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The Source

By: James A. Michener
Narrated by: Larry McKeever
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Publisher's summary

In the grand storytelling style that is his signature, James Michener sweeps us back through time to the very beginnings of the Jewish faith, thousands of years ago. Through the predecessors of four modern men and women, we experience the entire colorful history of the Jews, including the life of the early Hebrews and their persecutions, the impact of Christianity, the Crusades, and the Spanish Inquisition, all the way to the founding of present-day Israel and the Middle East conflict.

©2013 James A. Michener; 2015 Random House Audio
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Critic reviews

"Fascinating...stunning...[a] wonderful rampage through history...Biblical history, as seen through the eyes of a professor who is puzzled, appalled, delighted, enriched and impoverished by the spectacle of a land where all men are archeologists." ( The New York Times)
"A sweeping [novel] filled with excitement - pagan ritual, the clash of armies, ancient and modern: the evolving drama of man's faith." ( The Philadelphia Inquirer)
"Magnificent...a superlative piece of writing both in scope and technique...one of the great books of this generation." ( San Francisco Call Bulletin)

What listeners say about The Source

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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    1,103
  • 4 Stars
    383
  • 3 Stars
    170
  • 2 Stars
    66
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Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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    1,068
  • 4 Stars
    291
  • 3 Stars
    122
  • 2 Stars
    41
  • 1 Stars
    40

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

It's well worth getting, despite the odd narration

This book had a profound effect when I was young, and it's great to come back to it and discover how it holds up (I considered 5 stars). It's Michener's best. So don't be put off my a narrator who is dry and pronounces the last letter so distinctly...it didn't spoil it for me, the story transcends.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Narrator spoils the storu

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

no - could only down 3/4 of the book so can't recommend it - buy the book instead

How did the narrator detract from the book?

his voice is monotone and delivery robotic

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

A Quaker gone agnostic takes liberty with faith

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Not likely: I like the historical breath but not the perspective

What aspect of Larry McKeever’s performance would you have changed?

I know a lot of people don't like the reader, but I got very used to him in other Michener books like Poland and Iberia

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

good luck making it...

Any additional comments?

I don't like the passive, almost dispassionate tone of the writer and the liberties he takes with sacred subjects. Writers, once full of themselves, tend to take themselves too serious and write in such a way.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Long

Long and tedious. The narration was read in a monotone voice which leaves a lot to be desired.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Prove You're Not A Robot

I have read many Michener novels. This one is my favorite.
Mr. McKeever's reading style is mechanical and distracting. I have The Drifters in my library but I am loathe to listen, the reason being his narration that one too.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Loved it, passion, history, very fascinating

I really loved this book. I had a close family member who always read Michner. Now I know why. History with a sexy story and a great historical lesson. I loved it. would definitely recommend!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Speed

It needs to be played at 1.25 speed. Someone put in on audible incorrectly Otherwise it sounds like a machine reading

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

54 Hours of Listenable History

It seems that few listeners liked the narration of Larry McKeever but I easily got into his style and found his voice easy to listen to and not at all "robotic" as some stated, in fact to me it is quite varied and lively. The key is to listen to him at a faster speed because he speaks rather slowly.

The book itself is both highly detailed and very informative. Some of the dialog does tend to be manipulated to get all the facts in, especially the "argumentative conversations", however, even so, it flows very well and the individual stories are exciting. I did find it a bit disruptive when Michener leaves one hanging at the end of a tale by jumping back to the "present" without finishing the ending and leaving it up to your imagination to complete, but that is how he moves ahead in the history.

I found the close historical connection between the Jewish, Christian and Islamic religions (and the various sects within them) most interesting. As the story concludes in the 1960s it only hints at how these ideologies will generate expanding hatred and create the present bitter strife between them: Future history will be the topic of how this strife will end and whether the world will become just another big archeological dig for what remains of humankind.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Holy Land

James Michener presents an interesting look at the Holy Lands from prehistoric times to what we see as Israel today . he explores The Times that religions have cooperated and come to head to head combat. it further opened my eyes to the Jewish faith good and bad aspects.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Michener at his finest

great story and great primer on the history of the three religions cojoined in the middle East. A bit misogynist, but overlook that and read the rest.

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