"Most people would find its thousand pages, which can't be skipped but have to be taken steadily, too much for them, so I'm not sure whether to recommend it to you. For me it's one of the finest books I know."
This, Dietrich Bonoeffer writes of Adalbert Stifter's medieval epic Witko. I quote it as part of my review of Eric Metaxas' book 'Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy' because i think it is very fitting of this book.
I'm not sure how to describe the book; well written, gripping, along with very thought provoking quotes etc that i found very challenging to the core of my 'Christian' living. Through it i found a fresh stir towards study and discipleship, and to be discipling and teaching others.
Moral dilemmas were raised in my mind, such as the question: "Can Christians ever get involved in overthrowing a government?" This has no easy answer.
And although i wouldn't consider myself oblivious about the era, i come away from this book having learned so much more about this period of history.
Regardless of what the book has meant to my own walk with God, it is undoubtedly one that i'd recommend, although as with the quote at the start, i realize that for many it's size (592 pages) would be off putting.
But it genuinely grips the attention and the reader will want to return to it time and again.
When i closed the final page, i said to my wife "perhaps i'll stop feeling like i'm involved in plotting against Hitler now" as this is very much how i felt as i came to the last few chapters.
However i've been praying that many of the other issues, particularly of Christian living will not so easily depart from me, and that there will be long lasting consequences as a result of them.
