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Summary: Maybe I Remember "Exodus" through Rose-Colored Glasses
Review: As a teen, I was captivated by "Exodus' and devoured "Mila 18" and a few other Uris novels in a matter of days. What a disappointment then to read "A God in Ruins." A convoluted story with dialogue that hardly ever sounds real. I'd prefer to remember "Exodus' as being wonderful rather than re-reading it. Uris has the name, the track-record and therefore the ability to to deliver for a publisher. However,I suspect that even Quinn Patrick O'Connell, the central character in this "read-it-on-the-beach-only-if-nothing-else is-available" novel would have had the integrity to have passed on the opportunity to publish this.
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Summary: Who wrote this book?
Review: I also wish I'd read the reviews before reading this book. Leon Uris has written some of my favorite books. I now question if I was misled in my opinion of his skills. Terribly disappointing.
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Summary: Captive Audience
Review: What do you do when you've struggled through one-third of A God in Ruins, are one half way across the Atlantic at 39,000 feet, and have nothing else to read? You watch James Bond for the third time. This book is one notch below dreadfull. No, more than one notch.
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Summary: Feel betrayed
Review: Name of Leon Uris will be always associated in my mind with Exodus - it was the first one I read and will always be my favorite -read it first in Russian translation in the smuggled edition while waiting to get out of Soviet Union. It was our way to fight the 'evil empire'. A God in Ruins is such a bad book that is hard to believe that the same writer who wrote Exodus, Mila 18, Trinity and others. Character are not only simplistic and one- dimensional but also very unpleasant - and this is the ones we are supposed to like. Story is predictable and confusing in the same time, there is no logic to it. If this was supposed to be his portrait of America today - he is way off mark on it, especially in a way he creates caricatures on any conservative character. Also why everybody in this book is always thinking about sex and jumps in any available bed. It is obviously a very crude attempt to justify Clinton's time and morals. Sorry to say but this is last one for me from this writer. Good bye, Leon Uris
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Summary: A Huge Disappontment
Review: Uris has been one of my favorite authors until this book. Be warned, this is nothing more than an anti-gun screed (combined with a laughable martyring of the Clinton Administration) masquerading as a novel. The characters are completely one-dimensional - existing only to spout Uris' political platitudes. I could live with that flaw if at least those views were thoughtfully drawn out, instead of reflecting a complete lack of thought or scholarship. As it was, his views were about as deep as a bumper sticker slogan. This book was a complete travesty, and a bitter disappointment to those of us who have admired and enjoyed Uris' past novels. Save your money - there is nothing that recommends this book to anyone.
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Summary: Disappointing bigotry
Review: It is hard for me equate this writing of Mr. Uris with the likes of Battle Cry, Mila 18, QB VII or Exodus. This book is very ugly in its' treatment of Christians, Southerners and of course Republicans, treats the Clintons as martyrs and the Catholic Church as a hot bed of adulterers. Marines are treated very well (deservedly so)but the Nation that has created and supported them does not do as well. Maybe it is time for retirement and put away the poison pen.
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Summary: Don't Bother
Review: I did not bother to finish this book, giving up in disgust half way through. The lack of depth in this book, compared to "Trinity", "Exodus", and "Armegeddon", is appalling.This author use to be one of the best. Now he seems to be skating by on reputation. Maybe the paycheck was worth it.
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Summary: An unfortunate departure
Review: I have read almost every fictional work of Leon Uris, and have considered him one of my favorite authors. In "A God in Ruins," he departs from his usual genre of historical fiction to one of contemporary political commentary. He does not do this effectively, and if he continues to write, should return to that which he does well. Admittedly, I disagree with his political views in the book, but my criticism is against his style. Who can forget Uris' wonderful characterizations such as Ari Ben Canaan in "Exodus" or Conor Larkin in "Trinity"? But in his latest effort, the characterizations are stock and unbelievable. His primary commentary is on repealing the Second Amendment to the Constitution, but his protagonist's view on this is just thrown at the reader midway through the book with little conceptualization as to how or why he adopts this stance. Finally, Uris' arguments against personal firearm ownership are quite shallow and easily dispatched by those who recognize the founding fathers' rationale that the "militia" involves all law-abiding, competent males of able age, and is "necessary (not suggested) to the security of a free state..." I still consider Leon Uris' a great author for his other works, but again he needs to stick with historical fiction in which he can research facts and weave his characters into the event. In "A God in Ruins," he shows that he cannot generalize his authorship to other genres.
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Summary: An author in ruins
Review: A God in Ruins should be retitled An Author in Ruin. It is sad to see an author renowned for his painstaking research produce such a flimsy work. Uris has produced a piece of left-wing propaganda, painting the fictional Republican president as evil incarnate and his Democratic challenger as perfect. His portrayal of the issues involved in the debate over the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms, is incredibly simplistic when one considers Uris' reputation for scholarship. His Exodus, Mila 18, Trinity, etc., all brought us a profound understanding of an important confict. This book is the work of someone either senile or bent on deepening our national political conflict rather than creating mutual understanding.
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Summary: A previously superb author has betrayed his fans
Review: A huge disappointment! Cliche-ridden and more shallow than a soap opera summary. It starts out with predictable characters: the hero is brilliant and perfect; the anti-hero is brilliant and evil and all the woman are brilliant, beautiful and passionate. So much for creativity! But it gets worse. Halfway through you realize you were conned into thinking this is literature, when it is simply a position paper on gun control. If a prominent author wishes to write an essay to promote a personal political agenda, he/she ought at least to put a disclaimer on the cover.
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