I will still update this blog occasionally when I feel compelled to say something substantial, such as is the case with this book:
A good history book is a lot like reading fiction that actually happened. The fact that Chaim Potok was primarily a novelist makes Wanderings a highly compelling, true narrative centered on the origins, trials, successes, and adventures of, arguably, the most unique people group in human history.
Along the journey, Potok paints in broad strokes the basic outline of Western Civ. 101. You start in ancient Mesopotamia before traveling with Abraham to Palestine. You follow Moses out of Egypt. You join the Israelites as they establish the Davidic dynasty, and you stay with them as the bear defeat and oppression from Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome.
You watch a sect of Jews start to follow a self-proclaimed Messiah named Jesus. You witness that sect becoming a dominant, worldwide religious force, and you see the corrupting influence of power as these Jesus followers take hold of the empire. It is a turn of events that results in recurring tragedy for the Jews who gave birth to Christianity's object of worship.
You see a rival monotheism develop from the teachings and experiences of an Arab named Mohammed, and the often tumultuous (but also oscillating) relationship among these three Abrahamic faiths.
You see the hopes of a nation rise at the leading of would-be Messiahs, then persevere and adapt after disappointment.
You see different regions of Jewish populations develop into different branches of Judaic religion and life. Some assimilate into their environments more than others, yet they all seem to retain something distinctly Jewish.
And surprisingly, little is said about 20th century Germany, World Wars, Holocaust, gas chambers, Hitler, etc. I can only guess that either Potok assumed his readers knew enough, or that at the time he was writing (late 70's), it was still too fresh to talk about objectively. But I must admit that by the time I got to this point in the story, the Holocaust is, tragically, less shocking. It's another act of superstitious, senseless persecution of a long line of reoccurring acts of superstitious, senseless persecutions.
I highly recommend this book. You will learn even more than you would expect to learn from a 500-page history book, and you will be engaged throughout most of those 500 pages. If you find the first few chapters a bit dry, just push through them. You will quickly be drawn in by Potok's seamless prose.
