Comments on: Pondering the pages ~ Faith-based fiction: is it for me or not? and what about you?

By: Marcia

Marcia — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 06:41:25 +0000

I did want to stop by and thank everyone for taking the time to comment. As religion and politics are ‘hot buttons’ I usually try and stay away so as not to offend my friends. What sparked this post was that Jenn and I both posted about faith-based books on the same day without knowing we were doing so. It’s a topic I’ve thought about off and on recently as I knew I had some faith-based fiction sitting on the bookcase and was shying away from it. So while I had 9 days with no distractions I thought it would be a perfect time to immerse myself in those books and see where they took me and my feeling about this genre.

I want to thank everyone for respecting the opinions of others left here and not taking anything too personally. I appreciate that we can share our feelings, thoughts and ideas without worry.

By: Marcia

Marcia — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 06:31:21 +0000

Don’t worry about the long comment. As I haven’t heard of Dorothy Dunnett before you mentioned her I’ll take a peek. Thanks.

By: Marcia

Marcia — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 06:26:36 +0000

OMGosh how did I forget to include the Mitford series in my post. That’s what happens when I blog after work at 1AM! I loved that series and those books are a few I actually own. They’re sitting upstairs on a bookshelf. Must be the ‘outta sight, outta mind’ syndrome.

I went into the series fully expecting there would be mentions of faith but it’s such a wonderful, feel-good setting and the characters are so fun and enjoyable that I was kind of along for ride. Father Tim is a doll!

By: Marcia

Marcia — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 06:20:46 +0000

I’m glad Mr. Carver was able to find a publisher especially in today’s crowded field where it’s hard for good writers to get noticed. I would be interested in seeing a re-written version of the book. I know it’s the 1st in a trilogy so I imagine he would want to attract a wide of audience as possible. I liked the premise of the story from the start and I think he was on the right track, for as far as I got, but needs to tone down the preachiness to gain a wide readership. Obviously the good comments on Amazon counted for something.

By: Wrighty

Wrighty — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 06:17:13 +0000

This is such a great post with interesting comments by everyone! I was also interested in this book by Dekker and decided to give it a try. I’m waiting for it to arrive now. I haven’t read any of his books but keep hearing glowing reviews. I was also leery of the Christian fiction category and for all of the reasons already stated. I have nothing against it, it’s just not a personal preference. I also don’t like to be preached at about any subject – religion, politics, etc. But as others have mentioned I don’t rule out a book because of it either. I try to have an open mind and give it a try if it sounds interesting. I also like the Jan Karon series that Dawn mentioned and the Phillip Gulley series about the small Quaker town of Harmony. For me it’s all about a good story.

By: RAnn

RAnn — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 04:06:05 +0000

I’m Catholic and I do read Christian fiction, a genre almost completely written by, and largely written for, Evangelical Protestants. I read it because the characters largely share my values and morals if not the fullness of my faith. I read it because I like to see faith operating in people’s lives. I do not like it when books get preachy or when they put forth the “just trust God and you will live happily ever after in this world” theme. I don’t like sermons dressed up as stories–and have read some books by highly touted Christian authors which are little more than that, subjecting readers to pages of sermon excerpts and long prayers by characters not relating to the plot. If it is integral to the story I can take a lot of religion in a book; if just glossed on top of a story that can do without it, I get quickly tired of it.

By: Phyl/Bookishgal

Phyl/Bookishgal — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 14:44:33 +0000

I can relate to your ambivalence about this sort of fiction. As an ex-fundamentalist of many years, I know that the underlying purpose of any book written by a fundamentalist or even an evangelical author is to try to convert the reader. That’s always the most important thought in most of the writers’ minds.

What I’ve decided in recent years is that I can tolerate “faith-based” writing if the story comes first, and the world view comes second. (Which most fundies and evangelicals can’t manage, IMO.) Every writer has a world view which of course will flavour what they’re trying to say in any book. But a superior writer will be an artist first, crafting a good story first, and the world view will only be a background influence.

I just did an advance book review of The Secret by Beverly Lewis, whose novels are described as “Amish novels.” When I emailed the link to the publishers (Bethany House, definitely a religious publisher), one of them asked if I’d like to receive other similar books for review. I’m hesitating about my response, because while I found Lewis’s book totally non-preachy, what if their other writers’ books are moreso? I don’t want to be inundated with the stuff whose main goal is to convert (or in my case, re-convert) me, and for whom the story is secondary.

Pardon the long comment! I was just struck by your post, since I’ve been thinking about these things too, after reviewing that book. I think you’re wise in shying away, for the most part, from “faith-based” writers.

(By the way — if you like historical fiction — have you read any Dorothy Dunnett? I heartily recommend her six-book “Lymond Chronicles” if you haven’t. My favourite books in the world.)

By: Amy @ My Friend Amy

Amy @ My Friend Amy — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 19:39:47 +0000

I am always wrestling with my thoughts on this issue. I am an evangelical Christian or at least grew up that way (I’m not as firmly planted in the evangelical ideals as I used to be) so it’s not uncomfortable territory. But if an author has certain sections set out, like if the faith element doesn’t blend in naturally with the story…in short, if the story could exist without it, I’m less likely to like it.

But some of the best Christian books I’ve read this year were deeply Christian. But they were still just outstanding books, well written, and very moving. I think the difference was that the faith was essential to the story. So it didn’t come across as a the necessary faith element plopped in to the story to make it Christian fiction, it was woven into the fabric of the story to begin with. Neither book felt preachy, either.

I do understand the reluctance to read Christian fiction and try to gauge just how Christian books are on my blog for my readers. I don’t like to be hit over the head with politically driven books either, so I can understand.

By: mari

mari — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 15:56:17 +0000

I am one that usually stays away when I see “Christian Fiction” mentioned. I don’t like to be preached to.
I have very limited experience with genre, however. I am sure there are some non-preachy books out there but I won’t be looking for them.

By: Dawn

Dawn — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 15:45:33 +0000

I think like many genres, Christian fiction can be subtle or heavy-hitting, depending on the author. I tend to stay away from the push evangelical stuff.

I don’t read a lot that is earmarked Christian fiction, but I did really enjoy the Mitford series by Jan Karon. I found it very comfortable, like Little House on the Prairie for adults