Thanks for your informative responses. I guess my assessment of the characters being "unlikeable" is a little premature. I also think that their actions/behaviors must be viewed in the context of the novel's setting and the extremely unusual circumstances and situations that are presented.

I was touched by Stern's relationship with Maud, and his overall idealism/ambition. I think, for now, he's my favorite character.

I will definitely picking up Jerusalem Poker. Only about 40 pages to go with Sinai Tapestry....unfortunately, because of my work schedule and other commitments, i only have that precious hour or so at night before i go to bed to read. But this book is certainly keeping me up late! Thanks again for your input.

--Previous Message--
: SB,
:
: Thanks for your message on the board and
: also for your complimentary comments on the
: site.
:
: The writing in Sinai Tapestry is indeed
: beautiful and does not pall after multiple
: re-readings. In fact Whittemore's writings
: become quite addictive.
:
: As for the characters being unlikeable, I
: never found that so. I was touched by Haj
: Haran, moved by Joe O'Sullivan Beare,
: awestruck by Strongbow and amused by
: Wallenstein. I encourage you to continue
: with Jerusalem Poker when it all may begin
: to make sense. The true hero of the novels
: is Jerusalem. The books are Whittemore's
: love letters to the city. He was very much
: affected by it and I believe it was love at
: first sight.
:
: Anne
:
:
:
: --Previous Message--
: I've always felt that Sinai Tapestry and
: Jerusalem Poker could have been bound by the
: same spine; they should certainly be read in
: strict sequence. Nile Shadows, I feel, to
: some degree lacks the fluidity and strict
: detail that bind the first two novels. But,
: I also think this is intentional.
:
: As for the characters, we all draw our own
: conclusions. I find Strongbow's
: arrogance/confidence admirable,
: Wallentstein's devotion impenetrable, Haj
: Harun's aloofness uplifting, Joe's spirit
: heroic, and Stern's dream tragic. And what
: too can be said for Maud, Catherine, Sophia,
: Yakouba, Ziwar, and Sivi?
:
: I hope you well stomach the final chapters.
:
: Sincerely,
: Joseph
: --Previous Message--
: I am about 3/4 of the way through Sinai
: Tapestry, and while I was admittedly
: perplexed by the book's strangeness for the
: first 100 pages or so, I am in awe of
: Whittemore's imagination and prose style.
: He writes such fluid, readable prose, yet
: there are so many sentences that I read over
: two or three times, just to take in all the
: nuances and lyrical beauty. It really is
: deceptively simple. I can't really form an
: impression of the book yet. It is so
: surreal and unlike anything I have ever
: read. Not sure what i feel about the
: characters either. I guess my only
: criticisms are that most of the characters
: are hard to like, and, although I have about
: 80 pages left, i am not sure if there is a
: coherent plot in there somewhere(and i don't
: usually care for plot as much as
: characters/prose style).
:
: Is Sinai Tapestry merely an introductory
: book, or is it meant to stand alone? Does
: the plot of Sinai continue in Jerusalem
: Poker, or is that just another story with
: some of the same characters reappearing?
:
: Nice website by the way...
:
: Thanks
:
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