The Source

James Michener's The Source is a captivating journey through 15,000 years of history centered around a fictional village in present-day Israel. The novel expertly intertwines the origins of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam with the historical conflicts that have shaped these religions and the region. Each chapter, set in a different era, from the reigns of Rome and Greece to the rise and fall of various empires, brings the complexities of the Middle East into sharp focus. As someone who was initially unaware of the deep-rooted issues surrounding Israel and Palestine, I found the characters and stories within The Source to be both enlightening and thought-provoking. This book has sparked a profound interest in learning more about the intricate histories and conflicts that continue to shape the Middle East. Moreover, it has deepened my fascination with the origins and enduring influence of faith in the modern world.

How dissimilar religions propagate in certain locations as do different civilizations. A wonderful viewpoint of mankind's personal needs.

When I was in my early teens, back in the days of disco, fat ties, oil crises, and gaudy leisure suits (aka, the 1970s), I remember looking through my parents' book collection for the book with the most pages. At the time, I thought that the length of a book somehow corresponded to its difficulty level, and that if I could read a 1,000+ page book, then I must be REALLY smart and also grown up! Anyway, one of the first books I decided to read, based on these sophisticated criteria, was "The Source," by James Michener. Surprisingly, I found out that the book was actually easy to read, fascinating, and highly entertaining, and I whizzed right through it (boy, did I think I was smart afte that)! I remember being completely engrossed as the centuries flew past, as conquering armies marched, as cities rose and fell, as blood flowed through the streets of Jerusalem, and as the Jews wandered through the Middle East and Europe. I also remember thinking that the Middle East had an incredible history that I needed to learn a lot more about. Well, almost 30 years later, with a Masters Degree in Middle East Studies, with a couple of trips to the region under my belt, and with a job dealing with the Middle East, I can blame it all, at least in part, on reading "The Source" at age 12 or 13. Seriously, though, I do believe that the seed of my life-long fascination with history, international relations, politics, and the Middle East was planted when I read "The Source" as a young teenager. Actually, come to think of it, another Michener book -- Centennial -- got me fascinated in the history of the West and the American Indian, while several others made me want to learn more about South Africa, Hawaii, the South Pacific, the Chesapeake region, and even outer space. So, definitely read James Michener, but be warned: you could become addicted to a lifetime of learning, travel, and adventure.

This was one of the first books I ever read by James Michener, and what an introduction! Don't be daunted by the size of the novel, for this book is a real page turner! Once you start, you will be drawn in and you won't want to put it down; however, being over a thousand pages, you will have to take breaks to eat, go to the bathroom, go to work, etc.! Only Michener can take a topic like the history of the Jewish race and weave an intricate historical fiction that captures the imagination, creates a sense of drama, and teaches the intellect. He begins with the earliest ancient settlement of a place called Makor, located in modern day Israel, and begins telling a truly fascinating tale based on archeological artifacts that are unearthed layer by layer by an archeology team digging in the present time. In the course of time, you will learn how the Jews first came to understand monotheism, the intricacies of their religion, and perhaps an understanding of why the Jewish people have been persecuted throughout history. There are 15 chapters and each is a mini-novel in itself. The Jews are truly a special people, and you will gain an appreciation of their beginnings, their unique travails as a race, and their nothing-short-of-a-miracle rebirth as a nation. You can read each chapter in a sitting and each chapter stands alone as a complete story, each fascinating and different. But put together, oh, what an epic Michener has created! I highly recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in anthropology, archeology, history, or just good fiction. I guarantee this book will not disappoint! I have read to cover to cover four separate times and it has held my interest each and every time. It will end up on your personal list of favorite reads of all-time too.

I am not sure James Michener is still in style (he was sure hot in the Sixties, but tastes do change.) However, his blockbuster novels all attempt to condense wide expanses of history by telling stories from the viewpoint of fictionalized individuals. In "The Source", Michener cleverly uses the archaeological levels of a tel (mound) being excavated, each level becoming a chapter moving up from the bottom level which is earliest history, to most recent. As the contemporary archaeologists unearth foundations and shards, the story of people whose dust forms the tel is told. This makes what could be dry history vital and in some of the stories, gut-wrenching. As always, Michener goes for great drama, sex, blood, guts and heroism are all drawn with the exquisite skill of a born storyteller. In particular, the story of Urbaal and his fatal attraction to a temple prostitute, and the story of the Jews of Safed, who escaped the Inquisition, are unforgettable.I rate this as great as "Hawaii" among Michener's novels. It's a good novel to read in light of the current conflicts in the Middle East, though, as a novel, the history is of course not always consistent with current scholarly though, so read it for the superb storytelling.

This sweeping epic traces the fictitious history of Makor, a city in Israel, from prehistory to modern times. Starting in the 1960s, an archeological dig turns up artifacts in an ancient mound composed of the remains of successive settlements in Makor. Then, starting with the deepest, oldest artifact and moving forward in time, in successive chapters Michener chronologically describes the inhabitants (who are often descendants of characters in earlier chapters) and events in and around the city over thousands of years. In this way, he tells the fascinating story of the Jews and other local inhabitants, of Judaism and its role in the creation of Christianity and Islam, and of the establishment of the modern state of Israel. This is the first book I have read by Michener, my interest having been piqued when a friend responded to my praise of Edward Rutherfurd's "London" by describing Rutherfurd as "a poor man's Michener". My friend's point was that Rutherfurd borrowed Michener's often-used story structure for historical fiction, a structure perhaps best exemplified by "The Source". As much as I enjoyed "London", it pales in comparison to "The Source", one of the classics of the genre. I recommend it without reservation.

Are you constantly perplexed by those "Mideast Peace Talks" that have (seemingly) been going on for 14 centuries? And still there is no peace in sight...and there never will be, of course....Well, Mr. Michener gives us a grand overview of the area. You'll find some surprises. Most notably that the Jews and Arabs used to get along pretty well. Not bosom buddies, of course, but better than they do now. But, I digress. What we have here is history and novel twined together in a fascinating way. Through the device of an archaeological dig, Michener provides personal stories of the folks who have populated the troubled region since prehistoric times. We have love, we have brutality, we have slavery, we have butchery, we have treachery, we have sieges outside the stone walls, we have a secret tunnel through the rock....and love again. It's life itself: messy but wonderful. And you get a nice history lesson along the way, making you a better conversationalist, especially at those cocktail parties in New York City. Great book. You'll like it.