Sunday, November 11, 2012

PIlgrim's Progress - Book 25 of 52 in 52

Pilgrim's Progress by Bunyan is the classic allegorical tale of a man named Christian, who leaves his home and his family to set out on a journey to the Celestial City of the King.  Along the way, he finds himself bogged down by many troubles.  He must climb the Hill of Difficulty, battle the evil Apollyon, journey through the Valley of the Shadow of Death, and escape the Giant Despair.  With the strength of his King, he faces each of the trials as well as many others successfully and continues his journey to the King's city.  In the second part of the tale, Christian's wife, Christiana, sets out for the Celestial City with her four sons following in the path of her husband.  With the wisdom and strength of their guide Great Heart, they and those who join them along the path are able to make their way to their destination with far fewer troubles than Christian.

This classic is a must read for ages 13 and up with several available children's versions for the younger crowd available as well.  There are a few times particularly in the second half of the book that read more like a sermon than a story, but overall the story itself is very well and an excellent starting point for discussions on a wide range of topics.

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