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shona_reads_in_devon's review against another edition
4.0
*listened on Audible*
This one is tricky for me to review from a content point of view as it's a new subject, a new history and a new geographical area, so my knowledge on the current writing is non-existent. It could be completely full of inaccuracies, biases and other things, but in my infancy of knowledge in this area, I couldn't tell you.
From an enjoyment point of view I can be more certain. This was a dense piece of work which combined broad strokes with finer detail. The content suited me as, being a subject I know little about it wasn't *too* bogged down in minutiae that I didn't understand.
There were lots of names and I remember very little of them beyond the ones I already recognise from my patchy knowledge of middle east history and religious education!
But it's the kind of writing I like when approaching a new subject - it gave shape to the history of the area, helped me to understand how that history fit into my wider understanding of global historical events and it aided me to narrow down areas I might want to look into in the future.
This one is tricky for me to review from a content point of view as it's a new subject, a new history and a new geographical area, so my knowledge on the current writing is non-existent. It could be completely full of inaccuracies, biases and other things, but in my infancy of knowledge in this area, I couldn't tell you.
From an enjoyment point of view I can be more certain. This was a dense piece of work which combined broad strokes with finer detail. The content suited me as, being a subject I know little about it wasn't *too* bogged down in minutiae that I didn't understand.
There were lots of names and I remember very little of them beyond the ones I already recognise from my patchy knowledge of middle east history and religious education!
But it's the kind of writing I like when approaching a new subject - it gave shape to the history of the area, helped me to understand how that history fit into my wider understanding of global historical events and it aided me to narrow down areas I might want to look into in the future.
thedeadwoods's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
5.0
lindzlovesreading's review against another edition
4.0
Finishing this book, I have to take my hypothetical hat off to Simon Sebag Montefiore. Writing a Biography on the city of Jerusalem is no small feet. But Montefiore manages a create an interesting narrative which is objective and interesting (though I have the feeling Montefiore has a certain dislike for Arafat) biography.
Jerusalem is a 3000 year old story. It has a cast that Stephen Spielberg dreams of. Giant slayer David, King Solomon, King Herod, Jesus, Cleopatra and Antony, Titus, Hadrian, Saladin, Richard the Lion Heart, T.E Lawrence, treasure hunter Monty Parker, zionist pioneer Moses Herzl, a cast of thousands.
Montefiore shows the tragedy and triumph of this aged city. Three religions fighting over the same piece of land. Though to be fair, after the crusades the christens just fight among themselves. The Romans wanted to destroy it, the Christens and Ottomans wanted to own it, the Arabs and Jews want to worship it. Obliviously they never read story of the Cookie Monster and the Cookie Tree of sharing. But Montefiore does his best to stay away from politics though does cry of the oppression of both Jews and Arabs,
This biography is one of the best ways to understand world history.
Jerusalem is a 3000 year old story. It has a cast that Stephen Spielberg dreams of. Giant slayer David, King Solomon, King Herod, Jesus, Cleopatra and Antony, Titus, Hadrian, Saladin, Richard the Lion Heart, T.E Lawrence, treasure hunter Monty Parker, zionist pioneer Moses Herzl, a cast of thousands.
Montefiore shows the tragedy and triumph of this aged city. Three religions fighting over the same piece of land. Though to be fair, after the crusades the christens just fight among themselves. The Romans wanted to destroy it, the Christens and Ottomans wanted to own it, the Arabs and Jews want to worship it. Obliviously they never read story of the Cookie Monster and the Cookie Tree of sharing. But Montefiore does his best to stay away from politics though does cry of the oppression of both Jews and Arabs,
This biography is one of the best ways to understand world history.
mafm22's review against another edition
2.0
A chronology of people fighting. The first few pages are pretty engaging. It got interesting again towards the end. Long.
I keep reading pop history books because the covers / photos / topics make them seem interesting. They're usually not that fun or educational.
I keep reading pop history books because the covers / photos / topics make them seem interesting. They're usually not that fun or educational.