Leon Uris has died. Thirty-five years ago, after reading "Exodus," I was on a mission to read all his books. I think I stopped just before "Trinity" was published; maybe I should go back and read that. Two folks in the article are quoted as saying "Uris remains a reader's writer and a critic's nightmare." I can't speak for the critics, but for this reader, I'd say that was accurate. "Exodus" might have been my first exposure to Israel's national story, and I suspect I read it either shortly before or shortly after the Six Days War, which captured the imagination of a high-school student. In Northern Virginia, that war also made me aware that I had some fellow students who were Jewish; I'd never consciously known that before.
From Uris's books I went on to read Chaim Potok's "The Chosen" and other Jewish authors like Leo Rosten, Irving Howe, Isaac Bashevis Singer, and Saul Bellow; in fact, I should probably credit Uris with triggering my lifelong interest in World War II history. It's because of that initial interest that I eventually read William Shirer's "Rise and Fall of the Third Reich," his "Berlin Diary," and many other histories of the period.
Thank you, Mr. Uris. I have had many enlightening hours of reading thanks to your books.
Posted by Linkmeister at June 24, 2003 10:42 AMI had remembered Uris'"Trinity"...
and for some reason-forgotten now-there was uproar over it...
Trinity was the first book of his I ever read and I re-read it every few years. I've read and enjoyed (if that's the right word?) most of his books. He did write a follow-up to Trinity a few years ago and it was a big disappointment :(
Posted by: Shelagh at June 26, 2003 07:20 AMI read Trinity when I was in the Navy in 81 or 82, and enjoyed possibly more than any book I'd ever read. I remember nearing the end and realizing that the fondness I had for the characters and their adventures was soon too end, making me appreciate the lst 100 pages even more. I picked up a copy last week as well as Redemption, and now will provide myself with joy once again. Leon was quoted with - "We spend the last half of our lives getting over the first half." Very true for me. I remember a deal was made to bring this story to screen but whoever had written the screenplay never got the deal to happen for a film that was planned to star Sean Connery. Now a screenwriter with 12 completed, I'd like to tackle this project and see if I can make that fabulous story get filmed. Farewell, Leon, and thank you.
Posted by: Jim Donovan at July 17, 2003 11:42 PM