Leon Uris, Author of 'Exodus,' Dies at 78

6/24/03 | HILLEL ITALIE, AP National Writer

[ladtx]

Read his books "Exodus" and "Armageddon" many years ago. Good but lengthy reads. Sorry to hear of his passing.

[ChewedGum]

Exodus was great but what is interesting is that the article never mentions The Haj. That was one of the most eye opening books I ever read. (But I guess it wouldn't be considered politically correct because it focuses on the Palistinians and actually has the gall to point out some of their flaws.)

It's a very depressing book, but also compelling and very informative...I would recommend it to all.

Gum

[dead]

Trinity was a fantastic book. I couldn't believe it was written by somebody who wasn't Irish.

He was a major talent.

[Alouette]

About 25 years ago, I received as a gift a coffee-table book entitled "Exodus Revisited" a photographic travelogue of Israel with commentary by Leon Uris. Among other things, the book included photographs of personal friends and extended family WHO WERE NEVER ACKNOWLEDGED OR PAID FOR THEIR APPEARANCE IN THIS BOOK and underneath whose photographs Leon Uris wrote nasty insulting captions mocking the Orthodox community and predicting its demise within one generation.

[Alouette]

personal friends and extended family =

I meant to say these photographs were of Alouette's friends and family, not the author's.

[SMEDLEYBUTLER]

Famous Jewish Marines: Leon Uris

Leon Uris, the best-selling author wrote many books, but his most important contribution was his service to his country as a Jewish Marine!

Leon M. Uris was born on August 3, 1924, in Baltimore, Maryland. During his senior year of high school in 1942, Leon dropped out of school to enlist in the United States Marine Corps. His MOS (Military Occupational Specialty) was that of field radio operator. During World War II, Uris participated in the famous battles on the Japanese islands of Guadalcanal and Tarawa. Later on, he became sick with malaria and was transferred back to the United States, to serve out the remainder of the war. Leon was finally discharged in 1946.

Leon later became a famous author, whose several books include: Exodus, Battle Cry, Trinity, and Mila 18.

Back to Famous Jewish Marines

[Bill Davis FR]

AND DON'T FORGET "THE HAJ", a novel about palestinian struggles against the founding of Israel...

[nina0113]

It also doesn't mention his novelization of the poor innocent Clintons in A God in Ruins.

[nina0113]

I dug out the Amazon reviews of A God in Ruins:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0061097934/ref=cm_cr_dp_2_1/103-9986545-4642232?v=glance&s=books&vi=customer-reviews

[YaYa123]

Thanks for the recommendation. I haven't read fiction in years, but I'll try to read THE HAJ.

I enjoyed the movies I've seen made from Uris novels, but the book I enjoyed the most was MILA 18. We were stationed in Mainz,Germany at the time, and that book came alive for me.

[ChocChipCookie]

Those weren't exactly glowing, were they?

[Courier]

I read most of his books by age 12. Got so interested in the subjects started reading non-fiction.

Great loss.

[sheik yerbouty]

Uris wrote another great book called "The Haj".

[Numbers Guy]

That was one of the most eye opening books I ever read. (But I guess it wouldn't be considered politically correct because it focuses on the Palistinians and actually has the gall to point out some of their flaws.)

I agree with the others, The Haj is a must-read. As you note, it's a story of the tragedy of the Palis (as well as their inherent bluster). The tragedy is mostly self-inflicted, as the book runs from the 1920's onward as the blind hatred of the Jews harms the Palis more than it does the Jews. Uris is really sympathetic to the plight, but makes it clear that the blind bigotry is what led to the plight; if they'd put 1/10th as much energy into bettering themselves as they did into trying to kill the Jews, they'd be flourishing right now.

[nina0113]

And they just get worse - it's a slow day at work so I've read several pages worth now. The consensus is that they only gave it one star because it's impossible to give zero.

If anybody is considering reading this - I did read it, because Uris is one of my favorite authors - don't. Re-read Exodus, Trinity, or Mila 18 (my favorite).

[DeepDish]

"Uris failed English three times and never graduated from high school."

Now that was a man who didn't give up.

[T Minus Four]

I read QBVII in Jr. High and it made an incredible impression on me. I've reread it several times over the years, and it remains one of my favorite books ever.

[johnny7]

“Battle Cry” was the only Uris book I've ever finished. Only a Marine could flesh out characters like “High-Pockets”, “Spanish Joe” and “Sister Mary”.

Without mentioning the Second Marines, you knew he was with them.

R.I.P. Marine.

[razorback-bert]

He wrote his epitaph:

American soldier, Jewish writer