tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11303971.post6060298072776429916..comments2024-01-17T04:33:08.243-08:00Comments on My Friend Amy: Identifying Christian Fiction, part 2Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02515314638093018928noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11303971.post-75112619250436758182009-02-18T14:53:00.000-08:002009-02-18T14:53:00.000-08:00I tend to avoid Christian Fiction like the plague,...I tend to avoid Christian Fiction like the plague, but there are some authors who are CF that I like and read. I think the CF world is opening up a bit -- and Thank God, b/c as many have mentioned, its not just non-christians that have to deal with sex, drugs, violence, the real pressures of life.<BR/><BR/>What I have to look out for, as a non-Protestant Christian, is the vitriolic hate towards Catholics and Episcopalians in many Christian Fiction books (including, most prominently, Left Behind). So much for love your neighbor.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11303971.post-75582052003394365622009-02-12T19:53:00.000-08:002009-02-12T19:53:00.000-08:00I enjoyed this post because although I grew up pre...I enjoyed this post because although I grew up pretty much having Christian fiction be the exclusive category of fiction purchased for me by my parents. I will be honest. There were some authors I did like, but there were a lot of writers who I did not like and so I avoid Christian fiction now. I have heard people say that the genre has expanded, but the stereotypes and conventions always frustrated me. <BR/><BR/>I would not be bothered if I read a book, enjoyed it and saw it was from a Christian publishing house, but I would be very surprised if I did not catch on until the end of the book. I don't enjoy preachy novels of any variety, so if it was just a good book, I would accept it as that.Kim Lhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15024112944002002232noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11303971.post-15937095403596689272009-02-12T18:38:00.000-08:002009-02-12T18:38:00.000-08:00Thanks for doing these posts, Amy. I've never acci...Thanks for doing these posts, Amy. I've never accidentally read any Christian fiction (or romance or thrillers or any of the other genres I usually steer away from)--but I can understand how it might put a blogger in an awkward position if they felt obligated, because of receiving a review copy, to read and review a book that isn't the right fit for them.Alihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16745786643511417426noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11303971.post-24532102127338074652009-02-12T08:47:00.000-08:002009-02-12T08:47:00.000-08:00I don't mind reading Christian fiction if there is...I don't mind reading Christian fiction if there isn't much religion in it. My problem is when books are preachy. For example, if I read a Christian fiction book, enjoyed it, and then found out it was Christian fiction, I wouldn't really care. But I try to avoid the genre in general because it's hard to tell whether a book will be preachy or not!S. Krishnahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10268527069548216054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11303971.post-11906846000652817882009-02-12T00:04:00.000-08:002009-02-12T00:04:00.000-08:00Thanks for the comments for everyone! I'm going t...Thanks for the comments for everyone! I'm going to write another post on this soon, so hopefully I'll touch a little more on what Deborah said. ;)Amyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02515314638093018928noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11303971.post-22631217042080011302009-02-11T14:55:00.000-08:002009-02-11T14:55:00.000-08:00As a book reviewer and an avid reader of Christian...As a book reviewer and an avid reader of Christian Fiction, my eyes are beginning to open, thanks to your discussions. I always note if profanity or adult themes are contained in the books I read, but I have not referenced Christian Fiction. I think that I will begin to indicate if faith plays a part in the plot. It would seem to be a better review for the reader who is shopping. Thanks, Amy.SmilingSallyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10479373067844173653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11303971.post-71316519012246689962009-02-11T13:51:00.000-08:002009-02-11T13:51:00.000-08:00In the interest of full disclosure, I should say t...In the interest of full disclosure, I should say that I write inspirational romantic suspense for Steeple Hill...but I haven't always been a reader of Christian fiction and I still read widely across genres. I'd just like to add here that there are a couple of things to remember about inspirational fiction. Just like any genre, the books vary widely in subject matter, in content, and in writing styles and voice. Some are definitely more preachy than others. (And the ones where the characters pray every two sentences make me want to throw the book at the wall) Steeple Hill has tighter written guidelines because, as a subsidiary of Harlequin, they publish category romance. A happy ending is a guarantee. Even so, some recent books from Steeple Hill Love Inspired have had characters dealing with unplanned pregnancy, alcohol addiction, cancer, an abusive childhood, drug abuse, etc...as you can see, these aren't all characters who have lived perfect lives and some are dealing with the consequences of their choices. I think the difference in these books is how the subject matter is dealt with. If you haven't picked up an inspirational fiction book lately, I'd encourage you to give one a try. You can read first chapters at eHarlequin and maybe you can find an author whose writing style fits your reading preference.Stephanie Newtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15242628477843155972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11303971.post-68303035601346878262009-02-11T11:20:00.000-08:002009-02-11T11:20:00.000-08:00I had the same sort of reaction to Christian lit a...I had the same sort of reaction to Christian lit as you have Mollie. In high school, I had access to a rather large Christian library at my church, and while I discovered a few gems, most books were so forgettable I couldn't remember what had happened from one day to the next. I like the nitty gritty. One Christian book I did enjoy, that didn't feel so forced was Though None Go With Me (I wish I remember who it was by). Even though the character pretty much lived as a Christian without much slip-up, the real world happened around her. <BR/><BR/>I don't think Christian lit is all bad, but I rarely pick one up anymore because I feel the odds are against me.Meg89https://www.blogger.com/profile/01282005279847135382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11303971.post-83441922059509186022009-02-11T09:22:00.000-08:002009-02-11T09:22:00.000-08:00Deborah,THAT's the kind of christian fiction I cou...Deborah,<BR/><BR/>THAT's the kind of christian fiction I could jump on board with. I will have to check out Melody Carlson. Can you suggest any other Christian writer/publishers that don't have such rigid guidelines?!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11303971.post-42684712130981553272009-02-11T08:56:00.000-08:002009-02-11T08:56:00.000-08:00ok to be fair, those are just one publisher's stan...ok to be fair, those are just one publisher's standards of Christian fiction. there is a LOT of Christian fiction that has really edgy stuff. Melody Carlson writes on topics like teen drinking, sex, homosexuality, cutters, shopping addictions, Wicca and that's just in her teen series! She's also written about cults, mental illnesses, meth addictions, etc. Steven James writes about serial killers and goes into gory detail about the murders they have committed. I could give you a huge list of Christian fiction authors who's books, if you did not know they were CF, you would be surprised they were Christian fiction.<BR/><BR/>I think the problem is people think all Christian fiction is "safe", that everyone gets saved and then wants to go around preaching at everyone. It's not. Yes there are books/authors/publishing houses that will only print out happy ending stories where life is not real. But that's not the case. There ARE Christian fiction books that tell how gritty and ugly life is. Unfortunately, people just assume because it's labeled as Christian fiction, it's on par with the Left Behind series and should be avoided.Deborahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02147790818681999121noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11303971.post-40294192910320830072009-02-11T08:42:00.000-08:002009-02-11T08:42:00.000-08:00Wow thanks Amy! I never looked into the submissio...Wow thanks Amy! I never looked into the submission requirements. I had always felt that Christian fiction was cookie cutter- now I know why. Those requirements sap any creativity out if a story.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11303971.post-55466555543032880912009-02-11T06:41:00.000-08:002009-02-11T06:41:00.000-08:00I think it is interesting the guidelines that you ...I think it is interesting the guidelines that you posted - I can understand the not mentioning body parts and things like that. But what I don't understand is the lying/deceit thing. I mean Christians are human too - people do lie and deceive, gossip, etc. However, the difference is we have a God who forgives us when we do these things. It seems like they are trying to create a "perfect" person and that just isn't reality. <BR/><BR/>You have written two great posts on this genre and I have enjoyed reading about it - I am not one who has read Christian Fiction - but my eyes are open and I will probably try some in the near future!!!Karahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04746317916269177679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11303971.post-25672500713271377242009-02-11T06:38:00.000-08:002009-02-11T06:38:00.000-08:00I have to say, as I was reading the requirements f...I have to say, as I was reading the requirements for the Christian publishing criteria I was rather...affronted. Just because people are Christians doesn't mean they don't struggle with those issues that, according to the Publishers, christian characters cannot be involved with: lying, sexual sins, gambling, addictions to drugs and alcohol. <BR/><BR/>This is precisely one of the reasons I, as a Christian, am not a huge fan of Christian fiction. Life is messy and complicated even for a Christian. I don't want to read about a bunch of "holier than thou" characters that don't struggle with real issues. If Christian authors can't write about about the nitty gritty stuff that many Christians face, what the heck are they writing about? <BR/><BR/>Again, I've read very little Christian fiction and while I'm open to suggestions, I feel that the restrictions Christian publishers put on Christian Fiction....can turn not only non-Christians but Christians off.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11303971.post-1831233013162221972009-02-11T04:38:00.000-08:002009-02-11T04:38:00.000-08:00I don't see anything wrong with providing a list. ...I don't see anything wrong with providing a list. If someone wants to buy those books, they know what to look for now. (I had to look up scatological, btw). Since you don't just review Christian books and since it seems there are 2 different groups coming to your blog, it makes sense to point it out.Chrisbookaramahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11972547663609480210noreply@blogger.com