Sara Reid

This book left me in awe. It is an imaginative journey through the forgotten ages of many peoples to have lived in one place treasured for one simple resource. I am not Jewish, but I am a fan. If I had an ancestor living in this millennia old struggle they were forgotten or erased due either to their need of nearly impossible survival in Medieval Europe, or the straight up fear and prejudice of descendants strategically not mentioning such a family member or ancestor. Still, I do have solid enough testimony and evidence to allow the thought. This book inspired me to learn a great deal more about Jewish history, identity, challenges, and undeserved cruelty aimed at them. I hope it has made me a better friend and interesting conversationalist to those friends I love who are also Jewish. Great book. Great Polaroid of Archaeology as well. I read it in 1986 after visiting Palestine/Israel. I have never stopped thinking of the stories and wondering how any of us survived until now no matter which family of the Earth we hail from. i am rereading it now with my grown son. I named him Peniel, after the place where Jacob struggled with God, and saw him face to face. My Tour-Guide spoke to us of this book at Tell Jericho. Both my studies and imagination have been 'time traveling' ever since. I highly recommend devouring this book!