Well a great book... why i say so may be different from why others have.
If you want the plot check out this link
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exodus_(novel) or http://www.amazon.com/Exodus-Leon-Uris/dp/0553258478
But if you can withstand verbose here is my story.
A friend suggested this one ... and what started as a simple question of "how did you miss exodus?" ended a month and half latter (just a day ago). First I picked up "the witch of portebello" from the footpaths of Brigade road while I intended to walk into crossword and ask for Exodus. I just could not stop myself from giving preference to one of my favourite authors.
Once I was through with Paulo's book...i was on the prowl again for the exodus. Got it from Landmark but was strangely took a long time to even start it....which is really odd for me. An unopened book on my shelves is just not imaginable. And when i did start it, the weekends had suddenly become so happening... a newfound love love for photography was taking me outdoors more often. So Exodus was a real slow reading for me (not to mention that almost half the book was covered in the last two days).
But none the less the kind of info that it contains does require some time to digest. Opened up a completely different view to me. While Yasser Arafat used to have my sympathies, Israel just had my admiration for their Mossad and daredevil attacks. The conquest of the Golan Heights was till that time, in my knowledge base, a wonderful case study of how to behave with Pak's overtures in Northern India. But beyond the admiration for the strategic genius of the military of Israel it did not mean anything.
Understanding a bit of history changes so many things. The charachters and story made it all the more interesting. Anyway as far as i remember, I was one of the few who enjoyed History classes even in the school. But even if you never liked history you are going to love this one.
At some point I was asking would I like to be a part of such a nation. May be....
Insecurity bring out the best in some people. Having a mission in life handed down to you is probably something i cant imagine, neither can i picture a society whose goodness grows because it is surrounded by hatred (whatever else they might say) and has grown strong because it had lived in fear.
The best line...or at least the line that would stick to my mind...
"It is lucky to die for your country...
But it is even luckier to have a country to die for."
-Jordana telling the young soldiers in Exodus
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