Modern Day Parables

by L. J.
(Arkansas)

Modern Day Parables by Luke Arthur is a new book that was released in the past year. It is a lighthearted book that attempts to explain several Biblical themes in stories that everyone can understand. While it is not a well-known book, it is a pretty entertaining book in the Christian fiction genre. What exactly is the book about and who would enjoy it? Let's look at that in more detail.

The book follows the life of a young boy named Billy. His experiences show what many children of the 80's/90's went through on their way to where they are now. You'll find many pop culture references throughout that are sure to bring back some nice nostalgic feelings. The book is divided into 5 chapters in Billy's young life that teach him valuable lessons. The main characters are present throughout the book, but each chapter is a smaller story in the overall story.

The first chapter is probably the most entertaining story in the book. "The Pursuit of Mega Man" is the story of Billy going after the Nintendo classic Mega Man. For an 11-year-old boy, getting a $50 game can be a little difficult. Without any money, and a lack of support from his parents, he decides to take matters into his own hands. You'll pick up on the preteen sarcasm that Billy exudes through most of the stories. The most refreshing thing about this story is how others are seen through the eyes of a child. Sometimes you don't really think about some of the things that they do, but they are important nevertheless. The story ends with an explanation of faith that is illustrated nicely in the plot. It will really make you think about what you've been expecting and asking for.

The middle of the book is more of the same, with different settings and circumstances. Each chapter displays a lesson like the first, such as truth, gratitude, and respect. What is really enjoyable about this book is that the author doesn't take things too seriously. You're not going to be subjected to a contest to show off how many big words the author can use. You just sit down and start reading the story and before long, you're interested to see what they'll get into next. It's a very lighthearted look at our world and the things that we believe.

The things I disliked about the book was the length of some of the stories. It seemed to end prematurely in a couple of chapters and some of the characters were not as developed as they could have been. Overall, it is a pretty entertaining book that can teach a lesson as well. Pretty much any Christian would enjoy this book with an emphasis on young adults. It is a humorous book, so if you don't enjoy lighthearted fiction, then you might want to steer clear. Otherwise, you'll enjoy the stories as well as the main character. This isn't the kind of book that will redefine a generation, but it is a nice addition to it, nevertheless.