HOME SCHOOL BOOK REVIEW
Book: The Pilgrim’s Progress for the 21st Century: A Modern Adaptation of the John Bunyan Classic
Author: David Andrew Harakal
Cover Illustrator: Aasman Iqbal
Publisher: Ignite Press, 2022
ISBN-13: 979-8986340821 Hardcover
ISBN-10: 8986340821 Hardcover
ISBN-13: 979-8986340807 Paperback
ISBN-10: 8986340807 Paperback
Website(s): http://www.DHarakalAuthor.org (author), http://www.IgnitePress.us (publisher)
Language level: 2
(1=nothing objectionable; 2=common euphemisms and/or childish slang terms; 3=some cursing and/or profanity; 4=a lot of cursing and/or profanity; 5=obscenity and/or vulgarity)
Recommended reading level: Ages 13 and up
Rating: ***** 5 stars
(5 stars=EXCELLENT; 4 stars=GOOD; 3 stars=FAIR; 2 stars=POOR; 1 star=VERY POOR; no stars=NOT RECOMMENDED)
Category: Allegory
Reviewed by Wayne S. Walker
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Harakal, David Andrew. The Pilgrim’s Progress for the 21st Century: A Modern Adaptation of the John Bunyan Classic (Published in 2022 by Ignite Press, 5070 N. Sixth St., #189, Fresno, CA 93710). Christian Pilgrim lives with his wife Christiana, daughter Joyful, and sons Self-Disciplined and Looks-Good, in Pleasantown, but in reading the Bible becomes convinced that the town will be destroyed like Sodom and Gomorrah. So they head off in their high-end SUV which they call “the Chariot” to find the Celestial City. They meet an elderly man named Good-Guide who tells them to go to the Narrow Gate. Along the way they come across several other individuals, some of whom help while many try to hinder them. They also pick up some friends who follow them. Christian makes some mistakes at times but is always willing to receive correction. Will the whole company make it to their goal? Or will there be those who fall by the wayside? And is there really a “Celestial City” to begin with?
This book is a modern adaptation of John Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s Progress. Christian and the others have to confront the same sins that plagued Bunyan’s characters, but they stay in Bed and Breakfasts and inns, eat in diners and cafes, and deal with expressions of sin that would have been unimaginable in Bunyan’s time. I especially appreciate the way that author David Harakal portrayed what happened in a place called “Vanity.” It mirrors perfectly what is going on in our culture today. A few common euphemisms (e.g., gosh) are found. There is some sadness, such as where the Pilgrim family return to where they are staying and find a note from Looks-Good saying that he is leaving and not going with them any further. This is followed by the statement, “They never see him again.” Some very sincere Bible-believing Christ followers may not agree with some of the Calvinistic implications underlying Bunyan’s story, but this wonderfully-written modern-day version of a classic will resonate with modern readers as they relate to Christian and his family in their struggle to be the men and women that God intends them to be.
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