Mar 28 2006
Starting A New Book: Robinson Crusoe
Tonight, as hopefully continues to be our family custom, I read to my children before putting them to bed.
Tonight we started a new book.
Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe is a book we have wanted to start for some time. It is a bit archaic in its language, but I am taking the time to explain what Defoe’s language means as we read. This is the first time I have read the book also, and I think I will enjoy it.
New to me as we read the first chapter is Crusoe’s “monolog” on his parents wishes that he not go to sea and his own problems there stemming from his not bending to their counsel. A self-awareness that I wish I had at times–but spending 28 years shipwrecked tends to make one think.
As we read we will be contrasting the Christian suffering of Crusoe in Defoe’s story with the story of Cast Away which was stripped of any reference to the supernatural providence of God. I’m sure I’ll have more to write about our reading in this classic as time goes on.
We finished that book, as a family, not too long ago. It’s one of our favorites. A great presentation of the Gospel!