In a very timely book that reads like the headline news, Michael Nathanson has crafted a story that will keep the reader riveted until the last page. Not just a novel, Cries of the Eagle portrays a deep wisdom of the times we are going through, and also offers a bright hope for the future. Nathanson must have researched for years to write such an inside, poignantly intimate look at all sides of the Islamic extremist terrorism threat that we face in the world today.
The story opens with a jihad's bombing of a Dallas, Texas high school. The suicide bomber is a young man we meet in the opening pages, a young man we find out later lived in a home with loving parents who only wanted the best for him. Nathanson then takes us deep into the lives of this terrorist's parents, and the horror of a father as he tries to right the wrongs of what his son - and ultimately he himself - caused.
What makes Nathanson's book stand out from the many others about terrorism, is his ability to dig into the depths of his characters and give us empathy in characters we might not otherwise think to empathize with, such as the parents of the suicide bomber. I doubt there are any other books out there that so deeply touch the reader on this topic, and pull you into the pain and desperation of their characters as this one does. The tale of the Jihadist's father is especially moving and his character arc is an incredible journey of a heart rent and the desperate love of a parent who wishes he could turn back time.
We quickly see that those killed in the bombing aren't the only victims in the book. A young peace-loving Muslim man has lost his best friend, and is horrified at the violence of his brother. The two parents are grieving the loss of a son. An evangelical Christian FBI agent is losing sleep over the bombings and other recent terrorist activities. Instead of drilling on the grisly after-effects of the bomb's devastation, Nathanson takes us into the minds of those who wish to bring justice to the task at hand, as well as the dark minds of those who wish to wreck more havoc.
To help us understand the background of terrorism in today's world, Nathanson brings in a more light-hearted character: a bookish, Jewish university professor who teaches the characters (and us) the basics of the three religions of Jewish, Christianity and Muslim and their parallels. We also learn the reasons behind jihad and why Jihadists are so intent on ridding the world of the "Great Satan" and its infidels.
Nathanson weaves his own faith all through the story, shedding a light of hope along the way. While he writes a deft story of Jihadism and the power and money they have, through his own evangelical faith he shows us that love can prevail, and although we are still in the fight, there is indeed light at the end of the tunnel. The story of faith and the love of God add a deeper, spiritual element to this book that allows us to take a further look into our own hearts, without being preachy.
Nathanson's father, E.M. Nathanson, was the writer of the highly acclaimed book The Dirty Dozen, also made into a film. It appears with Cries of the Eagle, that Michael has inherited his father's story-telling genes, and I can see the book lasting for generations with its timely message of hope. Terrorism will always be with us in one form or another, but it never hurts for us to remember that there are more victims other than those directly killed by the bomb, or the shooting. Somewhere down the line, there are mothers who are hurting, sons and daughters who are wooed into a life of hate, and law enforcement officers who give up time with their own families and put their lives on the line to bring in the bad guy.
This is a book that should be read by everyone living in America. It bravely and vulnerably speaks truths that should be heard by all, no matter their race, religion, or political background. It is a work well done and I take my hat off to Michael Nathanson.