Exodus by Leon Uris
Ranked #7,726 in Books, Poetry & Writing, #275,012 overall
One of my top 5 books of all time
I discovered Exodus as a young teen many, many years ago. It was and still is one of the books that captured my imagination and ranks up there as one of my top 5 books.
Over the years, I have reread it many times and it never seems to lose its impact. That may be because I am at a different age every time I read it and so pick up different things based on maturity.
When I got the Kindle, Exodus was not available but has since made the list so I recently downloaded it and read it again. Still ranks as a top 5.
Over the years, I have reread it many times and it never seems to lose its impact. That may be because I am at a different age every time I read it and so pick up different things based on maturity.
When I got the Kindle, Exodus was not available but has since made the list so I recently downloaded it and read it again. Still ranks as a top 5.
The story
Exodus by American novelist Leon Uris is about the founding of the State of Israel. Published in 1958, it is based on the name of the 1947 immigration ship Exodus. From Wiklipedia, "Exodus 1947 was a ship that carried Jewish emigrants, that left France on July 11, 1947, with the intent of taking its passengers to the British mandate for Palestine. Most of the emigrants were Holocaust survivor refugees, who had no legal immigration certificates to Palestine. Following wide media coverage, the British Royal Navy seized the ship, and deported all its passengers back to Europe." In 1956, Leon Uris was a war correspondent covering the Arab-Israeli fighting.
Set against this backdrop, Ari Ben Canaan, creates a plan to transport refugees from Cyprus to Palestine. The book then goes into the histories of the main characters and how they arrived at this point in time. Once we know who the players are, the story continues forward until the State of Israel is formed.
Set against this backdrop, Ari Ben Canaan, creates a plan to transport refugees from Cyprus to Palestine. The book then goes into the histories of the main characters and how they arrived at this point in time. Once we know who the players are, the story continues forward until the State of Israel is formed.
The cast of players
- Ari Ben Canaan - Born and raised on a kibbutz he becomes a freedom fighter and is the main character of the book. He is the one who engineers the mass escape of the refugees in Cyprus on the ship "Exodus".
- Katherine "Kitty" Fremont - A widowed nurse who comes to Cyprus to escape the death of her husband and daughter and gets caught up in the plight of the refugees,
- Bruce Sutherland - A British officer posted in Cyprus. His job is to maintain the security of the detention camps. After the mass escape of the refugees contrived by Ari Ben Canaan, he retires and becomes the military adviser to Barak Ben Canaan.
- Karen Hansen Clement - She was sent to Denmark by her parents to escape Hitler and eventually ends up in Cyprus as one of the refugees. She is the sweetest character in the book.
- Dov Landau - An angry teen who survived the death camps and falls in love with Karen.
- Jordana Ben Canaan - Sister to Ari and daughter of Barak Ben Canaan. She is David Ben Ami's lover.
- Barak Ben Canaan - Father to Ari and Jordana, he is the head of the Jewish Agency.
- Akiva - Brother to Barak Ben Canaan, he is leader of the radical underground group the 'Maccabees'.
- David Ben Ami - a colleague or Ari, he is Jordana's lover and Kitty's friend.
Exodus
This is a fictionalized account of the turbulent years surrounding the forming of the Israeli nation. The book was written in 1958 and today, may seem a little one sided. It is and that needs to be taken into account. Still, it is a work of fiction and one man's opinion and viewpoint. As a love story, it stands the test of time and Mr. Uris did his research and the history is well-documented.
Exodus
Amazon Price: $4.00 (as of 05/31/2012)
“You know, a lot of them try to hide under gentile names, but one look at their face, you just know.”
Exodus is a great book
Feel free to share your opinion.
What did you think?
Love it! Great read.
Diane says:
Like the author, this book resonated with me as a young girl. I enjoyed revisiting it again through this article. In fact, now I want to read it again!
wordstock says:
Not only did I learn history but the story is well-told and required some tissues. I'm a lot older now and see that there is more to the issues here but for a piece of fiction, it is a great book.
Sorry, not my cup of tea.
What do you think of the book?
Loading poll. Please Wait...
"The age of miracles is gone, David"
"It is not gone! Our very existence is a miracle. We outlived the Romans and the Greeks and even Hitler. We have outlived every oppressor and we will outlive the British Empire. That is a miracle, Ari."
A history lesson
Tels
Long before there was an internet for simple folks like us, research was done at the library. Exodus talks about the Tels which, to my teen mind, was a new term. Even as a child, I enjoyed history so to find something new was exciting. A tel is a mound that has been built up over a town or a village. These mounds are a wealth of information about prior civilization and in Israel, there are several. I think in a past life I might have been an archeologist and I find all of this fascinating.The information here was taken from the Penn State website, "http://www.pennmuseum/sites/Canaan/Collections.shtml.
Tel Beth Shemesh
(1928-1933)
Tel Beth Shean
(1921-1933)
Gibeon
(1956-1962)
Tell es-Sa'idiyeh
(1964-1967)
Sarepta
(1969-1974)
the Baq'ah Valley
(1977-1981)
In Canaan and ancient Israel, archaeological sites are most often mounds, which have been built up by thousands of years' worth of habitation in the same place. These mounds are called tels (in Arabic, tells)."
More reading on Israel and Palestine
More books by Leon Uris
Vote for your favorites, or add any I missed.
Trinity by Leon Uris
<p>From the acclaimed author who enthralled more...0 points
Mila 18 by Leon Uris
It was a time of crisis, a time of tragedy--and a more...0 points
QB VII (v. 7) by Leon Uris, Jill Uris
In Queen's Bench Courtroom Number Seven, famous  more...0 points
created by coreybrown
"This was no army of mortals.
These were the ancient Hebrews! These were the faces of Dan and Reuben and Judah and Ephraim. There were Samsons and Deborahs and Joabs and Sauls.
It was the army of Israel, and no force on earth could stop them for the power of God was within them!"
Postscript of utmost importance
If you buy any of the books recommended above, this page automatically makes a donation to the incredible nonprofit, Donors Choose, which helps provide classrooms and students in need with resources that our public schools often lack. Exodus
The Movie
Exodus was released in 1960 and from my viewpoint, one of the best adaptations of any book. The move by Otto Preminger is 220 minutes long and captures the essence of the book.
Staring Paul Newman and Eva St. Marie, it is a love story, a history lesson and an epic war movie all tied into one.
Staring Paul Newman and Eva St. Marie, it is a love story, a history lesson and an epic war movie all tied into one.
Exodus
Amazon Price: $7.15 (as of 05/31/2012)
Ernest Gold "Exodus" 1960
Soundtrack Original Main Theme
I am not a fan of those who add lyrics to soundtracks
No video pictures with this one, just the music.
I am a purist. I do not like words added to soundtracks because I believe the music stands on it's own and tells the story allowing your imagination to see what it wants you to see.
So when this was released by Pat Boone in 1961, I was annoyed. However, in retrospect, the words fit the music and add the message of the book to the movie and the song.
Pat Boone wrote the lyrics in 1961.
This land is mine
God gave this land to me
This brave and ancient land to me
And when the morning sun
Reveals her hills and plains
Then I see a land where children can run free.
So take my hand
And walk this land with me
And walk this lovely land with me
Tho' I am just a man
When you are by my side
With the help of God
I know I can be strong.
So take my hand
And walk this land with me
And walk this golden land with me.
Tho' I am just a man
When you are by my side
With the help of God I know I can be strong.
To make this land our home
If I must fight
I'll fight to make this land our own.
Until I die this land is mine!
So when this was released by Pat Boone in 1961, I was annoyed. However, in retrospect, the words fit the music and add the message of the book to the movie and the song.
Pat Boone wrote the lyrics in 1961.
This land is mine
God gave this land to me
This brave and ancient land to me
And when the morning sun
Reveals her hills and plains
Then I see a land where children can run free.
So take my hand
And walk this land with me
And walk this lovely land with me
Tho' I am just a man
When you are by my side
With the help of God
I know I can be strong.
So take my hand
And walk this land with me
And walk this golden land with me.
Tho' I am just a man
When you are by my side
With the help of God I know I can be strong.
To make this land our home
If I must fight
I'll fight to make this land our own.
Until I die this land is mine!
These are my top five books
Exodus is one of them but here are the other four. Sort of an eclectic mix but each of them defines a point in my life where they attached themselves to my soul.
Comments welcomed!
-
-
JoyfulReviewer
Jan 31, 2012 @ 12:30 pm | delete
- I haven't read this book, but your review makes it sound like a great read. Enjoyed your review and history lesson ... well done!
-
-
-
OhMe Jan 1, 2012 @ 11:23 am | delete
- I need to re-read Exodus. It has been many years and I sure enjoyed your review.
-
-
-
Terrie_Schultz
Dec 28, 2011 @ 2:15 pm | delete
- I read this many years ago, and loved it.
-
-
-
Plethora_Reader
Dec 22, 2011 @ 10:28 pm | delete
- I have read this book a couple of times and feel much as you do that this is a great book. Thanks for sharing with everyone.
-
-
-
vallain Dec 22, 2011 @ 4:18 pm | delete
- I don't know how I've gone this long without reading this classic. you've made it sound quite interesting.
-
About Me
My Lenses
by wordstock
Life changes on a daily basis and we are required to change with it. We used to travel, but after adopting our grandson, we are are at the baseball field... more »
- 177 featured lenses
- Winner of 46 trophies!
- Top lens » Paraprosdokian Sentences - The best kind of humor
Feeling creative?
Create a Lens!
Explore related pages
- Ten Must-Read Classics of Great Literature Ten Must-Read Classics of Great Literature
- Top Ten Best-Selling Biographies Top Ten Best-Selling Biographies
- My Dad, My Hero My Dad, My Hero
- Veterans and Veterans of War - USA Veterans and Veterans of War - USA
- The Patricia Cornwell Book List The Patricia Cornwell Book List
- USS Lexington Aircraft Carrier The Blue Ghost USS Lexington Aircraft Carrier The Blue Ghost
Exodus Soundtrack
Exodus-World Premier Complete Score
Amazon Price: $17.50 (as of 05/31/2012)
Pat Boone sings Exodus
45 RPM Vinyl
The Exodus Song / There's A Moon Out Tonight
Amazon Price: $5.99 (as of 05/31/2012)
