Rating: 
Summary: Offensive well-written fiction.
Review: A lot of people seem to have the idea that only Arabs are muslims, but this is not so. I am an Indian Muslim and am not involved in the Arab world in anyway (besides Makkah and Madinah) but still I found this book to be extremely biased, even for a work of fiction. It seems almost Uris wrote this as propaganda to 'incite riots' in the Synagogues, just as he wrote in the book with the Arabs. I've studied the history of Jerusalem and the result of Zionism in Palestine, and this book has only 1 out of 10 facts accurate. Jews were not as defensive-minded as Uris makes them seem, and Arabs were not as offensive-minded. The Jewish people had many many supporters, abroad and inside Palestine. The only thing I can say about this is that Uris seems to have a hatred within him, one that comes out fullforce in this book. I'd hate to say this about any person, but this is truly a warmonger. Even when writing this review, I'm thinking that people will just say that the reviewer is a Muslim and thus will not like this book. I'm not saying its not an enjoying read, but just need you all to know that it is a work of FICTION, nothing more. As has been shown in the past few years, Jewish groups are acknowledging the atrocities they commited on Arab populations at the time of Israel's independence. At the same time, I know Arabs are to blame as well, but if you ask me, this type of one-sided views just won't do. Granted, it's his book and he can write what he wants, but his talents would be put to a much greater use if he wrote objectively. He is alienating an entire readership, and hopefully he will understand that what the problem today is Arab-Israeli, not Muslim-Israeli. I have nothing against Israel and am thankful they will guarantee my safety when I visit Jerusalem. It is a very holy city and place to me as well. But we must not be under the illusion that Islam is to blame. Arab traditions and customs are very different from what is prescribed in Islam. I hope the readers can understand that, and hope they can find out the differences for themselves without allowing Leon Uris to twist their view to one side.
Rating: 
Summary: Oh How Things Never Change
Review: This is as brilliant as historical novels get. Uris is a master of seamlessly blending history lessons with narrative. His characters are compelling and his detail (cultural and historical) is fantastic. Although The Haj is obviously a bit tilted in its views, Uris does a fantastic job of getting to the essence of the middle eastern issue. . . Hatred of the JewsYou won't be disappointed.
Rating:
Summary: An intricate understanding of the Arab world
Review: There are 100 million Arabs, and about five million Palestinians. They all seem united when fighting Israel, but never within. We live in a time where the Middle East is a tough region to understand. How do the Arabs and Jews fight so much? Are the Arabs right? Are the Jews? Who is responsible for the bloodshed? I won't even attempt to say that this book answers these difficult questions. But this book does provide a background that can allow us to understand the conflict. The internal strife among the Arabs provides a backdrop for the lack of Arab participation in the peace process. "The Haj" explains this idea well.
Rating:
Summary: Well researched book from a Master Raconteur!
Review: The Haj is a dual combination of fluid narrative apparent by crisp story of an Arabic family and their role and witness to formation of Israel accompanied with strife and war in middle east region around 1948. It is well researched book, giving lot of facts and information (like balfour declaration, politics and self interest by British and French towards formation of Jordan state etc and keeping the conflict alive) though I would not be the best judge to comment on its complete authenticity, but it does leave one a little perplexed and anxious about intolerance, brutality and ignorance about certain faith.I have read Exodus by Leon Uris, and I can't help but salute to the spirit, resilience and innovativeness of people from Israel.
Rating:
Summary: ...Where fiction is fiction and has to be taken as fiction
Review: The Haj was a page turner. Regardless of religious, cultural or political opinions, it was a great novel...let me point out fellow readers, A NOVEL OF FICTION. It seemed to have escaped some of my colleagues reviewers. One can't deny the historical background that builds that book. The shock of the new with the old, the fatalism with the innovative, the tradition with the revolution. Is Haj Ibrahim representative of the average arab at this time. Probably not. Characters are portrayed in black and white in a caricature to illustrate the story. You will havre to make abstraction of judging to the rightness of the caricatures if you want to appreciate fully Uris's story. It is a masterpiece of storytelling, bringing countless informations about the settling of Israel, the shock with the arab villages and the life of misery in the refugees camps of palestine. Uris has a way to make us see his books in the eyes a special person, usually a writer. He will take you fifty years back and you suddenly feel the desert sand through your toes and grow, learn, suffer and especially, hope, through the life and the imagination of a young palestinian. To me, when a book takes me that far for a few hours, it deserves praises. I will only remove a star for the ending, while not bad, is not at the standard as the rest of the book.
Rating:
Summary: an accurate portrayal of palestinian arabs
Review: the last 20 years has seen the palestinian arab cause become politcally correct. News reporters have focussed on the "harsh israeli occupation" of the "poor palestinain victims", creating a TV worlview where palestinians can do no wrong and Israelis can do no right. The world has forgotten the countless acts of terrorism and pure hatred directed towards the Jews by the palestinian arabs. reading this book rips away all the pro palestinian propoganda and reveals a shocking reality of the history of the arab war against the Jews. Im sure hanan Ashrawi hates this book!
Rating:
Summary: not bias but truth
Review: After reading many of these reviews, I can only assume that many of the readers are under the assumption that all forms of "bias", even bias based on truth and objective reasonings , are wrong. Everyone is bias in one way or another. Some like pizza better than hamburgers and others like ice cream. Being biased is natural and human and bias will never and can never be eliminated. Bias based on truth and erudition should not be feared, but welcomed unlike it's less desireable uncle, bias based on ignorance. If Uris is biased, it is in the form of the former and not the latter. Confused reviewers would do themselves a service by reading, "Jihad In The West" by Fergosi; "The Lucifer Principle" by Bloom; "Battleground" by Katz, and "From Time Immemorial" by Peters, before making any proclaimations of bias or racism against Uris. The book was excellent.
Rating:
Summary: not bias but truth
Review: After reading many of these reviews I can only assume that many of the readers of The Haj are under the impression that any form of "bias" is wrong, even bias based on truth and objective reasoning . I have certain people and countries that i favor over others, certain foods that I enjoy more than others. Why? Because not only are they different, but their differences influece my "biased" views. Not all things are the same. Additionally there is such a thing as objective truth. The Haj is a book that explores the differences in the two cultures portreyed and the objective truth pertaining to the history of the region. If Uris is biased, he is on the right side, armed with truth. The other reviewers would do well to read ,"Jihad In The West" by Fergosi; "The Lucifer Principle" by Bloom; "Battleground" by Katz, and "From Time Immemorial" by Peters, before procliaming any charge of bias and especially racism. the book was excellent
Rating:
Summary: Arab Mythology
Review: The Haj,is a book that has to be read slowly and read every line.It is slow to build but it is a story of truth and horrific consquences of which we are still living today.Mr Uris has captured the base essence of the middle east.It is a good read for one with a feeling for history.Fiction as is classified but it also is history.
Rating:
Summary: I LOVED IT....ANOTHER GREAT BOOK BY URIS!
Review: I ALSO READ THE REVIEWS ON THIS BOOK AND OBVIOUSLY MANY OF THEM DIFFER IN THE TRUTH OR ACCURACY OF HIS PORTRAYAL OF THE ARABS AND JEWS. I WOULD GUESS THERE IS SOME TRUTH TO MOST EVERYONE'S VIEWS, AS WE CERTAINLY CANNOT JUDGE A PEOPLE BY JUST A FEW EXAMPLES. WITH ALL THAT ASIDE, THIS IS A GOOD BOOK, A GOOD STORY WITH A SAD ENDING. I LOVED TRINITY, EXODUS AND MILA 18, BUT CAN'T SEEM TO FIND A NEW COPY OF EITHER MILTA PASS OR TOPAZ?
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