Mitla Pass

By: Leon Uris

Narrated by: Angela Dawe, David de Vries

Gideon Zadok arrives in Israel with every intention to research a new book, mend a broken marriage, and improve his dysfunctional family. But as political tensions escalate and his family is evacuated, Zadok asks to follow Israeli paratroopers to secure Mitla Pass and finds himself in the midst of one of the largest global crises of the twentieth century. A sweeping novel of love, passion, and freedom, Mitla Pass stands as an epic look at modern Middle Eastern history and is quite possibly Uris’s most autobiographical work.

From Library Journal:
Against the backdrop of the 1956 Sinai War, Uris provides a riveting portrait (possibly autobiographical) of a man caught in personal crisis. Gideon Zadok, best-selling novelist and successful Hollywood screenwriter, has come to Israel with his family to research a new novel and to shore up a crumbling marriage. But he jeopardizes that by starting a passionate affair with a beautiful Auschwitz survivor. Zadok is a man wavering on the edge of a breakdown. As the political crisis escalates, and his family is evacuated, Zadok asks to accompany Israeli paratroopers on a desperate mission to seal off the strategic Mitla Pass. The Uris name will make this book much in demand, and if it is not as much of an epic as Exodus or Trinity, it has in Zadok Uris’s most fascinating character.

©2019 by Leon M. Uris. (P)2019 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Stars tell the story of my review

Most excellent. A true spinner of stories. Perhaps too much sex but then, perhaps not. Can't remember that far back. :)

Moments of brilliance, many minutes of tedium

It’s hard to rant too much against an obviously talented author, but this is one crazy, mixed up story.

Uris loves storytelling but weaves in so many characters, so many eras, and so much angst, we’re never sure what to focus on. He seems to believe we need to meet every important person and even the insignificant people who ever had an iota of influence in the life of his protagonist. The problem is he gets us interested in all these people once we suffer through the tedium of why they’re there, and we get attached, and then, bam, we’re zapped somewhere else with a new set of relatives or others to care about.

A few major characters stood out and we want more—Abby the teacher who loved him, and Val, who loved him enough to look beyond his demons. We think she was a “glutton for punishment.”

The narration is stellar and in many ways elevated the story.

It will be a while before we wade through another Uris saga. This one could have used a little more depth and less hackneyed psycho drama.

Loved Loved Loved

The most amazing book, such depth of history from pre WWII to the fight for Israel’s right to exist. The sex was delicious and romantic. I absolutely loved this book!

Multi generational story told with beauty, tragedy, and hope.

After listing to “Exodus,” by Uris (and enjoying it immensely) I figured I’d give this title a try. I was not disappointed. The story of Israel is a story of grit, luck, and human hope that simply refuses to quit. Well done, Uris, on penning another fantastic book. Much respect to the two vocal actors who narrated this recording. Really well done.

Didnt really describe Mitla Pass

This really is a story (perhaps autobiographical) of an at-sea author. It isn't about what happened at Mitla Pass. Not very much intrigue but lots of interpersonal action. I guess with enough bedroom antics you can get away with any story.

I can’t stand it anymore

I never leave a book unfinished, but this one is unbearable. The selfish caracteres and the voices in of the interpreter are disgusting as well. I really loved other Leon Uris books, definitely not this one.

What is this?

I’ve read a lot of Uris. This? It’s as if a different personality wrote it. It’s raunchy, explicit, and dark. It’s hardly about Milta Pass or the war. It’s mostly about Gideon’s affairs which are laid out in in a debauched red district kind of style. Incredibly disappointed. No lasting story. No great characters. I don’t know where Leon thought this fit in with his legendary talent. It’s not on display here.

Not Uris’ Best

I was disappointed in this novel. I read my first Novel by Leon Uris, Mila 18, when I was in the 8-9th grade, and for years thereafter I tried to read at least one of his books every year or two. Of all those I have read this was the worst. I can not recommend it.

Sad book for such a great author

Hard to believe that Leon Uris who has given us so many great books in the past wrote this book. It is a jumble of incoherence, and actually quite boring. I am quite sad actually.