mass market paperback, 192 pages
English language
Published Jan. 17, 1941 by Moody Publishers.
Bunyan's allegory uses the everyday world of common experience as a metaphor for the spiritual journey of the soul toward God. The hero, Christian, encounters many obstacles in his quest: the Valley of the Shadow of Death, Vanity Fair, Doubting Castle, the Wicket Gate, as well as those who tempt him from his path (e.g., Talkative, Mr. Worldly Wiseman, the Giant Despair). But in the end he reaches Beulah Land, where he awaits the crossing of the river of death and his entry into the heavenly city. "Pilgrim's Progress" was enormously influential not only as a best-selling inspirational tract in the late 17th century, but as an ancestor of the 18th-century English novel, and many of its themes and ideas have entered permanently into Western culture.
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No Other Choice by T.L. Payne is the second book in the Fall of Houston five book series. I have a hard time reviewing this type of series by each book, so I'm talking about them all as a unit. This series could have benefited from some heavy editing. I think cutting it down to two (or possibly three) books would've been an improvement. A lot of the action in this story gets repetitive. People get into trouble, then fight their way out again and again. I got tired of the main character constantly saying all he wanted to do was protect his boy. I also thought the politics of the situation were a bit simplistic. Communist countries don't cooperate with each other just because they're communist. Unless I was a true blue fan of this genre, I'd skip it.
No Man's Land by T.L. Payne is the last book in the Fall of Houston five book series. I have a hard time reviewing this type of series by each book, so I'm talking about them all as a unit. This series could have benefited from some heavy editing. I think cutting it down to two (or possibly three) books would've been an improvement. A lot of the action in this story gets repetitive. People get into trouble, then fight their way out again and again. I got tired of the main character constantly saying all he wanted to do was protect his boy. I also thought the politics of the situation were a bit simplistic. Communist countries don't cooperate with each other just because they're communist. Unless I was a true blue fan of this genre, I'd skip it.
Supposedly was it with the cake but seriously if I will to the will to be looking at "the book my sons with this type of payment of the best by considering mildly amusing but decided not to but is the next one is it was
This is the best book I have read in a long time. I found the beginning intriguing, but it really began to resonate and leave an impression on me for the middle and (most of) the end.
The story has an overwhelmingly positive and important message, although it is delivered in a somewhat dark and pessimistic way. Delivering it any other way would probably be overpowering, or sickening.
I'll be recommending this book to everyone I know.
I read this short story in one sitting. I was reminded of The Gunslinger by Stephen King, which is probably my favourite book ever.
I wish this story was longer, or there were more stories set in this world.
Fantastic collection of stories
This is a fantastic collection of short stories from a set of incredibly talented authors. They manage to build incredibly vivid and interesting worlds in such a short time and draw you in to tell their stories. Not a bad one in the bunch.
I came upon "The Pilgrim's Progress" via the Vaughn Williams opera and was intrigued by the idea of an allegorical journey of a pilgrim towards the heavenly city. Bunyan was a dissenter (an individual who dissented from the official Anglican Church) in 17th century England and it is clear that the short text was written in pious passion. His journey is instantly recognizable to most people of faith or religious scholars though it retains is Christian (specifically evangelical Christian) character. In my opinion, the first part is stronger than the second, with such wonderful places as the Slough of Despond and Vanity Fair.
Don't read this text for well-drawn characters - it is a text of ideas. It is enjoyable on an abstract level but there were numerous times when I simply wanted Bunyan to move the pilgrim faster towards the Heavenly City. There were times when even I, a …
I came upon "The Pilgrim's Progress" via the Vaughn Williams opera and was intrigued by the idea of an allegorical journey of a pilgrim towards the heavenly city. Bunyan was a dissenter (an individual who dissented from the official Anglican Church) in 17th century England and it is clear that the short text was written in pious passion. His journey is instantly recognizable to most people of faith or religious scholars though it retains is Christian (specifically evangelical Christian) character. In my opinion, the first part is stronger than the second, with such wonderful places as the Slough of Despond and Vanity Fair.
Don't read this text for well-drawn characters - it is a text of ideas. It is enjoyable on an abstract level but there were numerous times when I simply wanted Bunyan to move the pilgrim faster towards the Heavenly City. There were times when even I, a religious studies scholar with two degrees in religion, found myself slightly lost in the minutia of the theological debates.
In spite of these comments, given the influence of "The Pilgrim's Progress" on English literature, I would recommend reading it once.
