Jacob's Way

by Gilbert Morris

'The army makes a man hard sometimes. I remember a young girl no more than ten who gave me a glass of buttermilk just outside of Chancellorsville. I still remember that. I guess that's all my life is. Some pictures fading out behind me, and there's not much before me.' Reisa listened as he spoke. She knew that he was a man who longed for goodness, and longed for friends, and perhaps even a wife and family. Finally she said, 'I hope you find your way, Ben. God is real, and love is real.' Fleeing a bloody pogrom that threatens their tiny Russian village, Reisa Dimitri and her grandfather, Jacob, sail the ocean to a new life in America. They are swiftly embraced by New York's Jewish community. But God has other plans that will call them far from the familiar warmth and ways of their culture. Accompanied by their huge, gentle friend, Dov, Reisa and Jacob set out to make their living as traveling merchants in the post-Civil-War South. There, as new and unexpected friendships unfold, the aged Jacob searches for answers concerning the nature of the Messiah he has spent a lifetime looking and longing for. And there, the beautiful Reisa finds herself strangely drawn to Ben Driver--a man with a checkered past, a painful present, and a deadly enemy who will stop at nothing to destroy him. Fast-paced and tender by turn, Jacob's Way is a heartwarming novel about human love, divine faithfulness, and the restoration of things that had seemed broken beyond repair.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Christian Fiction, Historical, Christian, Inspirational, Faith

411 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

also published under the name Gilbert L. Morris

Gilbert Morris was one of today's best-known Christian novelists. He lived in Gulf Shores, Alabama, with his wife, Johnnie. He is the father to Lynn Morris and Alan Morris

Series:
* Adventures of Kerrigan Kids
* American Century
* Appomattox Saga
* Barney Buck
* Bonnets and Bugles
* Cheney Duvall, M.D. (with Lynn Morris)
* Cheney and Shiloh: The Inheritance (with Lynn Morris)
* Chronicles of the Golden Frontier
* The Creole (with Lynn Morris)
* Danielle Ross Mystery
* Daystar Voyages
* Dixie Morris Animal Adventures
* Far Fields (with Robert Funderburk)
* House of Winslow
* Jacques and Cleo: Cat Detectives
* Katy Steele Adventures (with Alan Morris)
* Lady Trent Mystery
* Liberty Bell
* Lions of Judah
* Lone Star Legacy
* Omega (with Lynn Morris and Alan Morris)
* The Price of Liberty (with Robert Funderburk)
* Reno Western Saga
* Seven Sleepers
* Seven Sleepers: The Lost Chronicles
* Singing River
* Spirit of Appalachia (with Aaron McCarver)
* Too Smart Jones
*

Reviews

[Jerry (Rebel With a Massive Media Library) · Rating 4 out of 5]

An exciting, sweet, and inspiring Christian historical novel.

[Ann · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was intrigued with this book that bore a sticker that said, "we guarantee you'll love this book......".The story basically is about a Jewish grandfather and grand daughter forced to leave Russia, arriving in America (New York), eventually travelling to the post-Civil War South. The grandfather, although not a rabbi, is well versed with the Bible and the old testament, written in Hebrew. The pair are well received wherever they go, even though they are non Christians and their new friends are eager to discuss their beliefs and passages from
the old and new testament. Now this is a Christian book and the plot contains a love story. I was hoping that with all the good-will contained in the story that this particular Christian author was going to show how we can all live in harmony with respect to various religious beliefs.

So here is why I gave this book one star.

Both characters change from being devout Jews to being Christians. The book underscores the idea that you can be happy but until you accept Jesus, you will have no joy. Do we really believe that our "higher power" regardless of name excludes people on the basis of differences?. I cannot agree, nor do I think good people, living in goodness, the best way they know or can, should be excluded from the joy and love of our higher power.

[Grace Woodard · Rating 2 out of 5]

I tried. I really did. I tried.

I made it a little over a quarter of a way through this book and couldn’t take any more of it. Despite the timeline moving fairly fast- introduction > pogrom > emigration > sailing > arrival in New York, all within the first 100 pages, the plot itself moves excruciatingly slow.

I think I gave up about the time Reisa and her grandfather became door-to-door sales people. The writing is so simple it reads more like a children’s book than an adult historical fiction book, albeit a Christian historical fiction book. It may be a shock, but Christian adults have a higher reading and comprehension level than a lot of Christian writers think.

By far the worst fragment of the quarter I forced myself through was the discovery and description of the cafe on page 82:

“....they looked up at the sign which was in Yiddish, Reisa said with delight, ‘Good. They speak Yiddish.’”

OF COURSE THEY SPEAK YIDDISH.

A couple lines later, Morris tells us a “fat man with a smiling face” greeted them in... guess what: Yiddish! Obviously the reader should be able to make the connection that a cafe in 1800s emigrant-filled New York City with a Yiddish sign would have people who speak Yiddish, and then speak in Yiddish when obviously the people who enter appear to be Jewish. Come on.

Other than that, my main issue was reading so far into the book and not feeling compelled to read further. There was nothing to draw me into the story. Okay, so Reisa and her grandfather emigrate to the US to escape persecution in Russia and meet a few friends along the way. After a while, that gets boring. By page 100, the story needs some action.

Yeah, don’t bother. Sorry.

[Mary Kleefeld Frohrip · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book

Jacob’s Way follows two Jews, Reise and her grandfather Jacob Demetri. They flee Russia and travel to America. I always enjoy reading stories of those who immigrate to the United States. Gilbert Morris is a master story teller. This story has adventure, danger and love. I recommend this book.

[Tiffany Manning · Rating 1 out of 5]

I found this book to be rather stodgy and slow-moving albeit a touching love story.
If you enjoy Christian fiction, especially that set in post-civil war America, you will enjoy this well written novel.

[BCCMama · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful, wholesome, heartfelt book!

[Linea Winter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

[Laura Sira · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading this story ❤️

[Mary Burkholder · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was pretty disappointed in this. It turned into a thinly disguised romance.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

While this is not the typical fast action type book that is often popular, nor is it the passionate love story type, I found this to be an intriguing book and could not put it down. The story is not fast paced, but I found myself more and more interested in the developing lives of the main characters and their supporting cast. It felt very true to life and Gilbert Morris did a good job of opening up to his readers what it would be like to be the characters; how they felt, what they thought, the things that troubled them were all well illustrated. A beautiful adventure love story on so many levels and in so many ways, not just between a few of the characters, but also between them and God as they learned, or relearned, what it is like to be the recipient of perfect love. It is definitely a book I would recommend!

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

You might read the prologue and wonder if the book centers around animals and birds, but I assure you, it is not. A tale of a granddaughter and her Jewish Grandfather who barely escape from "Cossacks"...she whispered hoarsely, "It's a pogrom!"

Their journey across the ocean, sick and scared, takes them to a new country where they learn many new things and meet all kind of people, mostly gracious. But they never expected to change in the ways they do...but it is for the best.

Gilbert Morris is a wonderful writer, and if you haven't read his work, you really should!

[Leslie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a slow starter; but about half way through it started to get interesting to me. Even though Dov and Hilda were minor characters; I thought they fit each other perfectly. This book had me thinking about the characters days after I finished the book. I liked how Jacob and Sam would disect the Old Testament and show how prophesy came true in the New Testament. I also found interesting how they compared the Hebrew version to the English version.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This ended up being a very charming novel. Time and setting wise I am familiar with this period, but never from this perspective, from this ethnicity's point of view. And oh how I love to learn from a new view point! To walk through something you may never experience in your own lifetime, it is such a gift.

[Deb · Rating 2 out of 5]

Started out interesting, a story of Jews forced to leave Russia. When it turned into lots of bible verses and being born again, I read more of the back cover: "Best-known Christian novelist, specializing in historical fiction." That's fine, but it's as though the author had a goal and didn't know how to work his messages in smoothly. Warm characters, with predictable story outcome.

[Patti Victorson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the friendships, the life struggles, the love stories, the spiritual journey of the characters. Some of the theology of people being resurrected after death wasn't quite right......but all in all it was had to put this book down until I finished it.

[Bear · Rating 1 out of 5]

Awful.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

There was more feelings-based romance than I expected in this (points off from me), but it had some interesting things about Jews and the Bible.

[Sylvanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is one of my cherished friends , I would recommend it to anyone

[Rebecca Rash · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little slow, but a sweet novel.

[Sondra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good read.

[Lmstclair3 · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful book, compelling story!

[Patricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simply written and predictable. Interesting story of Russian Jews who are introduced to the Gospel.

[Kerry Quinlisk]

Didn't finish it.