Christian Fiction
 

Has anyone read any good Christian fiction books lately?

(Now that I'm a mommy I'm trying to keep the trash out of the house)

Please recommed some good ones...

The Bible.












Haha sorry I couldn't resist.

Haha, you beat me.

Sunday Brunch, by Norma L Jarrett

Flabbergasted by Ray Blackston

Actually, smartass comment above aside, I'm curious -- do you think that all fiction that is not Christian is trash?

Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials triology.

Re: Christian Fiction
 

Do you mean works of fiction with a Christian focus, or with Chirstian teachings?

For example the Davinci Code has a 'Christian' focus, but doesn't impart any Christian moral code or teachings...

I think if you have to ask, then you're probably not "into" Christian fiction. It's a catagory of books that are usually published by companies such as Bethany House, Covenant House, and similar publishers - usually no gratuitous sex, swearing, or violence, but the Bodie Thoene series do get into the more serious topics (the Holocaust, the founding of Israel, etc). Others touch on Amish or Mennonite life. My sister-in-law reads nothing but.

Some of it is good, but IMHO, too much is written on a lower intellect level than I'm used to reading. Some of it is decent mind candy, though, when you really don't want a heavy read.

I would hardly classify The DaVinci Code as Christian fiction, since it's based on the concept of Christ being married/having an affair with Mary Magdalene. It's more thriller/mystery.

And no, I hardly think that that all other fiction is trash. It's just a different genre.

I pretty much assumed that... that it wasn't a theme or genre only, but style on too itself. I only asked because some guys at the chapter loved the DaVinci Code (can't understand why... a little too simplistic/camp for my tastes) and wanted to read other novels that used Christian lore/apocrypha/history as the themeatic background for the novel - to which I recommended Ken Folet's Pillars of the Earth which has a 'Christian' theme, but not focus (or sole purpose to the novel).

Heh.

And if she did, the problem with that is......? There is a lot of stuff (movies, music, etc.) that I considered trash and its not allowed in my house - and that was before I became a Christian.

Christian fiction is no different that people having a preference for ABC's the Family Channel or the Hallmark channel (for reason honeychile described earlier) - channels that specialize in content appropriate for the entire family - as opposed to channels such as ABC, Showtime, etc. which contain subject matters that aren't.


Back on topic...

I also heard that Forget-Me-Not by Shari MacDonald is pretty good too. I had gotten a flyer in the mail this past weekend from my local parable bookstore and it was filled with Christian fiction titles on sale. If there is one in your city, check them out too.

Why are you assuming I think it's a problem? I'm curious.

Co-sign and the second book, One Delirious Summer
They are a GREAT, easy summer reads. Excellent "beach books." They circulated throughout our whole church last year...

Ruby Holler is another great book...almost youth literature.

The Yada Yada prayer group book series is good, but be preapred for sadnesses and real-world struggles.

Because of Winn Dixie is a great read.

Also, Meg Cabot has a series of romances that are set in various time periods and would qualify as being "not trashy."

Happiness,
Silver

Ms. MysticCat has enjoyed Jan Karon's Mitford Series.

If you want something thought-provoking with really wonderful writing and story-telling, I would highly recommend Rumer Godden's In This House of Brede and Gail Godwin's Father Melancholy's Daughter.

Co-sign! How could I forget about these?
Also, Philip Gulley's Harmony series is very similar only more real-life (i.e., the church toilet causes some major drama).
Just super, lite reading for bed-time.
Silver

I've never read it, but the books in the Left Behind series have sold loads of copies.

:p

The Narnia books

The Lord of the Rings Trilogy.

I wish I had a dime for every time I've read In This House of Brede!!

Beverly Lewis' Covenant series (Convenant, Sanctuary, Sacrifice and Prodigal Son, so far) have taught me a lot about some of the differences between the Amish and Mennonite communities - something that living in Pennsylvania should have taught me long ago! Again, light reading, but good.

Absolutely not, I am reading a great book by Dr. Laura and she's Jewish but her ideas are fabulous. There are a lot of good things to read that are not "Christian in nature" or even religious, and lots of stuff that is classified as "Christian" that I think is crap.

I got these two movies from the Family Christian Bookstore "Love Comes Softly" and "Loves Enduring Promise." They were awesome movies.

Well other than being a bigot and/or racist - maybe angry hatemonger would be a better fit... but other than that here ideas are great :rolleyes: I still remember dealing with that b*tch (trust me she is - look into her comments on gays, asians, people with tourettes, muslims, wiccan, ) when Unilever (I was in PR and Consumer Relations) was cutting the advertising to her show - and supporting the CRTC investigation into her false creditials and hate-speech.... I pray to God that you are not using this woman as either a model or a source of advice.


PS> I almost forgot - the irony of a woman spouting advice about family, marriage, and fedility... a woman that also has nude photos of her floating around; taken by a boyfriend (lover) while married to her first husband...

These movies are wonderful...wonderful..wonderful...
Silver

You're right, it's unpossible to completely change as a person, learn from your mistakes, and then help others learn from your mistakes.

Actually, the romance novels were never my thing....

I don't know how to classify what I used to read. Actually, my favorite series ever was "A Wrinkle in Time" and those books. I like a lot of the older stuff, but I would like to read some more recent things, and I'm not saying that if it's not Christian it's trash, but if it is Christian it's less likely to contian trash.

My mom enjoys T. Davis Bunn. I know she purchases a lot of her books from the Faithful Reader website, and Berean is one of her favorites. There are some other sites she looks at, but I can't remember them off the top of my head. I'll ask her this weekend when I see her.

Just because Ralph Wigum uses the word on the Simpsons doesn't make it a real word ;)

As for helping others learn from her mistakes.... that would be fine, or even commendable, if she wasn't so damning of others mistakes, choices, or lives - anyone who insults or demeans someone for a medical condition (such as say tourettes), or worse insulting or demeaning someone for supporting a family member coping with a medical condition is beneath contempt.

Me fail English??? That's Unpossible!!!

I really enjoy Christian books by Victoria Christopher Murray. She writes about some really controversial issues and how the characters try to deal with them from a Christian perspective. At the same time, her characters come across as every day people that have to deal with their human emotions while trying to maintain their believes.

Doh!!! Just kidding.....dang my typos. I like you Cooper, you always give me a good run for my money. I do understand that was not the smartest thing she's ever done, and it should be addressed. People can't help what medical conditions they have! You're right that's horrible, but OVERALL, I like her. As for the stance she takes on most "moral" issues, I agree with her. But no one is asking my advice.

Back to topic, Christian fiction, there are some really good series out there, I haven't read all of them and can't remember all the names, but they deal with lots of different situations.

C.S. Lewis also has some VERY thought provoking Christian literature.
Silver

Dee Henderson writes a couple of different series - they are more on the romance side, but it's very "light" and you're also caught up in the mystery/adventure aspects as well. There's the True Heros series (deals with the military and other service organizations such as the CIA and FBI) and The O'Malley series (follows a family who's "adopted" themselves and their relationships with one another and the people they get involved with)

I mainly read the romantic suspense type, and other great Christian authors are Terri Blackstock (her Newspointe 911 series is pretty good) and Colleen Coble (I've only read the first book in her series, but it was a really great read!)

books for kids that are not trashy:

they may not be "christian" but appropriate for kids:

anything by beverly clearly,
babysitters club series,
Sweet Valley Twins ( its when they are in junior high and very kid oriented)

If you meant adult books, humm not really sure. Most stuff i read has at least a little bit that is trashy, but i try to only read things that are somewhat (or only minor) trashy. Of course not intentional, but if there is a few curse words in a otherwise good book i don't really care. But i am sure going to a local christian store you could find books that are of approprite un-trashyness, or they could tell you where in your area you could find books. I mean maybe there are a book store or two in your area that would specialise in "clean" books.

Agreed. In fact, after posting in this thread last week, I went and pulled it out again. It really is one of the best books I know of, and one that always engages me on a spiritual level.