Damascus Gate

By: Robert Stone

Narrated by: George Guidall

Robert Stone receives critical acclaim for the philosophical layers of his writing, as well as the intensity of his multidimensional characters. Setting this deeply provocative, best-selling novel in modern day Jerusalem, Stone puts a disillusioned American journalist adrift in the supercharged atmosphere at the end of the millennium.

Christopher Lucas, unsure of his own beliefs, is wandering through Jerusalem, working on an article about religious mania. When he meets Sonia Barnes, dusky nightclub singer, devoted Sufi and mystic, he is entranced. As Sonia helps Lucas meet some of the visionaries and gurus who fill the city, the two suddenly find that they have become pawns in a fanatical bombing plot. Its target is no less than the Temple Mount, the ancient city's holiest site.

Through visions ranging from Armageddon to Paradise, Damascus Gate captures the whirlwinds of spiritual fervor that swirl through Jerusalem. George Guidall's narration adds dramatic shadings to the physical and psychological landscapes Lucas traverses in this crossroads of nations.

©1998 Robert Stone (P)1998 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

"Stone's novel...is a major work in every aspect...Bold and bracing, ambitious and inspired, Damascus Gate is...an astonishment." ( Publishers Weekly)

Learned Much, Entertained Greatly

This book teaches so much about all the complex issues in the middle east conflict that involves religion, ownership of land, and grudges that go back several centuries. George Guidall is a great great reader and he does one of his best here. I bought a hard back copy of this book after I listened to this audible, I will read and re-read this one.

I'm more certain than ever that Intellectualism is a waste of time.

This book is definitely worth it. Starting out slow and intellectually burdensome with enough obscure name dropping and vague references to make all but the most well read feel like moving on, The story finally starts to pick up speed in part II and moves on at an increasing pace thru the neatly wrapped up ending of proceedings.

I say this book is worth it because in the end the writer brings it all back to the most important aspects of life, love and loss, finally closing with a couple of profoundly simple but important truths worth hearing.

Translation: The ending is worth the time it takes to get there.

a Unique Novel

If you could sum up Damascus Gate in three words, what would they be?

Beautifully written story

What did you like best about this story?

The writing and a story unlike any other

What about George Guidall’s performance did you like?

He always does a good job

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No

Any additional comments?

I recommend this book to anyone who loves elegant prose that doesn't call attention to itself (in other words, its not overdone). It also tells a modern-day story that that is intriguing and doesn't remind me of anything else I have ever read. Highly recommended.

Much to learn

The book gave me a new perspective of the Middle East as wrapped up in what was Palastine and Jerusalem and is now Israel and Jerusalem. I felt at times that it was taking the author a long time to give proper background for his story, but stay with it and you may be rewarded as I was.

Hear, See & Taste It

George Guidall guides the tour, while the author makes sure we get more than the gentile tourist package. I loved the real sense of space and how it is shared, or not. The patchwork of cultures and religions and fervor makes for a more dynamic viewpoint than one can normally encounter. There were many surprises and much to learn from this book. This captured some of the unique driving energy. The plot is just the vehicle that transports us, but an exciting ride for sure. No book has ever given me such itchy feet for Israel.

Theology and realism

A profound exploration of theology set against the stark realities of the politics and divisions of Israel/Palestine. Guidall’s reading is exceptional.

research your material before writing

awful story, you'd think he had never been to the places he's writing about.
It's as if a communist hippie made guesses about religions and religious issues then wrote a book with no plan.

No plot

What would have made Damascus Gate better?

A plot. I listened to 1/3+ of the book before I gave up. I had no idea what was going on.

Would you ever listen to anything by Robert Stone again?

maybe

Would you listen to another book narrated by George Guidall?

George Guidall is great!