The Gates of Zion (Zion Chronicles Series) (Paperback)

by Bodie Thoene (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Out of the ashes of the Holocaust, a magnificent novel of indomitable courage and hope.

Ellie, a young American photojournalist, finds herself in the Jerusalem of 1947. She unwittingly becomes a pawn in a political chess game when she photographs some ancient scrolls discovered by Bedouins. David seems to love her dearly, but Moshe has a purpose and commitment in life that intrigues her more than she can say. Through it all, Ellie discovers a people, a spirit and a person who profoundly change the direction of her life.

This first book in THE ZION CHRONICLES vividly portrays the intense struggle of the Jewish people in the aftermath of the Holocaust and the forces, within and without, which engulf the Middle East in conflict and controversy even today.

From the Back Cover
Evil circles closer,
threatening even those
who survived the Holocaust.

It’s November 29, 1947. The streets of Jerusalem ring with celebration as the British Mandate of Palestine is carved into Arab and Jewish states. Politicians promise peace, but those who remember the prophecies know the truth.

When photojournalist Ellie Warne snaps pictures of some ancient scrolls, she unwittingly becomes the target of a sinister plan. Whom can she trust? David Meyer, a decorated American war pilot, who seems more comfortable among the stars than on earth with her? Or the scholarly Jew, Moshe Sachar, who hides from commitment behind his studies but says he loves her?

As everything she believes is challenged, Ellie must decide whether to risk her life—and her heart—for a people she has just met.

Special Feature: Study questions suitable for individual use or group discussion.

The Gates of Zion is also available complete and unabridged from Luke Thoene Productions www.theOneAudio.com --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 378 pages
• Publisher: Bethany House Pub (April 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764221078
• ISBN-13: 978-0764221071
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 3.7 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,498,160 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

• This is item 1 in The Zion Chronicles Series.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Realistic and yet, it's fiction..., October 10, 2000

By	Laura Williams (MO, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gates of Zion (Zion Chronicles, Bk. 1.) (Paperback)

The Gates of Zion is a wonderfully written book about one young lady's choices during post World War II, in the setting of Jerusalem. Throughout the book she must decide whether or not she wants to involve herself in politics that are much larger than the comfortable and sheltered world to which she has grown accustomed. Through her choices, she learns more about herself and those around her, including the two men between whose love she must decide.

This book is the first in a series titled The Zion Chronicles. Bodie Thoene wrote this series first and then later wrote a series to precede this called The Zion Covenant. I would rate the first series a full five stars. All were excellently written. I found them to be very well developed and descriptive. I found The Gates of Zion to be no exception to this style of writing. Bodie Thoene did a superb job of painting scenes for my imagination to witness. The level of description in all of her books creates a separate world through which I am able to watch her characters live their lives.

I rate this book at four stars solely based upon a fault of my own. Not being very well informed as to post WWII history, I found that this book, The Gates of Zion, was slightly more difficult to get into than those of the first series. It took me a while to get fully absorbed in it. However, once I started to understand a little better the events taking place, I could hardly put the book down.

I found the book to always have me wanting to know more. It was very exciting in the way that I was constantly being surprised. It was not a predictable book in the least. I had to read it to find out what the end results would be. If there was any guessing on my part it was only speculation as to what new twist the author was going to send my way next. I found this to keep me on my toes and kept my interest in the book. I just had to know what was going to happen, and therefore found it difficult to put away when my time would not allow for reading.

I also found this book to be inspirational. The faith in God the characters exhibit in their daily lives and when in the face of adversity is very encouraging. I know that this book is fiction, and yet the faith and trust they show in God is something that I believe anyone can obtain. It is not unrealistic in that the characters have a faith of which no one would be capable. It is presented in such a way that it makes you forget that the book is indeed fiction.

I would recommend this book to anyone looking for an exciting book. It has the ability to keep one on the edge of their seat wanting to know more. I know this was defenately the case for me.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 5 stars isn't enough. I was captivated!!!, May 5, 1999

By	Megan Villa (Kennewick, Wa USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gates of Zion (Zion Chronicles, Bk. 1.) (Paperback)

Never have I come across a better author. Bodie Theone (tay-nee) is truly amazing. These books are full of drama. It's like the characters became my friends. When I finished the series, It felt as though I lost some good friends. I really don't know if I could be as entertained, enlightened and fulfilled by reading anything else after reading this series. Originally I was checking the series out one at a time from the library. But when I realized I'd finally found something I couldn't put down, I figured I better buy the whole series. I have never bought books before, because I've never found anything worthy of being read more than once. I was just so compelled and I want to share her writings with all my friends and family. She's spectacular. So is anything written by her husband Brock, who helps her co-write everything. It's almost like watching a movie, because there are so many plots intertwined. I was shocked to read the epilogue in RETURN TO ZION. You'll have to find out for yourself. Just don't start reading in the middle of the series. If I could never read another authors works but one it would be the Theone's. - Megan Villa

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars An Action-Packed Novel About Israel's Struggle For Statehood, March 11, 2005

By	Jana L. Perskie "ceruleana" (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Gates of Zion (Zion Chronicles, Bk. 1.) (Paperback)

"The Gates of Zion" begins with a brief prologue set in Qumran, 68 C.E.. Jerusalem has just fallen to the Romans. A Jewish scribe quickly and carefully copies the last passages of the book of the Prophet Isaiah. Then he wraps the scroll in linen, coats the linen with pitch, and prepares to bury it in a clay jar - along with all the other scrolls. He makes sure, at this hour of his death, that the words of God will be preserved for future generations. The Dead Sea Scrolls are about to be hidden.

Two millennia later, on November 29, 1947, the UN General Assembly, in its 128th plenary session, by a two-thirds vote (33 to 13 with Britain and nine others abstaining), passed Resolution 181 partitioning Palestine into two states, one Jewish and one Arab. The Arab national movement in Palestine, as well as all the Arab countries, angrily rejected partition. Almost immediately there was Arab violence against the Jews in Palestine.

Ellie Warne is an American photojournalist for LIFE Magazine, who unknowingly becomes the focus of danger when she takes pictures of ancient scrolls recently discovered by Bedouins. Ellie is staying with her uncle Howard, an archeologist, in Jerusalem. She finds new purpose when she decides to help the Hagganah prepare to defend the city of Jerusalem after the Partition.

Rachel Lubetkin is a beautiful Jewish Holocaust survivor. She left the concentration camps behind in Europe, along with a big part of her soul. On her arm she bears the tattooed legacy, "Nur Fur Offizere, "For Officers Only." The Nazis had used her as a prostitute. She is shunned by many of the refugees and called a traitor for not choosing death over forced prostitution.

Moshe Sacher is a brilliant archeological linguist at Hebrew University in Jerusalem. He is also an active Hagganah leader who smuggles European Jews, refugees from the camps, into Palestine. Moshe, a tall, slender, good looking young man, is in love with Ellie Warne.

David Meyer, a US Air Force war vet, is also in love with Ellie. He has come to Palestine for her, and also to help form the new State of Israel's air force. David, a reckless, carefree man, never realized the extent of his affection for Ellie until she left California. Now he wants her back, but she has another man on her mind, as well as her career and the commitment she made to build the newly formed state.

Nine year-old Yacov Lebowitz lives in the Old Jewish City of Jerusalem with his elderly grandfather, a Rabbi. Yacov was in Palestine with his grandfather when his parents and siblings were taken away by the Germans.

These characters and many more - Jew, Arab and British - hero and villain - come together to make this an action-packed historical novel. Ms. Brodie's narrative is obviously biased. Her tale is based on the Jewish/Zionist point of view. While she exposes the cruelty, deception and politics of Arab terrorism, she never mentions the Palestinian Muslim's position. The author is Christian and her own religious beliefs come to the fore from time to time.

While I enjoyed much of the plot, I think that the novel is written on a Young Adult level. I prefer historical fiction with more depth and objectivity. The characters are too simplistic for my taste. I read Leon Uris' "Exodus" when I was 13 years-old, and it appeals to me as much today as it did years ago. Mr. Uris tells a similar story with more historical facts and perspective. His characters are much more complex also. And frankly, I prefer an author's religious preferences to remain with the author. I didn't realize until after I purchased the novel that it is labeled "Christian Fiction." As I am not a Christian, I felt a bit uncomfortable at times.

I do recommend Bodie Thoene's "Gates of Zion" for those who enjoy Christian Fiction and are looking for an action novel depicting Israel's struggle for statehood.
JANA