Faith 'n Fiction Saturday is a day set aside each week to examine the intersection of faith and fiction. You are welcome to participate by writing a post on your blog and putting your permalink in the Mister Linky.
Finding good books for book club can be really difficult. Generally, you want a book that raises questions so that you have something to discuss. Christian fiction often provides discussion questions (even in romance novels!) but I'm not always sure the books themselves have that much to discuss. Today I thought it would be fun if we compiled a list of books that would make good book club books for Christian book clubs. Since this is faith and FICTION Saturday, I'm asking you to keep your answers to works of fiction. The books, however, do not need to be published by a Christian publishing house, but they should have some elements that would make them appealing to Christian book groups to discuss.
Here are some of my top choices:
Silence by Shusaku Endo -- yes it's one of my favorite books and one the reasons is that it still haunts me years after reading. I haven't come to a peaceful resolution with this book, so to say, and I think discussing it would really help. The subject matter is the persecution of Christians in Japan.
The Moon in the Mango Tree by Pamela Binnings Ewen -- I think this book would make an excellent discussion piece for Christian women and their role in the family. Additionally, I think there's a lot to discuss regarding missions and faith, life and purpose.
Quaker Summer by Lisa Samson -- this book took me so completely outside of myself and was a perfect place for me to start to discover my own feelings on social justice. Recommend, recommend, recommend.
Levi's Will by Dale Cramer -- this book challenged my thoughts on whether or not pacifism is possible. And that wasn't even a major theme in the book. There is definitely a lot to discuss and explore in the pages of this novel.
Those are my top picks! I have some others I think would be good, but I want to hear what you think! Leave your thoughts in comments or write a post on your blog and leave your permalink in the mister linky.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Faith 'n' Fiction Saturday: Book Club Books
Posted by Amy at 9:55 PM
Labels: Faith 'n Fiction Saturdays
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2 comments:
Amy, I have not participated in a Christian book club before but I think it would be a lot of fun. I noted the titles that you listed and will definitely consider them. Thanks for sharing them.
I like Sally John's books. I read four of her books this year. I like her series "A Time to..." with Gary Smalley. I think her book Castles in the Sand, which tells of a minister's family who faces a crises would provide a lot to discuss. It was very thought provoking.
my interfaith book club enjoyed reading SINCE MY LAST CONFESSION, by Scott Pomfret, OUR LADY OF THE LOST AND FOUND by Diane Shoemperlen, THE SCANDALOUS GOSPEL OF JESUS by Peter Gomes and HERE WHEN YOU NEED ME by Kate Braestrup for Christian-themed books. All created some great discussion about different aspects of Christianity.
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