#pilgrim's progress

Snow had fallen, snow on snow

Munich, Germany: A fly fisherman stands in the river Isar during warm autumn weatherPhotograph: Christof Stache/AFP/Getty Images

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“If you could do it, I suppose, it would be a good idea to live your life in a straight line—starting, say, in the Dark Wood of Error, and proceeding by logical steps through Hell and Purgatory and into Heaven. Or you could take the King’s Highway past appropriately named dangers, toils, and snares, and finally cross the River of Death and enter the Celestial City. But that is not the way I have done it, so far.

I am a pilgrim, but my pilgrimage has been wandering and unmarked. Often what has looked like a straight line to me has been a circle or a doubling back. I have been in the Dark Wood of Error any number of times. I have known something of Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven, but not always in that order. The names of many snares and dangers have been made known to me, but I have seen them only in looking back.

Often I have not known where I was going until I was already there. I have had my share of desires and goals, but my life has come to me or I have gone to it mainly by way of mistakes and surprises. Often I have received better than I have deserved. Often my fairest hopes have rested on bad mistakes. I am an ignorant pilgrim, crossing a dark valley. And yet for a long time, looking back, I have been unable to shake off the feeling that I have been led—make of that what you will.”

Jayber Crow: A Novel (Port William) by Wendell Berry

A Dangerous Journey (Story of; The Pilgrim's Progress)

Genuinely had such a fun time making this. It's under 15 minutes, but is twice the length the project was supposed to be lol

And then I said to myself, Can I keep going?

Yes I can:

Most surprising (in a good way) book of this year?

The View from Saturday by E. L. Konigsberg surprised me with its excellence and masterful writing, as well as its humor, endearing characters, and interesting structure and storytelling.

Bandit’s Moon by Sid Fleischman captivated and fascinated me. I became extremely invested in the central outlaw character and his fate.

Most disappointing book/Book you wish you enjoyed more than you did?

Wind Daughter by Joanna Ruth Meyer was so good, glorious, and beautiful in some ways yet lacking in others. In parts of the book, I was moved or blown away, but at other times the plot and story needed work.

A book you struggled with but completed

Hopeful said, “Come walk with us that we may talk away the time in this solitary place.” Then he asked Ignorance, “How do things stand between God and your soul now?”

Ignorance replied, “I hope well, for I believe in God.” Christian replied, “So do devils and lost souls.” Ignorance said, “What I meant to say is that I have good intentions toward God.”