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47 of 49 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Worth Revisiting Given World Events, October 15, 2003
Writing a historical novel about any period of time can be quite a challenge. It requires a balance of facts with the need to tell a compelling story that catches a reader's attention much like any other novel. Usually what happens is that historical novels fall somewhere within the truth/entertainment continuum and will either get criticized for being too factual and boring or on the other hand it gets blasted for playing to fast and loose with historical facts. The stakes get higher if the historical novel takes on something that is particularly controversial or still in the news. Leon Uris' Haj is a perfect example. Take a look at all of the reviews from other readers. There are those who blast Uris for being pro-Israel. These people claim that the novel is historically inaccurate and hateful towards Arabs. (Most of these reviews are penned by people who refer to themselves as an Amazon.com customer and refuse to identify where they reside. I'll be the first to admit that this should not be the only book that you should read about the Middle East, but it should be one of the first. First off, eliminate the politics and read this for the great story. There are vivid characters in this book which begin with Haj Ibrahim and the countless others he encounters in his life. Along the way you get a lit bit of everything you would ever want in a novel including love, treachery, suspense and conflict. Along the way you also learn a great deal about the Middle East. Sure some of it is bound to be controversial but that's especially important in the post September 11 world we inhabit. This book is set in the late 1940's but how much has really changed. How many people have died and continue to die on a daily basis because of these religions that are yoked with every sort of prejudice known to man? There is no doubt that some of the positions espoused by some of the characters in this book will offend some people and brings smiles to others. Regardless of your political position, it will make you think. Given the importance of the topic, can there be a better endorsement? More importantly, once you get away from the big world political issues in the book, you will find that its an easy book to read. The 500+ pages fly by quickly and you soon find that the characters such as Haj Ibrahim, his sons, daughter and Israeli Counterpart Gideon Asch come to life. Here is where it is important to remember that the book is a work of fiction and a well-written book of fiction too. Finally, I would reject some of the criticism that has been leveled against this book's ending. I won't give it away but the ending is appropriate for the culture of the area and the story itself. Mr. Uris recently passed away so now is a good time to reflect on his accomplishments and revisit his work if you read it a few years ago. If you haven't read Uris in the past, now is the perfect time to get acquainted.
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167 of 188 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Bitter Medicine for the Arabs, March 9, 2003
"The Haj" by Leon Uris is an important book (in print or audio form) for understanding the negative aspects of Arab culture and little known aspects of the Arab-Israeli conflict that the great majority of the media won't share with us. Specifically, "The Haj" is historical fiction about a Palestinian-Arab family before and after the 1948 War for Israeli independence (From about 1922 to sometime around the 1960's or 1970's).Leon Uris wrote this about the book (in the beginning of "The Haj"): "Many of the events in The Haj are a matter of history and public record. Many of the scenes were created around historical incidents and used as a backdrop for the purpose of fiction. There may be persons alive who took part in events similar to those described in the book. It is possible therefore, that some may be mistaken for characters in the novel. Let me emphasize that all of the characters in the Haj are the complete creation of the author, and entirely fictional. The exceptions, of course, are the recognizable public figures who were associated historically with this period, such as David Ben-Gurion, the Mufti of Jerusalem, Abdullah, Yigal Allon, and others." There is no question that this book is fiction regarding the details its' story tells, but the story itself is a real one. Arab refugees did stream out of Israel during the 1948 war and Arab leaders telling them to do so (there are taped broadcasts of these calls) was definitely one of the major causes of the plight of the Palestinian-Arab refugees. There was also very definitely a very active terrorist movement among the Arabs in the Middle East, which survives to the present day (witness groups like Al Qaeda, Hamas, Hizbollah, the PLO / Palestinian authority, and others). The Palestinian-Arabs continue to suffer under poor leadership that represses their rights (witness many human rights organizations' reports of extrajudicial killings by the Palestinian Authority, the same autocratic leader, Yassir Arafat, who refuses to transfer the reins of power, and other facts). It is also a well-documented fact that the Mufti of Jerusalem was an ally and guest of Hitler during WWII. These things are facts and are indisputable. "The Haj" tells a story using the device of historical fiction to relay the often-ugly facts of life for the regular "fellah" (sometimes translated as peasant) in the land the British called Palestine and is now known again as Israel. The book is well written (good grammar, punctuation, style, etc.) and the story flows. I enjoyed reading about the characters of the story, but often wanted to cry for them. Some of the most poignant moments of "The Haj" occur during the flight of the Haj's (the main character is Haj Ibrahim and the book is the story of him and his family) family during the 1948 war and in refugee camps in Jordan. It was very sad to see how members of the same culture (the Arab culture) and most of the time the same religion (Islam) can be so cruel to each other. This is still an endemic problem in the Arab world (witness how the Arab governments squabble among each other and often fight and kill one another). Some of the depictions of the relations between the largely city-dwelling Palestinian-Arabs and the nomadic Bedouin are among the saddest. There is still a strong hatred between these groups to the present day. Why read "The Haj?" Read "The Haj" because this is real information presented in a novel format that you can no longer get from most university classes about the Middle East. Read it to learn what AP and Reuters news services constantly gloss over in their writings used by newspapers around the world. Most of all, read "The Haj" to understand that one of the fundamental truths about problems in the Middle East is that the problems have less to do with Israel and Jews than cultural, political, and even religious problems and divisions in the Arab world. Israel is really a side issue at best (and excuse used by the Arab governments to cover their faults). Autocratic tyrannies (or gangster governments like Yassir Arafat's Palestinian Authority) are the true source of unhappiness in the Arab world. It's easy to understand that truth after reading "The Haj." You can get this same information from a pile full of academic texts (and I do recommend reading more research about the Middle East after reading "The Haj"), but this is the easiest and quickest way to introduce yourself to the bitter realities of politics in the Middle East. I highly recommend "The Haj." Review by: Maximillian Ben Hanan
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49 of 53 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Now is the time, May 6, 2002
Now is the time to read 'The Haj'.
This is a bit long so have patience...
Now that more and more people are hearing daily on the news: 'Middle East Crisis', 'Israel', 'Palestinians', 'Suicide bombings', 'Terrorism', 'Fundamental Islamic groups', etc. this book can give a detailed "Big Picture" of the mess that is the Middle-East. It is not enough but a very good introduction.
I am an Israeli Jew living in Jerusalem, but first and foremost dear reader, like you - I am a Human Being.
Like others living in this country, I see (and feel) what others only see and hear on the news channels (which are always inclined to show what makes good rating). I try my best to understand what it feels like to be not only an Israeli Jew but also an Arab (especially Palestinian) and Moslem, as well as a Christian. While I agree the book is fiction, many details are fact. How do I know? If you lived and studied here for 33 years, if your grandparents were Holocaust victims, if your father fought in all the wars of Israel and if you yourself were a soldier at 18, serving in Lebanon, Gaza, the West Bank and many of the places mentioned in the book, you too would have a pretty good Idea. It is too easy to judge from the comfort of your living room.
Having said that, I have Palestinian friends and am fully aware of both their plight and Israel's partial blame for this. However, I have no doubt that the Arab leaders as well as the coruupt Palestinian Authority are 99% to be blamed. They have used (and continue using) the poor Palestinian refugees for their "Jihad" ("Holy War") on Israel and the Jews (p.s. What is so Holy about War?) They incite hatred in the media, on the streets and in mosques (creating a bad name for Islam) and they continue to justify brainwashing young boys and girls that they will become martyrs if they blow up Jewish children their own age! How can you reach heaven if you turn other people's lives into hell? How can anyone justify blowing yourself up along with innocent women, children, and elderly people (some of the victims in Netanya were Holocaust survivors)?!
The Saudi leaders alone have Billions of dollars in Oil money. If they care so much then why are the Palestinians destitue? Because this is the way the Arab leaders want them - miserable and brainwashed, to be used against Israelis and Jews.
Back to the book...
In my opinion this is an excellent book and much of it is based on historical and cultural facts. I stress that there are also beautiful and gentle sides to Arab cultures (yes cultures, not just one culture), which are not depicted here.
Israel is portayed very bad on the media. How many people realise Israel has a special relationship with the bedouins? How many remember Israeli aid workers in Gaza, Turkey and elsewhere after an earthquake? Israeli doctors and relief workers in Rwanda, India and just about everywhere else? How many see Arabs and Israelis working together in Hospitals, Universities and other institutions? Can an Israeli or a Jew or even an arab expect the same in any Arab or Moslem country?!
As for Islam, I believe that like all faiths, it is a religion of peace, not war, hatred and prejudice. There is however a growing fear that those who would twist religion to their own ends, are going to bring about a catastrophe in the near future. 11th of September was a grim slap in the face showing the world that this fear is not fictional. We get that kind of a reminder daily in Israel. It is time for moderate Muslims to step up and condemn these acts in the name of their faith. Their voice is not heard loud enough. It is also time for Europeans to aknowledge their despicable recent past and stop acts of Antisemmitism as well as acts of hatred towards immigrants, especially Arabs. As a human being and a Jew I condemn this. Stop your biased policies for your short-term benefits and start taking responsibility towards the Jewish people as well as the Palestinian people.
To conclude: An excellent read, biased towards the Israeli and Jewish view point but also showing a good understanding of the plight of the Palestinians and the complexities of the region.
Udi
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