“The Source” - James A. Michener

 

This tour de force is an extraordinarily detailed account of those turbulent times witnessed at the global crossroad of empire and religion, the area we know as the Fertile Crescent, but which Michener’s Dr. Eliav persuasively argues, is a natural highway which more aptly rendered it a “focus of forces”. 

I first enjoyed this book as a summer reading requirement before high school. We will not talk about how long ago that was, but I recall being unable to put the book down, and tearing through the 900 pages in under one month. As an adult, I can happily report, the novel remains compelling, although my time to dedicate to reading, is sadly diminished due to ... adulting.

Personally, I found the portions detailing the Inquisition, and the post-WWII battle for Israeli independence, to be the most riveting. You may find yourselves irritated by the John Cullinane character. I found him to be cartoonish, but this is of course looking at a character of the ‘60s with 2021 vision.

Although he has chosen a sweeping expanse of history to traverse, you’ll find that Michener is among the tidiest of storytellers - no loose ends will be found here. You’ll follow along the early rudimentary steps toward monotheism, the emergence of Judaism, the development of Talmudic social laws binding the community, and the numerous forced wanderings of the Jewish diaspora as it reacts to forces within and without. Michener may begin the tale with cave people, but trust that he will bring it full circle.

N.B. I alternated reading and listening to the audiobook while driving, and while this allowed me to chug through the novel, I wouldn’t recommend the audio version as the narrator has a plodding, robotic voice that was really difficult to enjoy. I’d like to read Michener’s “Hawaii” next, as my one visit to Hawaii suggests that he has a treasure trove of material for another expansive Michnerian narrative, but I think I will stick to reading as all of Michener’s audiobooks are narrated by the same person.