thereadingrobyn's review
2.0
Finally finished this. Very checkered reading experience. Disappointed with the last third. Feeble seems the most accurate description.
tinyhands15's review
4.0
Endlessly intriguing and enthralling. Obviously well-researched, although it's fairly plain that some of his sources are emphasized by his familiarity.
jerihurd's review
4.0
History that, for much of the book, reads like a novel. It's tougher going the last third, once we're past the Ottoman Empire and it's just a back-and-forth of who's fighting for control. Still, you leave the book recognizing as never before that Jerusalem has often been an idea more than a city, which is both its glory and tragedy.
zacker2001's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
tense
medium-paced
5.0
eldiente's review
4.0
I listened to this book and was very impressed with how little I really knew about the history of the city of Jerusalem. This is a lengthy recounting of significant events including the large number of rulers and ruling entities. I found myself turning frequently to the pdf file for names and dates, but overall the book worked well in audio format.
I was surprised to learn how the Crusades were far less "successful" than I had believed, and that the current shared city arrangement under Israeli rule is only the latest in attempts to recognize the importance of the city to all religions revering it. Might doesn't seem to make right.
I was surprised to learn how the Crusades were far less "successful" than I had believed, and that the current shared city arrangement under Israeli rule is only the latest in attempts to recognize the importance of the city to all religions revering it. Might doesn't seem to make right.