Why I Don’t Read Christian Fiction
I don’t read the fiction one can find almost exclusively at Christian bookstores.
That is not an indictment on you if you do. I don’t really want you coming after me or hounding me because you think I am getting on to you. I’m not.
I have read books from there. I found some of my favorite fiction and one of my favorite authors in a Christian bookstore. It just happens that what I found isn’t easily described as Christian fiction.
If you are reading at all, I’m tickled to death. I’ve been reading for forty years or so now. Reading takes me places that I will never visit and expands my mind and vocabulary.
The problem is that too many of the stories don’t seem real enough.
The aren’t messy enough.
Life is messy. People are messy. Our stories are messy.
The Christian fiction I have taken a look at just doesn’t seem messy enough.
When I get to know you, I want to know about more than just the good stuff. I want to know about the messes.
I want to know about all the sordid details. I want to hear about all of your junk.
I want to see how the Lord has redeemed it.
So, I don’t read Christian fiction.
What I would love to see are more Christians writing fiction that is messy, sordid and full of junk.
Just like all of our lives.
How about you? Do you read Christian fiction?
I don’t read at all actually…just blogs…funny huh…last book i read was blue like jazz…
I started a new blog for creative writing…i wrote this story about a messy guy and his messy life and his messy situation. it’s the only way to tell a story….because after all…isn’t that what we’re saved from anyway…mess.
Blue Like Jazz was a good one to read, full of real, messy people. That’s what we deal with, right? Real and messy. Life just isn’t like a lot of these books.
You, know thinking about it more…it think that’s why we are sooo drawn to “secular” stories…if i can use that word….because it reminds us of who we used to be in christ…or what could have become of us if he hadn’t stepped in and saved us….stories like the shawshank redemption, and the godfather, and other great stories that have come to pass…
Christian fiction makes me nauseous. I think my life has had too much grime,not all of my own doing but more than enough of it was. I’m jaded. I often think that there’s an innocence in life that others must have experienced to love those books so much.
Rhonda, I understand. The main thing I’m trying to say is that it’s hard to find. It all seems to be stamped with a label that make it “approved” for us. I want real stuff, no matter what. I want real characters that I can believe in, not what is safe.
I don’t care if a book is Christian fiction or fiction or non fiction. I just want it to either inform me, entertain me or inspire me. Even better if it does all three. If it isn’t doing any of the above, I just put the book down. This is why I LOVE the library- I’ll get out about 5 books at a time but only 2 of the 5 might be worth reading at the time IMO.
Jim, that’s a good point. I’m sure there is some good Christian fiction out there. I just seem to have trouble finding it. More than anything, I want Christians to write from their point of view and their world view. I want our brothers and sisters to create without it having to be labeled.
Understood and I totally agree. I feel the same way about Christian music. I don’t seek out “Christian music” b/c it often feels contrived/watered down to me.
Jim, I could have definitely substituted Music for Fiction
Funny to see Arny as the last one to comment on this. He’s who came to mind as I read this. Arny has been working on a fiction project, that is very real, messy, and I would say redemptive in nature. Worth checking out!
Yeah, most Christian fiction books are way too perfect. And then the ones that aren’t (aka Ted Dekker books) feel like they are trying so hard to be edgy and messy that they don’t feel genuine anymore.
Right. I just want my fellow Christians to write what they want to without feeling like they have put in stock ff just to make a Christian audience happy.
I do read Christian fiction.(I read just about anything!) I belong to our book club at church. There are a couple of authors I like because people actually die. Her books are more like real life. I do agree with you all…a lot of them are too perfect. However, there are some good ones out there, especially for women. Kristen Heitzman, Irene Hannon, Kathy Herman…
I know there has to be some good ones.
Jannette Oke books are very real and messy and not tied up neatly in a bow. They may be more appealing to women, though.
I think so. But I’m sure there is some that I would like.