Book Review: A Story of Easter and All of Us by Roma Downey and Mark Burnett
Disclaimer: I received this book as a Goodreads giveaway, on the premise that I would review it.
It is unlikely that a reader of this blog will be completely unfamiliar with the plot of this book. The Easter narrative of Jesus of Nazareth, his death and resurrection, has been told again and again in many forms. Especially during the Lenten season and the week of Easter itself, it’s almost inescapable.
What makes this book unique is that all of the illustrations are taken from the recent television miniseries The Bible. As such, it’s very attractive to look at, both the pictures and the design of the book. I hadn’t paid too much attention to the names of the authors, or watched the series, so when I noticed that Mother Mary looked very familiar, it was a surprise.
The text is in simple language, and could be read by middle schoolers on up; however, since this is a story that involves torture and painful execution, parents may want to read this book with their younger children, rather than have them read alone.
If you’re looking for strict scriptural accuracy, this is not the book for you. Some events have been moved about in the timeline, and dialogue has been invented for scenes that are not found in the Gospels, but logically would have occurred. It does stay true to the spirit of the Bible, and the hope of salvation.
This book would make a good gift for someone who enjoyed The Bible miniseries, or the edited Son of God movie.
May your Eastertide be blessed, whether you believe or no.
