Let's look at some of the books I have read multiple times at as adult (not counting Dr. Seuss, who should get more credit here than he is going to receive!). I have read the 3 books in The Lord of the Rings trilogy at least 4 times since college. I have read Brennan Manning's The Ragamuffin Gospel and Mike Yaconelli's Dangerous Wonder several times each. I have read a dozen books in Lee Child's Jack Reacher series and could easily choose Jack to be my island buddy. But after giving is some serious thought, I think my #2 choice for the One Book would be The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas. I am certain I have read it 6 or 7 times in my life.
Why do I love the Musketeers so much? It is a story of great loyalty and bravery in the face of long odds. There is plenty of excitement and adventure, and a good dash of romance. There is a struggle with theology, particularly through the character of Athos, who has a long history with the Church. But the primary draw to this classic novel for me is friendship. Athos, Porthos and Aramis share a bond like few others in literature, and as this story progresses they add a young D'Artagnan to the mix. Throughout the tale you see the relationships they build, the love they have for one another, and you hear them shout those famous words- "All for one and one for all!" It is inspiring, and it always causes me to remember how blessed I am to have so many friends in this world who have my back no matter the circumstance.
The other reason I return to this book so often is that every few years they make another movie version, and I always give them a try. A number of them over the years have been very good (For me, the best was the 1973/74 films The Three Musketeers & The Four Musketeers in which they split the book in half to be more able to tell the entire story. Not prefect, but very good!) and quite enjoyable- but none of the will ever equal the depth and details of the book. So I return to the source to get my "Real Musketeer" fix nearly every time, and I am always glad I did.
So my task for today is complete, and I'll even throw in a bonus. The Bible wins, The Three Musketeers are second. The Lord of the Rings are third. So tell me...what's your go-to book?
Because of Jesus,
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