Book Review: Jungle Sunrise by Jonathan Williams

It seems that many of the books I have read this year are about missionaries and their experiences while they are spreading the Gospel to other countries. I have discovered new authors such as Kathi Macias and David Gregory, and I have thought more about what it looks like to seriously care about others who do not know Jesus and how we should be willing to sacrifice our time and possible even our lives in order to help them come to salvation.

One of the authors I have read for the first time is Jonathan Williams, author of Jungle Sunrise. This is his first book, and I think he did a great job.

In Jungle Sunrise, Mr. Williams has captured the feel of jungle life. Of course, that's no surprise, since he himself lived in the Amazon jungle for two years as a member of the Xtreme Team, missionaries who go into remote areas and work with native people to tell people about God. The reader feels like he/she is there in the jungle and river as the characters endure intense opression and severe treatment from the jungle natives. The reader is drawn into an emotional roller coaster as the characters experience joys as well as heartaches in an attempt to show the love of God to the Peruvian people.

I also like the diversity of the characters that are in this novel. There are the missionaries, as well as as an anthropologist, a magazine photographer, a linguist, and a writer who is struggling with writer's block, a lost job, and depression, leading to an attempted suicide. All of these come together to face extreme physical, emotional and spiritual challenges that culminate in some amazing insights and circumstances. The ending is quite satisfying and full of hope.

I think that any Christian would enjoy this book. And if you are not a believer, but want to read something that will inspire you and help you see a meaning to life in the midst of great trials, this book is one you will want to read.

I give Jungle Sunrise 4.5 out of 5 stars.





(I received a copy of Jungle Sunrise from Pump Up Your Book! Blog Tours. I received no monetary compensation for reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in the review are entirely my own.)