More on Christian Fiction

Well, I promised to write more about Christian Fiction. I like the healthy discussion generated from my last post on the topic.

To comment on some of the comments.

To Jason and Mirtika...I'm glad to hear from people who are reading Christian Fiction! I knew you folks had to be out there somewhere. And I'm glad to hear, as well, that you're both trying to advance the cause of bringing more quality into the Christian Publishing world. Keep writing!

One of the comments (from Jason) mentioned a website Faith in Fiction. I went to the site and was glad to see a plug for Relief Journal. Relief is a new journal that has the goal of publishing fiction written by Christians that breaks the boundaries set by most Christian Publishers. I recently went to a gathering hosted by the Relief editors (some of them are based here in Chicago), and met some really, really cool people who are kindred spirits. We talked about literature, faith, the state of Christian Publishing, and what they're trying to accomplish with Relief. They're looking for stories that deal with the nitty-gritty of life and faith, aren't afraid of four-letter words, and maybe don't always have a nice, tidy ending. In other words, stories about real life.

I do think Christian Publishers are stretching their boundaries more. I'm encouraged by that. One of my favorite books from the stack I just read was a story about a young girl recovering from rape. The character was so well drawn and real. I loved the book. So I'm encouraged that CF is going beyond sentimental tripe. And I'm not saying it all has to include a dark, traumatic event. But I just think it needs to embrace all of life....the good the bad and the ugly. And acknowledge that sometimes things dont' turn out so well, and faith is hard and includes doubt. But God is still God.

Real life sometimes includes people who say four letter words. There wasn't a four-letter word to be found in all of the thousands of pages of Christian Fiction I read. I'm in a writing group with a writer who had a story published in Best American Southern Short Stories. She recently had her well-written novel rejected by a Christian publisher because of the "language." I just find that sad that the focus is on a few four letter words and not the quality of writing, the authenticity of the characters, and the message of faith.

My husband is reading The Power and the Glory by Graham Greene. One of my favorite books -- it's about a "whiskey priest" stumbling through life as an extremely flawed character but meeting God despite himself. I need to reread it. I taught the book in a freshman literature class a long, long time ago. David brings up the point "What is Christian fiction?" Good question. Would love to hear what others think.

Thanks, Grandma Mable

I belong to a family of readers, thanks to my Grandma Mable. She was a school teacher in a one-room school in Iowa before she married my grandfather. Apparently she was the brainy sort who encouraged my father to read (although she wasn't too enthusiastic about college, since she thought it would "corrupt" my father). When my dad started reading he said a whole new world was opened up to him. While I didn't know my grandma Mable (she died of cancer 5 months before I was born), my sister remembers her saying "If you like to read, you'll never be lonely."

So, to fend off any bouts of loneliness, here's a list of book recommendations...

Gilead, by Marilynne Robinson. Best book I've read in the past year. It probably helps that I'm from Iowa and have a fondness for writers from the Midwest.

Housekeeping, by Marilynne Robinson. Beautifully written.

In Cold Blood, by Truman Capote. Amazing, amazing. I would say this is the mostly tightly written book I've read in a while...each sentence crafted perfectly and the amount of detail that goes into writing a non-fiction book that reads like fiction -- amazing.

The Year of Magical Thinking, by Joan Didion. So many books written about grief, but so few that actually capture it so honestly and beautifully.

Blue Like Jazz, by Donald Miller. Ok, I resisted reading this book because a) it is published by a Christian publisher. b) it was taking the Evangelical world by storm, which always make me suspicious. c) everyone was comparing him to Anne Lammot. But I finally picked it up at Barnes and Nobel and found a well-written and honest book about faith. He's no Anne Lammot, in fact, if I were Donald Miller I'd be a bit offended by that comparison -- why can't he just be a good Donald Miller? I like his voice and he's a Democrat, which helps.

Searching for God Knows What, by Donald Miller. A little disappointed after reading "Blue Like Jazz." I found this book more didactic and less poetic. Too much theology, and not enough narrative. But still worth the read.

The Liar's Club, by Mary Karr. Picked up her book because she was at the Festival of Faith and Writing last April. Funny, sad, beautiful memoir.

Real Sex by Lauren Winner. Okay, another author who's often compared to Anne Lammot. Would everyone just stop it? Why can't she just be Lauren Winner? I couldn't get through her other books (i.e. Girl meets God), but I picked up this book as research for an article I was writing. Finally, a book that honestly and intelligently addresses chastity and faith. Ok, a little hard to take since she was only "chaste" for three of her adult years (try 20!!!), but she makes some really great points. I recommend it for both single and married friends.

Dwelling Places by Vinita Hampton Wright. Another "Iowa" book. At first I was turned off because she's never even lived in Iowa! She lives on the south side of Chicago. But I have to admit she nailed her descriptions of Iowa farm life, the land, the people, etc. I met the author this summer and she's a very cool person.

Three Dog Life, by Abigail Thomas. I have a weakness for any book about animals. Yes, this is about the author's three dogs, but it's about so much more. This short memoir chronicles how her life is turned upside down after her husband suffers brain damage after being hit by a car. Thomas didn't publish her first book until her mid-forties, which gives me hope!


More to come. My next book may be Dave Eggers What is the What which is reviewed today in the NY Times I loved Eggers "Heartbreaking work..." but didn't so much like his subsequent books. But this new one sounds like it's definitely worth reading. I'll let you know.