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| Hosted by Carol at Journey and Destination |
Carol at Journey and Destination is hosting a new challenge – focused on Christian literature! Though I’ve read Christian classics on-and-off through the years, I’ve been meaning to read more, and this seems like the perfect chance!
Here is my (overly ambitious) list:
1) A Book on Early Church History
Early Christian Doctrines by J. N. D. Kelly
My mom already has this book, so it’s an obvious choice!
2) A Book About a Prominent Christian Who Was Born Between 500 A.D & 1900
Joan of Arc: By Herself and Her Witnesses by Régine Pernoud
This is one of the better-rated biographies of Joan out there. Since childhood I’ve been fascinated by her story, but haven’t yet read anything as in-depth as this is supposed to be.
3) A Christian Allegory
The Pilgrim’s Progress (reread) by John Bunyan
4) A Book on Apologetics
Orthodoxy (reread) by G. K. Chesterton
5) A Philosophical Book by a Christian Author
Meditations and Other Metaphysical Writings by René Descartes
I hope this counts. I honestly know very little about Descartes, hence the desire to read him. Backup plan: Kierkegaard’s The Sickness unto Death.
6) A Missionary Biography or A Biography of a Prominent Christian
Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy by Eric Metaxas
7) A Seasonal Book
TBD, but something for Lent. I found two lists here and here that look interesting.
8) A Novel with a Christian Theme
The Keys of the Kingdom by A. J. Cronin
9) A Good Old Detective or Mystery Novel
The Innocence of Father Brown by G. K. Chesterton
10) A Substitute – choose a book by any of the authors below in place of one of the above categories:
Timothy Keller
A.W. Tozer
Patricia St. John
Jan Karon
Wendell Berry
Edith Schaeffer
Elizabeth Goudge
OR Choose a second book from a category you like
Allegory #2: The Screwtape Letters by C. S. Lewis
Classics Considered 
good luck on the Descartes… i read it when i was a freshman and it was tough, i thought then; maybe not so much now, but i wouldn't bet on it… Chesterton is almost always interesting except when he gets off on one of his negative kicks… the Father Brown series is terrific, imo: there are four collections of stories…
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It was fun to see your choices. I think I'm going to do this challenge too. I just have to do some research.I read and reviewed Descartes; what a mind bender! I'm still considering joining you with The Pilgrim's Progress and Bonhoeffer.For Lent can I recommend The Great Lent by Alexander Schmemann? It's supposed to be excellent.Good luck with this challenge!
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So good to have you along, Marian. I loved The Keys of the Kingdom. Thanks for the link to the Lent book ideas – some excellent choices there! I better get my act together & post a list of the books I'll be reading!
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Bonhoeffer is excellent! I'm doing this challenge, too. I'm reading PP for allegory, and I have a few others filled out, but I still need to make decisions about other categories.
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I am so looking forward to Father Brown! I haven't read a detective series since my Agatha Christie phase (over 10 years ago…yikes).
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I've pinned your review of Descartes so I will re-read it before starting the book. (Pretty sure I'm going to need help \”interpreting\” it.)Thanks for the Lenten rec – the Orthodox perspective does sound interesting!
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Thanks, Carol – I really like the variety of categories in this challenge!
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Can't wait to see what you choose! 🙂
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This looks like a great list. You will really like Metaxas' biography of Bonhoeffer. It's the best out there and one of the best biographies I've read.
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That's great to hear!! I love a good biography.
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