Athaleyah
Puritan Board Sophomore
Normally I read nonfiction theological books with some regular fantasy novels mixed in. But recently I've been having trouble focusing on serious things and decided to try something relatively new to me: Christian fiction. It is a genre that I have had little experience with except for the Left Behind series, which I read at the time thinking that it just might happen soon. And a couple of Frank Peretti novels. None of which did I pick out myself, someone else gave them to me as "must reads."
Moderators: If this should be under book reviews, please move it. But I am wanting to generally discuss the genre of Christian fiction itself after giving a few examples.
I have read four series recently, courtesy of my church library. One series I read are historical fiction books (The Wakefield Dynasty by Morris) where everyone that matters in the story comes to faith in Christ (in fact, if I remember correctly, this seems to be the case in every single Christian fiction book I have read). Quite uncanny how through hundreds of years of English history, that every single male head of household and his wife in this fictional family come to faith in Christ. Not one disappointment. And if by chance the male head of household marries a bad non-Christian woman by being misled about her goodness... then she dies so he can marry the good Christian woman that she should have been paying attention to the in first place. I kept reading these until I finished the series, had some interesting interactions with prominent protestants in English history like Tyndale, Cromwell, and Bunyan and the history around the family was interesting. But the main story arc was really unbelievable.
One series was mystery (Cape Refuge Series by Blackstock), and actually had a pretty good story to it. And the main characters were Christian to start with, so only 1 significant person came to faith in the entire 4 book series. It was certainly the most believable.
The other series was a gooshy Beverly LaHaye thing that played with your emotions. I spent a quite a bit of time wanting to strangle some of the women for causing so much trouble in their own lives. I think it tried to be real, but many of the characters just didn't work for me. Some too silly, some too perfect. And again, all the significant characters in the story came to faith.
Oh just remembered one more, it was a Beverly Lewis series (Daugher's of Abram) where I learned that there are secretly tons of Amish who have broken away from the legalism inherent in the faith and truly embraced Christ. Some became Mennonite to do this, other stayed Amish. But again, all significant characters came to saving faith in Christ.
This experience pretty much turned me off Christian fiction. But I know there are good things out there. One of my friends keeps meaning to lend me a series she really liked, and I will try that. I think what I would be looking for if I was going to be reading Christian fiction would be a something along the lines of a really great story with Christians in it. Basically I'd want something good that just happened to be Christian, not something where being Christian and watching an avalanche of people come to faith was the point of it.
From what I encountered so far, it seems like somewhat mediocre Christian books get published simply because they are Christian. I'm sorry if one of the series I read was a personal favorite... I just didn't like them much. They just don't seem real enough. No matter how much I pray and want it, my parents may never become Christians. This is life, life that never happens in the stories I read.
So for those that read it or have read it... what is your experience of Christian fiction? Am I off base? Are the books I read typical? Am I too critical of what should be nice experience? Generally I don't like fiction books that take place in this world... so I could be biased.
If you have read some books that sound like something I said I would like to read, please share them. It would be nice to occasionally read some really good stories with what I consider to be realistic Christian experiences in them. If I'm completely unrealistic in what I want, that's fine. Tell me.
Fantasy is a great genre, and I can stay there for my fictions needs all the time if need be.
Moderators: If this should be under book reviews, please move it. But I am wanting to generally discuss the genre of Christian fiction itself after giving a few examples.
I have read four series recently, courtesy of my church library. One series I read are historical fiction books (The Wakefield Dynasty by Morris) where everyone that matters in the story comes to faith in Christ (in fact, if I remember correctly, this seems to be the case in every single Christian fiction book I have read). Quite uncanny how through hundreds of years of English history, that every single male head of household and his wife in this fictional family come to faith in Christ. Not one disappointment. And if by chance the male head of household marries a bad non-Christian woman by being misled about her goodness... then she dies so he can marry the good Christian woman that she should have been paying attention to the in first place. I kept reading these until I finished the series, had some interesting interactions with prominent protestants in English history like Tyndale, Cromwell, and Bunyan and the history around the family was interesting. But the main story arc was really unbelievable.
One series was mystery (Cape Refuge Series by Blackstock), and actually had a pretty good story to it. And the main characters were Christian to start with, so only 1 significant person came to faith in the entire 4 book series. It was certainly the most believable.
The other series was a gooshy Beverly LaHaye thing that played with your emotions. I spent a quite a bit of time wanting to strangle some of the women for causing so much trouble in their own lives. I think it tried to be real, but many of the characters just didn't work for me. Some too silly, some too perfect. And again, all the significant characters in the story came to faith.
Oh just remembered one more, it was a Beverly Lewis series (Daugher's of Abram) where I learned that there are secretly tons of Amish who have broken away from the legalism inherent in the faith and truly embraced Christ. Some became Mennonite to do this, other stayed Amish. But again, all significant characters came to saving faith in Christ.
This experience pretty much turned me off Christian fiction. But I know there are good things out there. One of my friends keeps meaning to lend me a series she really liked, and I will try that. I think what I would be looking for if I was going to be reading Christian fiction would be a something along the lines of a really great story with Christians in it. Basically I'd want something good that just happened to be Christian, not something where being Christian and watching an avalanche of people come to faith was the point of it.
From what I encountered so far, it seems like somewhat mediocre Christian books get published simply because they are Christian. I'm sorry if one of the series I read was a personal favorite... I just didn't like them much. They just don't seem real enough. No matter how much I pray and want it, my parents may never become Christians. This is life, life that never happens in the stories I read.
So for those that read it or have read it... what is your experience of Christian fiction? Am I off base? Are the books I read typical? Am I too critical of what should be nice experience? Generally I don't like fiction books that take place in this world... so I could be biased.
If you have read some books that sound like something I said I would like to read, please share them. It would be nice to occasionally read some really good stories with what I consider to be realistic Christian experiences in them. If I'm completely unrealistic in what I want, that's fine. Tell me.
Fantasy is a great genre, and I can stay there for my fictions needs all the time if need be.
