Jerusalem Interlude (Zion Covenant, #4) by Bodie Thoene

Jerusalem Interlude (Zion Covenant, #4) Reviews

• 
  Natalie Vellacott

  At this point, this series starts to suffer a little from its length. It feels a bit like a new story is starting in that there is a lack of cohesion with the first books in the series.
  
  Now, we are mostly based in Palestine and focusing on the conflict between the Arabs and the Jews with a few Christians thrown into the mix. There are enough incidents to keep the story moving and there is enough dramatic tension to make me want to continue reading, but the writing quality is not comparable to the earlier books.
  
  I have read this series before a few years ago and hope to finish it again, but it's not gripping me as it did the first time around.
• 
  Evangheline Farcas

  Jerusalem Interlude continues the sad history set to fiction. It captivates you as always, as the previous books did from the very beginning. Characters that have been with us since the first book like Elise and Murphey, Leah and Shimon, Anna and Theo continue to brave this dark world Hitler brought. New characters are introduced that are vital and show the schemes that Hitler put into play to reach his dark agenda. My favorite characters in this book are Eli Sachar and Victoria Hassan. They are from two different worlds, Eli a Jew studying to be a Rabbi and Victoria a Muslim promised in marrige to Ram Kadar in service to the Grand Mufti Haj Amin...but she is in love with Eli. She battles internaly with the violence of her people, even her own brothers against the Jews, and she must make a decision. In this book we are introduced also to how Poland enters this story and how the riots started there. We see historical figures that we will never forget also, Winston Churchill, Goebbles, British Ambassador Neville Henderson and many more. Each are given a unique voice. We grow to love or deeply hate each one. But most importantly we see history, we see how it unfolded. We often wonder how it could have all happened. Brock and Bodie Thoene show us from the very first book the subtility with which it first began, and then we see how the fires of hatred grew and grew. We often wonder why no one did anything... these books show the twisted and sometimes well intentioned reasons why (though unexcusable). It took me a while to read this one just because it is packed with very heavy, very real emotions that make you think: What if this happened to me? Or if I had to stand up in such a time would I have the courage? Would I have acted differently then these people? But overall I loved this book, and I look forward to continuing this journey in the next one.
• 
  Jen

  This is number four in a series of six. The more I read of this series the more I am in awe of the amount of research that had to be done to create these books. I have read many WWII novels but nothing that encompasses the range of these. Gives me a whole new perspective of the politics going on in Europe before the war.
• 
  Kelsey Bryant

  Another sad one ... but fascinating because it focuses mainly on Jerusalem in 1938, which is an arena that I haven't often seen explored in histories or fiction about the lead-up to WW2. I liked seeing characters introduced who feature in the Zion Chronicles.
• 
  James Burns

  Jerusalem Interlude is the 4th Book in the Zion covenant series. I also thought it started slow, Introducing new characters and re-acquainting with prior characters. Elisa and Murphy the predominant story-line in the prior 3 books, are playing a very minimum role, while Leah and Shimon are the main story-line starting after their move to Palestine . Rabbi Lebowitz in Palestine Is trying to get papers for his daughter and son-in-law and their family to move from Poland to Palestine. Theo, Elisa's father is going back to Germany for a meeting with Field Marshall Goering, where he escaped from a concentration camp. In Paris Hershel Grynspan, the son of a Jewish German tailor who has been deported to Poland with his family, Is being set-up by Himmler at Hitlers urging to assassinate Ernst Vom Rath a German officer assigned to the German Embassy in Paris, as a ploy to incriminate the Jewish people in an orchestrated Plot of assassinations and Riots simultaneously in Poland, Paris and Palestine.
  As all of these plots are unfolding, Eli-Sachar a Jewish rabbinical student is in love with Victoria Hassan a Muslim woman who have been in love since Childhood. The forbidden love and terrorist attacks involving her half-Brothers and the political and racial unrest surrounding their love makes for a very climatic ending. In my opinion this is the most intriguing book of the series.
• 
  Jolene

  Amazing series. So well researched and well written. I'm convinced that Bodie and Brock are the perfect team for writing books. It has everything that I love (music and European history) all in one. This series also just gets better with every book! Highly recommended.
• 
  Amanda

  I've been reading this book for a few months. This is the 4th book in the series and at one level feels a little long b/c we've already been thru SO MUCH with each of these characters--and we continue to meet new (connected) characters with equally fascinating stories. On the other hand, every time I pick up the book, it's engrossing and exciting (sometimes Hitler's parts are a little hard to read). Victoria and Eli's story was just amazing.
  
  So, I'm re-reading this whole series and can see it's going to take me awhile to get thru 5 & 6. Regardless, I am in love with the message, the historical detail and characters. These books are one of a kind.
• 
  Laura

  By far my least favorite of the series so far. I do not agree with the author's opinion that Jews and the chosen people of God to this day (due to the arrival of Jesus I believe this has changed permanently under the new covenant). But, I am happy to have read the next segment in the continuing saga and learned some new bits of the history of the period and perhaps how it's impacted what still goes on today.
• 
  AlixJamie

  I enjoyed the story of Eli and Victoria that was portrayed in this book, Leah and Shimon interested me as well, but, as with all Thoene books, there is at least one character with whom I just can't relate.
• 
  Abby Burrus

  This book is the same as all the others... In that it's so tragic. So frustratingly tragic. You hate evil and you root tirelessly for good, and yet it seems that evil is winning. And yet it isn't. Not where it really matters.
  It is gut wrenchingly realistic for the times. These things did most likely happen. The deception will make you want to scream.
  Yet, hope is never quite lost. Never quite given up. It still prevails in other ways. Maybe not on the world stage. But in individual lives.
  If you're looking for realness, this series and this book is for you.
  
  (SPOILERS FROM HERE ON OUT)
  
  Nobody wants to help the Jews. Nobody. Nobody will help them. Britain and France cower before Hitler. The reason they won't accept the refugees is because of 'economic problems.' Money over human lives! Fake peace instead of true honor.
  The situation of Ernst vom Rath and Herchel is just... You are begging Herchel (am I spelling that right?) to realize what he's about to do, that he's playing right in Hitler's hands, that he's making it worse and not better for his people. And yet he does it. But Ernst still lives! That is, until Hitler sends his personal physician to make sure he doesn't. That was a final blow.
  The back story in Jerusalem is interesting. How curious to know the circumstances of the death of Moshe's brother. And how tragic too! The ending is... fitting. Victoria becomes part of the Russian convent, to live out her days as a nun. The last line... "And the two women walked back home along the path where Jesus walked."
  Overall, one day I'll probably reread this book ;)
  
  
  
• 
  jaimedannie

  JerusalemInterlude is the fourth book in the ZionCovenantBooks. We continue with Shimon and Leah Feldstein as the journey to Jerusalem. We meet EliSachar and #VictoriaHassan and see how difficult love from two worlds can be. The Nazi system continues to bring destruction and manipulate world powers into not taking action against them. The end of the book we see the Night of Broken Glass. These books are difficult to read because the circumstances making the backdrop for these fiction characters are all too true.
• 
  Ed Bernier

  Amazing book! Bodie Thoene is one of my favorite authors. Very accurate historical fiction. I was totally immersed in the story and the characters. I've read her series from Zion Covenant to Zion Legacy, which covers from the Nazi extermination of the Jews through the escape to Palestine and finally the birth of a new nation of Israel with all the of the Arab nations ready to pounce on them as soon as they were made a nation. I highly recommend this author and series.
• 
  Andy Dutton

  I was passed this book and "Munich Signature" (also from the Zion Covenantseries by my Dad a while ago.
  
  I've now read both, which are brilliantly written. They were however traumatising (and I didn't sleep well thoughout the read! A very vivid depiction of what is was to be a Jew in Europe during the rise if Hitler.
  
  Well worth seeking out if you love historic novels - but expect to be seriously affected!
• 
  Stephanie

  Interlude is a fitting word for the pace of this book. A little slower in the buildup, but the climax and falling action is gripping. This felt a little like Romeo and Juliet; two young people from different words that wanted a future together. Interesting to see how Hitler maneuvered his power in Jerusalem.
• 
  Hannah Louise

  Another one of my favourites in this series - sets up the Zion Chronicles & shows the realities of Jerusalem. I like the perspective change to show the whole world, not just Europe & the obvious Poland setup.
• 
  Jeanne

  This book is one in the series of The Zion Chronicles beginning with Vienna Prelude. Each title has a musical allusion because some of the main characters are musicians. This is a great series and while it's sometimes classified as a Christian series I think anyone can enjoy it.
• 
  Shelly Walker

  Such a good book. My one complaint - it can be rather slow in the beginning fleshing out characters and scenarios which all seem to be in high crisis mode by the end. I wish it would space out the excitement better! :)
• 
  Cassandra

  I enjoyed reading this book. It helps make history come alive, and also makes me think of modern events.
• 
  Andrea

  Once again, I loved the history I learned, which in this book was mainly about Jerusalem. The saga continues, and I'm ready to start the next book.
• 
  Gerda Stroud

  Not to be missed