Written by former international mission worker David C. Carson, Maccabee is a historical novelization of mid-2nd century, when a Syrian king called Antiochus Epiphanes sought to exterminate the Jewish nation. One elderly priest and his five sons dared to resist; and one of those sons would become known to future generations as Maccabee. Told in first-person perspective, Maccabee is as dark as is to be expected of a chronicle of genocide and resistance, and brings events of history to vivid life. "They came... more info
Still some things worth fighting for.:
I was slowly drawn into the storyline of the book, but once I arrived I rapidly advanced with every chapter and had a hard time putting the book down. One vital lesson that we can all learn in our postmodern era comes from the Maccabee himself: "Take courage. ... Keep your hearts pure. Remember what you are fighting for. God will fight for us again" (p.280). Ultimately, the battle is not ours but the Lord's. If you are looking for something to live for, this book will inspire you with the example of those... more info
Maccabee--a novel worthy of its subject matter:
Having a good plot is the most important thing I want in a book, and this book has a great one. When I first began reading it, I didn't think I was going to enjoy it. The first couple of chapters set up the setting and historical context for the remainder of the book, so it's too technical in the beginning for me. Once the action begins (specifically, the chase scene through the temple), the plot is exciting and doesn't let up. This book would make a great movie. The author describes the action so well that... more info
A Nonstop Read:
It only takes a few words to know you have found a good story teller. I did not put this book aside for the first hour after I picked it up. David Carson weaves an absorbing mixture of history and fiction that was thoroughly entertaining. David would be a wonderful history professor. This book obviously required an enormous amount of research but the factual details rarely intrude on an excellent story. I highly recommend this book and look forward to David's next one.
