February Book Review



I'm sure a lot of you have read this, but for those who haven't, it's an allegory about Much-Afraid who begins a journey to the high places, following the Good Shepherd. A tale of an ugly, disfigured, and terribly weak girl who goes through many trials to finally reach her destination of the high places, which represent joy and peace in Christ.

When she finally reaches the high places after many setbacks and hardships, she is transformed. She is renamed Grace and Glory and has a perfectly renewed body and soul.

I have to admit I didn't find this book overly intriguing and often wasn't super excited to pick it up, but every time I did I was so blessed. As Much-Afraid goes through her journey following the Shepherd, sometimes she sees him, sometimes she doesn't. Sometimes she feels peace and joy and sometimes she feels fear, bitterness, and resentment for how difficult the journey is. Each time she overcomes a trial, she builds an altar and saves a stone to take with her to remember what the Shepherd brought her through and the lesson she learned.

On her journey she constantly faces her "fearing relatives" who try to get her to turn back. Relatives like bitterness, spite, and pride are constantly feeding her with lies. As I would read about her journey through a barren desert or terrible storm, over and over again I realized I was Much-Afraid. And as the Shepherd would come to rescue her and once again prove His faithfulness, I would think of all the times I've been ready to give up and God continued to rescue me and prove Himself faithful. The Good Shepherd continually proves that once he chooses Much-Afraid to start the journey to the high places, He's committed and absolutely incapable of allowing her to self-destruct or turn back.

Yep, I'm Much-Afraid.

It's a great read to paint a vivid picture of God's faithfulness to his chosen ones.

Oh, and I feel I should admit something. For almost the first half of the book, I was under the impression that Much-Afraid was a goat. The book never says she's a goat, nor really implies that, but for some reason from the first time I read her description, I decided her and her whole village were goats. Turns out they aren't, they're human. Just an fyi.

6 comments:

T and M said...

this is on my "to-read" list. i'm glad to know that you liked it, and also that Much Afraid is not a goat ( :

Sara Huber said...

I think it's the whole "hinds feet" thing that makes you picture a goat..that made me laugh.
We have been listening to "Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe" in the car and it has reminded me how amazing authors are who can write a truly good allegory.

leah said...

i loved this book!! your sis-in-law laura gave it to me as a gift i loved the simple but oh-so-profound truth it portrayed.

reminds me of a great rvl quote in regards to that verse: "God don't give me an easy path--just the right feet"

love you!

Christen Leigh said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Christen Leigh said...

I was just thinking earlier this week about how much I LOVE allegories. Sara, I too have been re-listening to the Chronicles of Narnia lately. So good!

You've inspired me to read this book, Em. You should be a professional book reviewer. :)

Tami said...

Thanks for the heads-up on the whole "goat" thing! I started reading this book 'cause my b-in-law gave it to me years ago. I started reading it and stopped 'cause I thought, "I don't really feel like reading about a goat who sings". I'll have to give it another try...you've got me intrigued!