The Haj

By: Leon Uris

Narrated by: Neil Shah

Length: 21 hrs and 31 mins

Publisher's summary

Leon Uris retums to the land of his acclaimed best-seller Exodus for an epic story of hate and love, vengeance and forgiveness. The Middle East is the powerful setting for this sweeping tale of a land where revenge is sacred and hatred noble. Where an Arab ruler tries to save his people from destruction but cannot save them from themselves. When violence spreads like a plague across the lands of Palestine - this is the time of The Haj.

©1984 Leon Uris (P)2014 Audible, Inc.

Excellent narration of a Leon Uris masterpiece!

Both the book and the narration are riveting. This should be required college reading.

Wow Wow

I loved this book. Big fan of Leon Uris books. Would give it 10 stars ⭐️ if I could!

Haj Review

I thought the story and the narrator were excellent. I thought the premise was biased, but I also liked getting some historical reference.

So tragic a tale

It is difficult understanding the plight of the Palestinian people. Leon Uris makes an attempt to explain why their recent history is so tragic. Of course, he is somewhat an apologist for the Zion movement, but, I believe his opinions are very truthful.

Not a great book.

Leon Uris wrote some moving and educational stories. The Haj is not one of them. I now call this book 📙 a must miss story.

I've been looking for a history and explanation

Finally I found the history of the refugee camps. I knew they were an Arab fabrication, a plant, but I couldn't find the story. I scoured the Internet to no avail.
Thank you Leon Uris and thank you Audible productions for making it possible to find the facts.

Excellent!

I learned so much about the core historical reasons behind Middle East conflicts and violence by listening to this page turner! Terrific narration too.

An Epic Story that explains generations of hatred.

What made the experience of listening to The Haj the most enjoyable?

A great and spellbinding story. Narrated by a young Palestinian boy explains the generations of Arab pride and hatred for the Jews. Once you read this, you'll better understand why there will never be peace with the Arabs.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Ishmael the story teller. A wonderful boy who was both loyal to his father but wanting a better life outside the traditions of hatred and mistrust for all outside of his family.

Have you listened to any of Neil Shah’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

This is the only one. He did a wonderful job. So many different voices. Much emotion. It was hard to believe it was coming from only one person. Or was it?

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No way. It took me about a week to listen.

Any additional comments?

I now better understand the deep rooted generational hatred of the Arabs. It's in their DNA. Westerners can feel a strong and abiding love for people that drives us and gives us hope. The Arabs have that same intensity and passion for hatred that inspires them and sustains them. It explains why they will never make peace with Israel. It's a matter of pride and passion.

Who knows what is true?

This was a difficult listen. It affirmed my expectations of the cruelty of radical Arabian Islamists and to some extent the moderate ones as well. It’s painful to hear so much reality in this form that (dare I say) is justified propaganda. It’s painful to listen because you hope beyond hope that something might change in the real world with self reflection. But early on we learn that self reflection, personal betterment, and virtuous growth isn’t just ignored; it is actively discouraged.

Helps Westerners Grasp an Understanding

The Haj is a book that needs to be heard/read by all. This book is an eye opener. It takes you back to around 1922 up through the 1960s. It confirms what many of us have suspected in our gut. In the Middle East, things are different. There is a level of hatred that is different. It is celebrated. Lying to the infidels is permitted, encouraged and a part of Islam. And all the sins that the westerners partake of . . . fornication, adultery, homosexuality, drunkenness, all these also exist in the Middle East. Men there regularly engage in these behaviors. And they kill their wives and daughters when they catch them in the same. This book is written in a way that is unbiased. A Jew and an Arab are friends, trying beyond all hope to help their own people . . . and for the first time I am understanding why there cannot be peace . . . why all attempts at democracy have failed and will always fail . . . why there is little hope of salvaging a people and a land so intent on hatred and self-destruction. And all those who have entered there hoping to bring peace and reconstruction, have instead brought home their own broken soldiers, who carry the wounds of war for the remainder of their lives.