Publisher: Questar
This is a Pallisades Novel
This book is not part of a series
Year of Publication: 1996
280 pages

Setting
This book is set in Israel, primarily in Jerusalem. It begins in late January (probably 1995) and ends in mid June of the same year. It is not based around any large factual events, so the exact year is not significant. It is mainly based on American Christians and Palestinians living in Jerusalem, not on Jews or Armenians.
Main Characters
Alexsana Rourke is an archeologist who likes exavating sites of biblical significance. She is in her twenties and has lived in Jerusalem for most of her life. She has joint American - Israeli citizenship and is a committed Christian. She now lives on her own in a small flat in the Christian quarter of Jerusalem. She is chosen by the government to lead a dig at Solomon's Stables. This is a region of the present day Haram El Sharif, which was in Jesus' time the Temple Mount. It is not easy to excavate in such a religously sensitive area. Alexsana is determined to go ahead with the dig, eventhough she faces many challenges, including threats against her life.
Samuel Rourke Jr. is Alexsana's brother. He is also an archeologist and they work together on projects. Samuel and Alex are very close and have a great friendship. He is a committed Christian. Samuel is one the people that Alex wants to help her excavate Solomon's Stables. Samuel agrees to help, but tries to delay the start of the dig until after the tensions die down. Samuel also has problems of his own that most be resolved.
Khalil al Aitam is the leader of the Palestinian Extremist Group - Hamas. He is a friend of Alexsana's. They went to school together and Khalil has repeatedly asked Alexsana to marry him. Khalil asks Alexsana to marry him so she could be protected as she digs at Solomon's Stables, otherwise Khalil cannot guarentee her safety.
Ridge McIntyre is the new middle east correspondent for CNN, who is interested in the current Archeological research occurring in the Middle East. He seeks out Alexsana as a source for some material for a CNN report on Archeological research and they become friends. Alex shows Ridge the real Jerusalem and challenges him to confront Jesus as his Saviour.
Lydia Nusseibah is a Palestinian Christian who is Alex's best friend. Lydia and Alexsana went to school together as children and have been friends ever since. Lydia's family are Palestinian's and do not approve of Lydia seeing a non-Palestinian, so Lydia is not able to see Samuel Rourke, with whom she is in love. Lydia provides Alexsana with support through the trials see faces in getting the dig started.
Critique
Chosen is a good book, with a great story line filled with action, twists and romance. In terms of the outcome of the book it is quite predictable, but the passage that the book takes is not predictable. Modern Day Israel is so unstable that no-one's life is free from danger and that is exhibited in this book. I do recommend this book and I hope that you will enjoy it as much as I did.






7/10
Return to the Book Review Index Page