Elizabeth: A Holy Land Pilgrimage

by Cheryl Dickow

Join Elizabeth's mid-life flight to the Holy Land as she questions her marriage and her life. See how God reaches her through people and events. Experience Elizabeth's walk on the Via Dolorosa, the way of the cross, and her kayak trip down the Jordan River. Sit with her at an outdoor cafe and marvel at the sights and sounds of Jerusalem. Listen as Elizabeth learns the names of God and hears about the matriarchs of the Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, and Leah. Discover, with Elizabeth, a great deal about Jewish traditions and festivals, and the true nature of agape love on the pilgrimage of a lifetime.

244 pages, Paperback

First published January 15, 2007

Reviews

[Jonathan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Cheryl Dickow and the wonderful people at Bezalel Books for sending me this, Mary: A Study of Papal Encyclicals on Mary, Where Do Deacons Come From?, and Joseph's Hands via Goodreads First Reads giveaway!

Since I am not the targeted demographic for this book, being a teen male, my review might be biased. Elizabeth is hard to rate. At times, I was like "Ugh, stop."


but then there were times where I was all "Yay!"

Pros:
Strengthened my belief. Made me see the role that this benevolent God plays in our life. Gives hope. Very, very inspirational. The death in Chapter 12 dropped my jaw. Taught me to treat my family in a better way.

Cons:
Typos, although this is relatively minor. Beth got whiny sometimes.
Sometimes I wanted it to end and I was about to yell "Who cares?"

But then again, I'm a teen male. The themes are mature even though the book isn't inappropriate at all.

My favorite quotes from this extremely quotable book:

"Just as quickly as Beth's curiosity about their nationality invaded her thoughts, it left. And in its wake was the understanding that love transcended all labels that the world might wish to impose on one another." pg. 24

"Menopause was the gift that kept on giving." pg. 44

This next quote is actually a quote from 1 Corinthians mentioned in the novel that I liked; "The 'middle wall of partition' has been broken down and now we worship the god of Israel together" pg. 124 If only it were true. If only.

"If a feeling, a moment in time, could be a magical elixir, then Beth and Miriam and Rachel and Sipporah had their fair share that afternoon." pgs. 128-129

"She was stuck on Luke's comment that he had dreams. She had never thought of that and was ashamed of herself. everyone had dreams. She remembered her grandmother sharing her dreams about traveling and dancing and doing different things. Although those things never came true for her grandmother, she knew that her grandmother had no regrets. One dream, one hope, became replaced by another experience, another reality.<"/i> pg. 160

[Colin Lee Lounsberry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked it so much. I read it twice a couple of years a part.

[Laura Pearl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cheryl Dickow's "Elizabeth, a Holy Land Pilgrimage" is a sweet, entertaining, and inspiring alternative to all those trashy R-rated romance novels targeted at women. Dickow is a well-known Catholic non-fiction writer, and this is her first novel. It is a refreshing book because it deals with a familiar topic--a woman hits middle age and wonders if her life has meaning anymore, wonders if her marriage has gotten so stale that she should just give up on it--but handles it in a whole different way than most contemporary writers would like to convince you is the norm. The common theme in many works of modern fiction is that when a spouse is unhappy at home and going through a mid-life crisis, the Rx is to have an extra-marital affair. Dickow's likable Catholic heroine, Elizabeth (also known as Beth or Liz), doesn't start seeing another man to fill the void in her life; she takes a trip to Israel, which has been her lifelong dream.

While in the Holy Land, Elizabeth experiences the joy of meeting the Goldfarbs (Meir and Ayala, and their grown children Miriam and David) and being welcomed by them as if she's one of their own. She forms strong bonds with the women, who provide much inspiration as she searches for the right path to take on her journey to renew her weakening faith. When tragedy strikes the Goldfarb family, Elizabeth is shaken to the core; but instead of rushing back to the States, she stays to help them in their time of need.

During the two weeks Elizabeth is away from home on her Holy Land pilgrimage, she and her husband have time to think, and both undergo some life-altering changes. As this book deftly illustrates, it's so true that at times, marriages can hit low points and it's easy to get discouraged and consider giving up. But Elizabeth's husband Luke remembers the way St. Paul encouraged the Hebrews on this subject: "Marriage, the institution and the daily reality of it, was demanding. It could take a toll, especially with children and jobs and dreams that did not materialize...But St. Paul wanted them to be re-energized about their calling and that was what Luke wanted of Liz; to be re-energized about their marital vows." Elizabeth is touched by her husband's analogy of St. Paul's letter to the Hebrews, and she begins to see that what each of us does in the small universe to which he belongs greatly impacts the larger universe. Her life, Elizabeth begins to realize, is far from meaningless.

I won't spoil the ending, in case you decide to read this book (which I urge you to do!); but I will say that in this day and age, it's heartening to read a novel where marriage, family, and faith are given so much value. "Elizabeth, A Holy Land Pilgrimage" is a quick and satisfying read, and it will inspire you to learn more about your faith. It is "chick lit" with an inspirational message--and without all the blush-inducing R-rated scenes.

(And now there's a sequel to "Elizabeth": "Miriam, Repentance and Redemption in Rome"!)

[Nancy Belanger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good, Catholic fiction of the modern era is not that easy to come by, so when I picked up Cheryl Dickow's Elizabeth: A Holy Land Pilgrimage, I was so excited to finally find a tale I could relate to. Elizabeth is fast approaching middle age like me (perhaps I'm already there!), and takes a solo trip away from her husband and teenaged kids. Her two-week spiritual respite is in Israel, where Elizabeth discovers more about the Jewish roots of Catholicism. Readers will be drawn in to the story of the friends she meets, the sights and sounds of Jerusalem, and her emotional walk down the Via Dolorosa. I've never been to Israel but I felt like I was there with her, sipping tea, praying, and reflecting calmly and peacefully about what God means to each of us. I felt like I was on a religious retreat. Elizabeth returns to her family with a renewed sense of purpose as a woman, a wife, and a mom. For weary moms everywhere, I highly recommend a retreat with Elizabeth!

[Valerie Giggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book! After buying copies for myself and my mother, I then also gave them to all my sisters and sisters-in-law. This book really spoke to me as a wife and mother. The title character struggles with her identity, her marriage, and her motherhood. Her pilgrimage to the Holy Land leads her and the reader to introspection. Each chapter begins with a thought-provoking citation from the Book of Psalms.
At the same time, the book is simply an enjoyable read. I felt as though I accompanied Elizabeth and her friends on their sight-seeing. Plus, it made me want to taste Middle-Eastern food! How great that there are some recipes in the appendix!
I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading short novels, Christian fiction, travel books, or realistic women's fiction.
The sequel, "Miriam", is amazing, too.

[Kathleen Yohanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed "Elizabeth, A Holy Land Pilgrimage" by Cheryl Dickow very much. As a volunteer teacher of religion in my church it is not often that I find acceptable books about Christians and their root in the Holy Land. I will pass this book to my sister who also teaches religion in a different state.

Thank you to Goodreads and Cheryl Dickow. I received this book for free through the Goodreads First Read Program.

[Moop · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good and short book about a woman, Elizabeth, having a difficult time in her marriage takes a trip to the Holy Land to refresh and renew herself. Very interesting reading about the different things in the Holy Land. Kind of felt like I was there. Good book and Elizabeth's Spirits were renewed on her trip!

[Jill M Caldwell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good overview of some Jewish customs and some aspects of Messianic Christianity.

The book is wordy in parts and a little dramatic in other parts. I thought the marriage issue was never developed, and maybe not necessary. It's a quick and light read if you are planning a trip to Israel.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not put this book down and was sad to see it come to an end. This author is also a non-fiction writer but I think she found her nitch in fiction. I read this book twice and the second time around was even more in love with the story and characters.

[Beveanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

this book has renewed my dream of seeing the holy land before I die. but if I don't make it at least I feel like I got to visit for a moment through authoresss Cheryl dickows imagination of Elizabeth's eyes.

[Alison]

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