic fashion.

Uris is a masterful storyteller, and this is entirely top notch writing. You cannot help but hope that the lives of his characters and their love triumph in the ordeal of rebuilding a nation from it's total collapse.

This is one of those rare books that I can take from my shelf, turn to any page, and find in any one of them, the shear pleasure of reading.

The earliest rumblings of the Cold War.......2006-03-10

This book opens in England in 1944, with the Allies preparing for the invasion of France. An elite team of soldiers looks beyond the invasion to the end of the war, and begins preparations for the occupation of a conquered Germany. Filled with a variety of colorful, yet believable characters, Uris provides a sweeping portrayal of the challenges facing the Allies as they struggle to rebuild a peaceful Germany after the war. The majority of this book focuses on Berlin, and the emerging conflict between the U.S. and the Soviet Union. These former allies find themselves at odds over the future path of Germany, and gradually the U.S. comes to realize that the Soviet Union isn't interested in a free and democratic Germany. The tensions escalate until the Soviets blockade Berlin in a final attempt to drive the Western Allies from the city. The final quarter of the book describes the heroic efforts of the American pilots who flew supplies into Berlin in one of the most remarkable airlifts in history. This book provides a detailed glimpse at the earliest moments in what would come to be known as the Cold War, and helps to explain how Germany changed from being an enemy to an ally.

It is a novel after all........2006-03-03

All americans are good, brave, understanding, funny, hard-working, incapable of greed (they almost deserve to have been born in America, the greatest country in the world by far). Russians are pig-headed, predictable, cruel, brutal and very easy to surprise. Germans are all nazis, so much so that they call temselves nazis in private, when that is a derogatory term! Their only redeeming opportunity is to be as American as they can. But they are Nazis after all...The "kill your dog now" episode is laughable, to say the least. The English are stodgy and dependable. The French talk alot and do nothing useful (except when they do what the Americans say).
One MUST remember that this novel was written in 1963. The "airlift" description is quite good. So, take into account when it was written, get totally one-dimensional, and enjoy it.

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Wonderful Storytelling!
Maybe the best book I have ever read.
I re-read this book every 5 years
Engrossing story, but shallow characters
Easy to Read, Hard to Put Down

Trinity
Leon Uris
Manufacturer: Avon
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0060827882
Release Date: 2006-07-25

Book Description

From the acclaimed author who enthralled the world with Exodus, Battle Cry, QB VII, Topaz, and other beloved classics of twentieth-century fiction comes a sweeping and powerful epic adventure that captures the "terrible beauty" of Ireland during its long and bloody struggle for freedom. It is the electrifying story of an idealistic young Catholic rebel and the valiant and beautiful Protestant girl who defied her heritage to join his cause. It is a tale of love and danger, of triumph at an unthinkable cost -- a magnificent portrait of a people divided by class, faith, and prejudice -- an unforgettable saga of the fires that devastated a majestic land . . . and the unquenchable flames that burn in the human heart.

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful Storytelling!.......2007-05-07

Leon Uris has a fantastic ability to leave you with a sentimental tear in your eye at the end of nearly every chapter! The story is so rich with history and more than the facts but the feelings of the people who lived that history you would think the author was an old irish storyteller who lived those events himself!

Maybe the best book I have ever read........2007-05-01

As an Irish American raised Catholic in a very strict Catholic home and school in a large northern city this book was more personal than I expected. Traveling to Ireland prior to reading this book also gave me some added insight. Uris is a great novelist and this is his best in my opinion. The history and drama of normal people living under tyranny for centuries is moving to the point of immense sympathy and anger. I could not put this book down and it was a great experience. This is a masterpiece without a doubt. I can not believe it took me so long to finally read it. If history and Ireland interest you at all this is a must read. If your a devout fan of Britannia maybe not.

I re-read this book every 5 years.......2007-03-15

Whenever I re-read it, which I love because of its pathos if nothing else, I get a new gem of insight. Leon Uris is a masterful writer of historical novels. This book led me to other Uris writings and I have enjoyed them all. But, don't read this or any Uris if you want a happy ending. Realism is his game, and most of the endings - including the one in Trinity - are heartbreaking.

The first time I read Trinity, I was still in college and preparing for a semester abroad. In later re-readings, I finally noticed Uris' uber-masculine lead characters, and the fact that most of the women were given little to do but look good and stand by their men. The feminist in me rebels at this kind of writing now, but Uris' books are so good I can overcome it. Also, Uris' books are mostly set in times when women's roles were more limited. So, I guess I forgive him - and will keep reading.

Engrossing story, but shallow characters.......2006-09-26

Leon Uris's skill as a storyteller shines in this book. It is fast-paced and hard to put down.
But in the first few pages it becomes obvious that the characters are more stereotypes than real. Although Uris did his homework well, as evidenced by many details of Irish history and agricultural life in the book, it is obvious he is not Irish. He doesn't seem to really understand Ireland and the Irish. The characters are not quite human.
Uris says that 'Ballyutogue' means 'place of the troubles'. I read Irish Gaelic fluently. 'Bally' undoubted comes from 'baile' (town, home), and 'u' could be the Irish 'an' (of the), but I cannot get the word 'troubles' out of 'togue'. I think Uris made this up.

The Irish hero is larger than life -- big, strong (carries 200 pounds), a great lover, internationally recognized hero of a rugby team, best metalworking artist in Europe, wonderful poet. In addition to that, even though he never went to school, when the British take him to court in chains he makes a lengthy and learned speech on British law that not only impresses the judge but becomes the legal basis of the Irish Republic.
Most of the Irish Catholic characters are portrayed sympathetically but have shallow personalities. The women in particular are one-dimensional; they have either no interest in sex or interest in little else. The dialogue between lovers is laughable.
The Protestant characters are either weak or thoroughly evil. Ordinary Ulster Presbyterians are portrayed as wicked murderers. The characterizations are vicious and no attempt is made to understand the Presbyterians side of the story.
Being an Irish-American Catholic, I was offended by Uris's portrayal of the Catholic Church in Ireland as an evil institution. It is historical fact that the bishops opposed the revolution, but I don't think that Uris's portrayal of the parish priest as cruel and cold-hearted is fair.
One of the main characters is a writer and journalist from Ulster who was educated at Queens College, Belfast and lives in Dublin, named Seamus O'Neill. There was a real Seamus O'Neill who fit that description, although he was born in 1910, too late to be in this book. The real O'Neill wrote a famous novel in Irish Gaelic about a tragic love story between a Catholic girl and a Protestant boy in Ulster. Uris includes two tragic love affairs like this and I wonder if he borrowed the idea from the real Seamus O'Neill.
The only boring parts of the book are when Uris goes on and on about the details of English Parliamentary history. The story builds to an exciting climax. It seems as if Uris was thinking about the screenplay at the end of the novel, thinking about how it would look as a movie.

Easy to Read, Hard to Put Down.......2006-08-27

Writing a review of the book, Trinity, by Leon Uris is like trying to write a review of the song, "Satisfaction" by the Rolling Stones. It's great and legendary. It's very popular and has sold millions of copies. It reads just a good today as it did when it was written. It was not without controversy in it's day and has a little still today.

You should read this book because it's a great story that also explains history in a compelling way. You will 'feel' what it's like to get caught in sectarian street fighting or a fire trap factory.

Some criticize this author because he writes simple sentences and easy-to-understand characters. Gosh how terrible -- that it's easy to understand. That's why it can be read quickly and lets the reader be captured by the story and not the language.

To decide for yourself, just read the first few pages available here on the Amazon "Look Inside" preview. Chances are good that you will get to the end of the preview and be disappointed that you can't turn the next page. If so, then buy this book.

Average customer rating:

Incredibly powerful
Inspiring
David vs Goliath-type Story
Mila 18
Excellent Education on the Holocaust

Mila 18
Leon Uris
Manufacturer: Bantam
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0553241605
Release Date: 1983-11-01

Book Description

It was a time of crisis, a time of tragedy--and a time of transcendent courage and determination. Leon Uris's blazing novel is set in the midst of the ghetto uprising that defied Nazi tyranny, as the Jews of Warsaw boldly met Wehrmacht tanks with homemade weapons and bare fists. Here, painted on a canvas as broad as its subject matter, is the compelling of one of the most heroic struggles of modern times.

Customer Reviews:

Incredibly powerful.......2007-06-23

I received this book as a gift. At time of reading, I had no knowledge of Uris as an author. I am a British national now residing in the US. I have no religious belief.

The book gripped me to the extent that I read it through the night, getting no sleep. I was gripped by a need to know what would happen next to the characters, whose names I still clearly remember 15 years after reading the book. The enormity of the terror within the ghetto was built very subtly. The reality of the characters' situation only hit me when I closed the book after turning the final page -- then I cried. No other book I have read, before or since, has come close to creating the emotional impact of this masterpiece.

Irrespective of your beliefs or sentiments or prejudices, this work is a must-read.

Inspiring.......2007-03-26

I read this book first when I was in 6th grade (It's dense, I wouldn't necessarily say you can convince a 6th grader to read it)

I never left my living room for a week - I poured through it and read it twice. Though the details are lost with me now, the images and dreams about fighting for a cause have been inspiring for me. Today when I feel inundated by the world, I look back and think of the protagonists that went against the flow, offered resistance when their peers spoke of complacence. This novel for me is about courage and honor, understanding what is right and fighting for it. I look forward to ordering it here and reading it again, ten years later.

David vs Goliath-type Story.......2007-03-09

Great story about the Jewish resistance movement in World War II. Although, the characters are fictional, Uris, is such a gifted artist, that he makes you care about them, as they simply struggle to survive on a handful of bread or a handful of bullets. The soap-opera-style of bouncing back and forth between the main characters works because it only strenghtens the drama and builds the tension. Also, the characters are not cookie-cutter good or bad stereotypes; there are many shades of ethics and motivations among the Jewish resistance, the Nazis, the Poles, and the general population.

Although it is a fictional account, the events depicted were real. And it does make one think - had I been thrust into a similar situation, how would I react?

Mila 18.......2006-09-28

Mila 18 is the most fabulous story of courage and daring I have ever read. I have read it over and over again during the years, and with each reading I can't put it down. I have long studied the Holocaust, and the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising in particular, and Leon Uris's Mila 18 could be used as a textbook on the subject, so accurately is the history portrayed. If I could recommend one book, only one, to teach people about courage, honor, dignity, compassion, love -- this would be it. The brief raising of the Hebrew flag over that small territory made me cry as no sappy love story ever could. In this age of Hollywood filming epic historical movies such as The Patriot, Titanic, etc., etc., this book should be done on a grand scale. However, I would say in departing, that the movie Uprising, which I believe was a made for tv movie, is grander and more epic, more historically true, as well as every bit as thrilling, as any movie I've ever seen.

Excellent Education on the Holocaust.......2006-03-23

My fiance got me this book for my birthday. I always thought I was educated on what happened during the Holocaust. Even though this is a fiction book, I think the basic idea is true and these things really did happen. What a shock! But a really great book and I could hardly put it down. All the people seemed real. And it made it educational yet enjoyable to read.

Average customer rating:

a dismal failure
Disappointing
A What-If Account of American Politics.
What a disappointment
Pure rubbish.

A God in Ruins
Leon Uris
Manufacturer: HarperLargePrint
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0060933046

Amazon.com

Veteran bestselling author Leon Uris (Exodus, Trinity) stays true to form with A God in Ruins, delivering yet another vast and vigorous novel about politics and history, right and wrong, love and loss. This time his country of choice is the United States, on the eve of the 2008 presidential election.

The incumbent, Thornton Tomtree, is running against the Catholic governor of Colorado, Quinn Patrick O'Connell. Thornton, who grew up playing in his daddy's Providence junkyard, made billions on a computer invention before becoming president. Brainy, calculating, and stiff, he lacks both charm and scruples--qualities that the honest and open Quinn, an ex-Marine, has in spades. Though set in 2008, A God in Ruins has its roots firmly in the past. In order to flesh out his characters, Uris casts his net all the way back to World War II, highlighting some of the more dramatic moments in Thornton and Quinn's lives as they move inexorably from youth towards a run for the White House. In the process, Uris takes up some of the attention-grabbing political issues in America from the second half of the 20th century: gun control, terrorist attacks, and Clinton's sex scandals.

Uris can always be counted on to inject the political with the personal, and Quinn is the perfect vehicle for this when his presidential bid is threatened at the eleventh hour by potentially damning information about his past. A lively supporting cast of characters--from Quinn's delicious wife Rita to Thornton's conflicted right-hand man Darnell--adds spark to this emotional story. At one point, when the campaign has reached a fever pitch, Thornton says about Quinn, "Our jingle-jangle rope-a-dope cowboy is going to be a handful." So is Uris's engaging book, which positively spills over with simple heroism and hot-button political issues. --Katherine Anderson

Book Description

Master storyteller and international bestselling author of Redemption, Trinity and Exodus, Leon Uris once again brilliantly interweaves historical fact with gripping fiction in this powerful novel of politics, family, intrigue, love, and the passions that rule human lives.

Spanning the decades from World War II to the 2008 presidential campaign, A God in Ruins is the unforgettable story of Quinn Patrick O'Connell, an honest, principled, and courageous man on the brink of becoming the second Irish Catholic President of the United States. In an era morally unmoored, rife with armed separatists and fundamentalist zealotry, Quinn, the last great liberal of the Rocky Mountains, emerges as America's hope to reclaim its great past and its promises of the future. But Quinn is a man with an explosive secret that can shatter his political ambitions and threaten his life--a secret buried for over a half century that even he does not know...

Customer Reviews:

a dismal failure.......2007-06-15

One of most poorly written books I have read. It jumps from place to place with seemiinly nothing to really bind it together. A real disappointment from this author.

Disappointing.......2007-03-13

I can't believe that the same author who wrote THE HAJ AND MILA 18 wrote this book. It is scattered and sophomoric and I'm most disappointed. Perhaps he was "getting on" in years or health and just needed the money.

A What-If Account of American Politics........2006-09-20

This book of fiction includes many historical events and facts. It is about politics from WWII (FDR and Truman) to the 2008 presidential campaign. If Uris is a seer, the president won't be female, thank Goodness, but our first Jewish-born man to take over the Oval Office.

Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote in 'Nature' that "man is a god in ruins..." Not just any man but one with an inflated ego who will not allow himself to admit defeat. That describes the current U. S. President. The Democrats candidate is governor of Colorado, Quin O'Connell, who was adopted by Irish-Catholic parents in 1948. America is tired of wars, death and retaliation leading to destruction of this country if it is allowed to continue. We need a peacemaker.

In 2008, the nation's first black FBI director to complement the first black Secretary of State decides to expose the backgound of the Democrat frontrunner, on orders from his boss. As they orchestrate college riots, like during the Vietnam War, with their infiltrators called claverns to bomb areas, it starts to look like the "Keystone Cops." When to hold and when to fold, executive order to put "Joy Streets" into motion to desecrate synagogues and cemeteries. Anti-semitism in this country resembling that in Germany and Poland during the Holocaust. This time the black muslims and skin heads will be used to put the blame on the clan. IN Memphis, they expect one thousand as a show of force.

It could have been an other Holocaust all over again, but our country is now more civilized and overcame. Perhaps they have not overcome, but we have. It was time for a change, a time to return to our roots.

What a disappointment.......2006-08-21

I was so excited to find a Leon Uris book that I had not read, th I was eager with anticipation. I got about halfway through the book before I became so disgusted that I had to put it down. I thought, "is it that I'm prejudice because don't agree with his politics which are so blantanly displayed in the novel, or is this book as incredibly poorly written as I feel it is?". I checked on this sight (too bad I didn't do that first) and saw that my opinion was indeed echoed by many other reviewers. I love Leon Uris and have read all of his previous novels - some twice. Do not waste you time on this drivel. It is poorly written, the characters are unrealistic and it is frankly, boring.

For those of you who have never read Uris, I suggest you stick with his other novels. As many others have said, I question whether he actually wrote this garbage.

Pure rubbish........2006-08-18

This novel is an incredible disappointment. I finally gave up and pitched it away after reading about a third of the book. The plot and characters are flat and predictable. The background research is deplorable. After tossing it away, I consulted Amazon to see how other readers had received this book. It appears that the majority are as appalled as I am. Who would have known that this was the creation of Leon Uris? I read my first Uris novel fifty years ago (Battle Cry) and enjoyed many more since then, but Uris was clearly in decline when he churned out this dreck.

Average customer rating:

Hard to top other's thoughts
They don't write books like this anymore
Excellent, haunting, human
astonishing
The Long Night of Adam Kelno

QB VII
Leon Uris , and Jill Uris
Manufacturer: Bantam
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Trinity

ASIN: 055327094X
Release Date: 1982-04-01

Book Description

In Queen's Bench Courtroom Number Seven, famous author Abraham Cady stands trial. In his book The Holocaust --born of the terrible revelation that the Jadwiga Concentration camp was the site of his family's extermination--Cady shook the consciousness of the human race. He also named eminent surgeon Sir Adam Kelno as one of Jadwiga's most sadistic inmate/doctors. Kelno has denied this and brought furious charges. Now unfolds Leon Uris' riveting courtroom drama--one of the great fictional trials of the century.

Customer Reviews:

Hard to top other's thoughts.......2007-03-15

When I say I loved this book, it is because it is a gripping story in the hands of a master story teller, not because the subject is easy or comfortable. It is a thinking person's book. Highly recommended.

They don't write books like this anymore.......2006-12-30

The main idea of this book was to let a Nazi doctor know that he was worth "a halfpenny, the lowest coinage of the realm."

Uris again managed to tell a story with utmost neutrality. In spite of several testimonials from Nazi death camp survivors, it's difficult to pass judgement on Dr Kelno's character. In spite of his good works after the war, Dr. Kelno cannot escape his past.

Eventhough Dr. Kelno also suffered under the Nazi regime, one cannot ignore the survivor's unspeakable testimonials: the barbaric tests they were subjected to, the harrowing deaths they witnessed, the insanity and they agony they experienced every day. And yet, Uris continues to write this novel with cold neutrality, never taking sides. That alone is an outstanding achievement when a story is about such a controversial subject.

Too bad the movie is so corny. Read the book instead!

Excellent, haunting, human.......2006-05-16

QBVII is a terrific novel. It has all the key aspects of a page-turner, and Uris tells of humanity's most horrible cataclysm in a way that leaves the reader uncertain just who is the bad guy and the good guy. Is Kelno a good guy? A bad guy? Both? Neither? Cady isn't a pristine hero, but his motivation is understandable. And the victims' stories add a haunting essence to this study of man's ability to be extremely good, extremely evil, and something inbetween.

astonishing .......2006-05-06

If you haven't read this volume, go no further. I was hypnotized by this book. An incredible story about a grievous period of history. I became totally captivated with the lives of Adam Kelno and Abe Cady. 5 Stars so far. The trial came and I could not put this book down. Near the end I knew there was going to be a fascinating twist to rival those of Alfred Hitchcock. It didn't happen. Then when Adam Kelno grabs Terry and slaps him again and again yelling Jew! Jew! Jew! I threw the book across the room. Inconceivable.

The Long Night of Adam Kelno.......2005-09-23

QB VII is Leon Uris' masterful fictionalization of a libel suit which grew out of the publication of his book EXODUS. In EXODUS, Uris named a Nazi doctor whom, he asserted, performed experimental surgery on human guinea pigs in Auschwitz. The doctor sued Uris in a British court, much as QB VII's "Dr. Kelno" sues author "Abe Cady" about allegations of experimentation in "Jadwiga Concentration Camp."

This may well be Uris' best book. Uris, who is usually addicted to operatic plotlines, stiff dialogue, and stentorian characters handles the human dimensions of his protagonists quite nicely in QB VII; as a matter of fact, Kelno seems more sympathetic overall than Cady. It is not until the trial progresses that we see Dr. Kelno's underlying character flaws consume him.

Uris spends a lot of time both entertaining and educating us about the traditions of the British legal system. As an American lawyer who studied in London, this reviewer was pleased to see that Uris respects (and even loves) the Common Law tradition of which he writes very well.

Average customer rating:

Leon Uris' "Battle Cry"
A must read about WWII.
ONE OF OUR BETTER WAR NOVELS
A Great Historical Fiction That Builds In Intensity
Great Book with the Comic Book Title

Battle Cry
Leon Uris
Manufacturer: Avon
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 006075186X
Release Date: 2005-06-28

Book Description

Battle Cry is the riveting Marine epic by the bestselling author of such classics as Trinity and Exodus.

Originally published in 1953, Leon Uris's Battle Cry is the raw and exciting story of men at war from a legendary American author.

This is the story of enlisted men - Marines - at the beginning of World War II. They are a rough-and-ready tangle of guys from America's cities and farms and reservations. Led by a tough veteran sergeant, these soldiers band together to emerge as part of one of the most elite fighting forces in the world. With staggering realism and detail, we follow them into intense battles - Guadalcanal and Tarawa - and through exceptional moments of camaraderie and bravery. Battle Cry does not extol the glories of war, but proves itself to be one of the greatest war stories of all time.

Customer Reviews:

Leon Uris' "Battle Cry" .......2007-04-25

An outstanding piece of WWII historical fiction. Unlike other great works of this genre' (Herman Wouk's "War and Remembrance" for instance), this tale is not told from the perspective of the colonels and generals, but rather as experienced by the U.S. Marine sergeants and privates.

The tale thoroughly and patiently follows a group of young men from the train stations where they left their hometowns, through boot camp and training, and onto the beaches of Guadalcanal and Tarawa atoll where they fell in combat. Uris did not all neglect the issue of back home wives and girlfriends, who are so very important to men isolated so far from home.

His first novel, Uris wrote this from his own experience. He was a WWII enlisted Marine combat veteran in the Pacific. First published in 1953, this book was written while memories were still fresh. In a way, it's a bit dated, with terminology and (superior) social values from an America of yesterday. On the other hand, Marine and Navy veterans will recognize the jargon and behaviors that are still in use today. Tradition.

A reviewer has criticized the slow opening pace. I disagree. The device was used to well acquaint the reader with and help him/her to grow to know and love the players, just as these Marines loved their "buddies".

I noted in the author's epilogue that he strongly and repeatedly disclaimed any connection of the fictional officers in his story (he even names them) to any real life personalities he had served under. Glaringly absent was a similar disclaimer regarding the enlisted men in his story. I infer from this that many of the colorful enlisted characters of the book might be representations of Pfc Uris' actual wartime colleagues. A memorial to them, if you will. Interesting.

Uris used an unusual and successful style technique in "Battle Cry". The tale is sometimes written in third person narrative, and at other times narrated in first person by a veteran sergeant in the battalion named Mac. But it's really about the teenage boys that did most of the fighting . . . sometimes hand to hand. Again, Uris was not in a hurry and patiently let the story play out. At times it is slow and monotonous, as was the wartime Marine life. At other times the action is overwhelming. Writing realistically from life experience, the battle scenes are not an organized test of marksmanship between two opposing teams . . . the fighting is chaos. This is the kind of book that provokes the reader to alternately laughing out loud, cheering, or weeping.

This is not a cheap blood and guts war story. It's a great tale of courage, leadership, brotherhood and humanity - Well told.

A must read about WWII........2006-09-12

One of the best books I've ever read. Gives a realistic account of WW II and depicts war as it really is. A classic!

ONE OF OUR BETTER WAR NOVELS.......2006-08-19

I first read this one in the late 1950s and have given it two read since that time. This is one of the better novels of WWII and follows the action of one group of Marines from boot camp through their horrible ordeal in the Pacific. This books is a tribute to the Marine Corps and is as pertinent today as it was in 1953 when it was published. I must admit to being a Uris fan as I love his story telling abilities and his character development. I highly recommend this work.

A Great Historical Fiction That Builds In Intensity.......2006-07-03

"Battle Cry" is a book my daughter had bought me for my birthday two years ago. Regrettably, it took me some time to begin reading it. I found it a little hard to get into in the early chapters. There were a lot of characters to keep track of, a la "Dr. Zhivago", and the narrative has slow periods. I considered setting it aside a time or two.

But I kept with it, and over time it began to hook me. The character development reminded me of "Lonesome Dove", and soon I became eager to get to the next page. When I had 100 pages to go, I could not put it down.

I think that I will read it again, so that I can get more out of the slow spots. This is where Leon Uris imparts a lot of the tedium and monotony of Marine life.

I would recommend that any reader of historical fiction, action, and/or WWII read this book. In fact, I should think it an essential for the libraries of any of the above. In hindsight, I can say that I did thoroughly enjoy it.

Great Book with the Comic Book Title.......2006-05-29

At first, I thought a book called "Battle Cry" might be fairly reminiscent of the comic strip, "Sgt. Rock and His Howling Commandos of Easy." In that, I was disappointed, which means I was very relieved.

This book is a surprisingly good war story of the 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine (Pogey Bait) Regiment. From the call to arms to their decimation on a Pacific Island invasion, you learn about the backgrounds of several of the marines in the Communications section of their battalion.

Uris demonstrates the knack for bringing characters to life where you feel their fears, hopes, dreams, and in this case, their intense esprit de corps.

I have a few qualifications for giving a five-star rating:

Do I still have the book?
Yes.
Would I ever pick it up, and read it again?
Yes.
Was I sorry that I came to the end of the book?
Yes.

I have only read two of Uris' books; I'm glad that this was one of them.

Average customer rating:

Promising....Then Falls Flat
Shows Uris' Declining Professionalism
Bad Ending Ruins Whole Book!
A Promising Series Cut Short
"O'Hara's Choice" Is a Poor Choice

O'Hara's Choice LP
Leon Uris
Manufacturer: HarperLargePrint
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0060570016
Release Date: 2003-10-07

Book Description

Fifty years after his novel Battle Cry took the world by storm, Leon Uris returns to his first inspiration -- the Marine Corps. In 1888, Zachary O'Hara, son of a legendary Marine, is the one man who can save the Corps. But there's a beautiful obstacle in his path -- Amanda Blanton Kerr, daughter of a ruthless industrialist -- that jeopardizes everything he's struggled to achieve.

Duty to country, love of family, and a tormented passion intertwine in this epic by international bestselling author Leon Uris.

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Zachary O'Hara grew up in the Marines admiring his father Paddy - a legend. Now he may be the only hope of keeping the Corps alive. But he's haunted by a secret that may force him to choose between a career as an officer in his beloved Corps or a life with the woman who fulfills his every desire. "Uris is to the twentieth century what Charles Dickens was to the nineteenth." -- Associated Press.Fifty years after his first novel, Battle Cry, took the world by storm, Leon Uris returns to the topic that first inspired him to write books that captivate, educate, and thrill -- the Marine Corps.

Customer Reviews:

Promising....Then Falls Flat.......2005-05-16

Having always heard great things about Uris's writing I was excited to read this work about the US Marine Corps. And while it started out well the book falls flat with sappy interludes and silly situations. I had hoped for a story of the United States after the Civil War though the development of the Corps. Unfortunately what I got was a implausible love story told in flowery overemotional language that more suited a Romance novel.

I would definitely not recommend this book.

Shows Uris' Declining Professionalism.......2005-04-13

Unfortunately, old age (or laziness) finally caught up with Leon Uris. His final two novels, "A God in Ruins" and "O'Hara's Choice," rank as the two poorest novels that I have read in the past 5 years. Not only were the plots sketchy and improbable, but the main characters were contrived, stereotypical and forgettable. His attempt to push a certain modern political agenda through his books conflicted with events of those times - and in the process alienated many of his faithful readers who enjoyed his previous agenda-neutral historical novels. You would be best served to read all of his earlier works - which I found masterful and riveting - and forget these two books that only show the sad decline of a once-great author.

Bad Ending Ruins Whole Book!.......2005-02-05

Trinity may not be Leon Uris's best book, but personally it's my favorite book. That being said, I'm not out to trash Uris, but O'Hara's Choice is a waste of time. I'll leave character development and plot intracacies to other reviewers, my focus is the story itself. As the book unwound, I was reasonably well captivated. I wondered along the way how much actual Marine history played into the story, in terms of the fight to keep the Corps alive. (Interested enough to research that later.) The problem is that the story wasn't compelling enough to have an ending that wasn't supported by the events that lead up to it. 390 pages of showing someone's emotions progressing in one direction so the reader can be tricked with a "Gotcha!" at the end. Well that's fine, if the 'gotcha' seems plausible, but in this book it absolutely didn't.

SLIGHT SPOILER - The ending reminded me of 'The Partner' by Grisham, which had the same problem. I don't read Grisham anymore, because to me that was a big let down. The last two pages were not reasonably supported by the first 390 or so, and to me, that makes for a bad book.

A Promising Series Cut Short.......2004-04-22

Uris' death, three months prior to this book's publication, not only cut short the career of a great novelist, but also another sequel.

I loved his novels Trinity, Redemption and QBVII. They were great stories spun in the tradition of historical novels. His story-telling ability and character creation communicate the humanity of the age and culture about which he writes.

O'Hara's Choice is no exception. Patriotic Duty and family loyalty duel in this tale set in the Gilded Age that followed the U. S. Civil War. Leon Uris was a great writer. He had the ability to create characters who communicate the age and times in which Uris set his novels.

The worst part of coming to the end of this book is the nagging awareness that this is the last Uris novel the reader will read.

"O'Hara's Choice" Is a Poor Choice.......2004-04-17

Perhaps I was spoiled by Leon Uris' fine work, Trinity, and expected too much from a novel dashed off late in his writing career. Whatever the reason, I came to O'Hara's Choice with high expectations, too high as it turned out. The novel is little but a high-class "bodice ripper," a modern romance with no well developed theme and poorly justified actions. The characters appear flat as well, leaving the novel very much as they entered it with little discernible character development en route. Let's take a look first at the strong points of the book. Unfortunately, this will not take us long.

Uris does have a fine command of the language and has produced 394 pages without allowing trite, overused phraseology to weaken either description or dialogue. At rare times, the writing does flow at a rapid clip, carrying the reader along almost effortlessly, and I offer the description of the battle of Bull Run (to become known as the first battle of Manassas) as a welcome example of this. The early sexual tension between Zach and Amanda is also handled adroitly although elsewhere it sometimes mimics the "bodice ripper" genre. The inter-service jealousy and derision between the Navy and the Marine Corps is realistically portrayed but becomes tedious and repetitious after a while. Horace Kerr's internal dichotomy between his progressive thoughts toward the recently-freed Negroes and his culturally learned biases against non-white races comes to the fore several times, but some of his explosions are not well supported by earlier thoughts and actions and appear artificial and contrived. So much for the strong points.

Uris' introduction of the various characters strikes me as poorly accomplished. It is as though one is watching a disconnected slide show (or, for our younger readers who may never have seen a slide show, let's call it a PowerPoint presentation). Characters pop up rather unexpectedly, and the reader has a poor idea of what their relationship may be to the other characters until much further along in the reading. Fortunately, Uris begins each chapter with the date and location of the action. These "stage directions" do help keep us somewhat oriented as to where and when we are, but we must be careful top pay attention to them or risk significant confusion.

Several "red herrings" crop up here and there with no particular contribution to the story line. For instance, Horace Kerr, Amanda's rich industrialist father, is set up to lose his life in a storm at sea but survives with a few bumps and bruises. Later he is equally foreshadowed to suffer a debilitating if not fatal stroke, but that coup de grace never comes after all.

Then there is Emily, Amanda's older sister, who is mentally unbalanced and is generally stored away out of sight in the unfrequented north wing of the mansion. I suppose she functions fairly well as one of several skeletons in the Kerr family closet, a fact that is strongly underscored once the reader finally learns the horrible secret that explains her insanity. Still, she never plays even a strong supporting role in the Amanda - Zach relationship, which is the unifying thread throughout the book, and the reader is left to wonder whether her character might have been more fully developed--or omitted.

Is there even an identifiable theme in this novel? Basically we find two young lovers, one torn between her duty to carry on the family fortune and power and her desire to marry her Marine lover; the other torn between his love (or lust) for Amanda and his "marriage" to the Marine Corps. The latter problem is exacerbated by a dreadful secret that Zach carries with him concerning his Marine-hero father. None of these conflicts ever finds satisfactory resolution. There is no denouement. The lovers are conflicted to begin with and are equally conflicted when the novel ends. Their situation, while at times compared with that of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, never reaches the tragic level of those more famous lovers, whose position as the symbols of unachievable love remains unassailed by Uris' novel.

Average customer rating:

A Good Story

Gallipoli novel derailed?

A wonderful ending to Uris' book Trinity.

Trinity and Redemption review

gave 2 Stars only for Gallipoli

Redemption
Leon Uris
Manufacturer: HarperTorch
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 006109174X

Book Description

As he first did so brilliantly in Trinity, in Redemption Leon Uris continues to explore the saga of the long-frustrated Irish people and the growing momentum of their heroic and defiant journey towards independence.

Set against the dramatic backdrop of increased unrest in Ireland, adventures to New Zealand and Egypt, and the disaster at Gallipoli, and climaxing with the Irish Easter uprising of 1916, Redemption weaves together unforgettable characters. Rory Larkin - the novel's hero - transformed from a seething 'wild colonial boy' into a devoted Irish patriot; his father, Liam Larkin, the middle son forced to emigrate from Ireland to New Zealand in 1895, becomes a sheep baron; Atty Fitzpatrick, Conor Larkin's last lover and a leading Republican; and the continuing story of the Weed-Hubble ruling clan.

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Master storyteller Leon Uris continues the epic story of the Irish struggle for freedom. Amidst growing unrest in Ireland and a world on the brink of the First World War, three Irish families who love freedom more than life will fight to the death to win it. "Uris is to the twentieth century what Charles Dickens was to the nineteenth." -- Associated Press.

Master storyteller Leon Uris, internationally acclaimedauthor of such bestsellers as Exodus, Topaz, QB VII,Trinity, the Haj and Mitla Pass,continues the epic story of the Irish struggle for freedom inRedemption. A dramatic saga set against the backdrop of growing unrest in Ireland and a world on the brink of the First World War,Redemption weaves together a cast of unforgettable characters that form the heart and soul of three extraordinary Irish families.hey love freedom more than life,and they will fight to the death to win it.

From the magnificence of New Zealand's green mountains, to the bloody beaches and cliffs of Gallipoli, to the streets of Dublin and the shipyards of Belfast,Redemptionfollows three Irish Patriots on their odysseys of freedom and passion- in a monumental tale of the men and women who loved, fought, and died for the chance to be free.

Customer Reviews:

A Good Story.......2006-10-21

My only regret with this book is that I think I read it out of order. I believe that Trinity was the first of a two part story. But even by itself it stands as a really compelling story. I wasn't prepared for the places it would take me. It was surprising but nice to be transported to New Zealand. And the story of a very bloody battle (Gallipoli) which I had no previous idea of. I first thought that Leon Uris would only be an author of middle east books (having read Exodous and The Haj). But it was a pleasant surprise to find he is a master story teller.

Gallipoli novel derailed?.......2006-10-09

The 200 or so pages in this novel that Leon Uris devotes to the battle of Gallipoli Peninsula in WWI are very well-written and extremely interesting. I have to wonder if Uris originally planned to write an entire book about Gallipoli but didn't have the energy left in his old age. He knew he'd make a pile of money with a sequel to his popular book "Trinity" so he stuck the Gallipoli story into the sequel.
The first 300 pages of this book are a rehash of Trinity and I skimmed over them very quickly. The parts after Gallipoli are mildly interesting but not worth spending a lot of time on.

A wonderful ending to Uris' book Trinity........2006-06-14

I read this book quite awhile ago, and picked it up agin to skim through. This is a wonderful epic saga of the Larkin family. It spreads across about 25 years, and frrom Ireland, to New Zealand to Australia to Egypt. It also encompasses the First World War. We also see a young Winston Churchill who can almost single-handedly be blamed for the Gallipoli fiasco. This is a book that takes you by the throat and won't let go until you turn the final page. I think it is a true classic and is a fitting finish to the also truly wonderful "Trinity".

Trinity and Redemption review.......2005-12-29

I just read Trinity, then the sequel, Redemption. I plan on submitting this review for both novels.

Trinity is an 800+ page saga about Ireland in the late 1800s early 1900s. It took me a good 100+ pages to get hooked on the book, but once hooked, I raced to finish it. I loved the description of Ireland, the religious conflicts, and the incredible characters. This book is great, read it now.

Redemption was also an 800+ page novel, however, not as gripping as Trinity. The first 300+ pages covered plot that had been described in Trinity. For those readers who read Trinity years ago, this may be a bonus. For someone who had finished Trinity a day prior, I wasn't interested. The book gets a bit more exciting with the description of the war being fought which eventually leads back to Ireland. The book then, unfortunately, wimpers out with a quick, gift packaged ending. I am not sorry I read this book, because it brought a bit more closure on the Irish saga for me...however, Trinity is the more impressive novel.

gave 2 Stars only for Gallipoli.......2004-12-07

I read 'Trinity' because I was curious about the IRA and the whole situation of Ireland & England. Just wanted to know what the hell it was all about.

And I got all the information I wanted and so much more. Trinity not only gave a complete history on the situation but told me what Ireland meant to an Irishman.

Now why am I reviewing Trinity instead of Redemption? I don't know. Maybe its because the sequel cant even hold a candle light to its predecessor .

Redemption just drags on from basically where Trinity left off. Nothing happens until Gallipoli. But there, the book completely switches pace and becomes very interesting.

The Bloody hills of Gallipoli and the British, Australian & the New Zealand forces invasion is described in vivid detail. But that's it. You have to suffer through the rest of the book to get to this part.

Give this a miss. Read Trinity instead and hold on to the memories.

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