Faith 'n Fiction Saturday

Today Amy's question is:

You have a good friend who is a devoted Christian and voracious reader. He or she, however, tried to read a Christian fiction book in the past and found it to be too preachy and unrealistic. Your friend wants to try it again and has asked you for a recommendation. Their favorite genre of book is what is considered literary fiction What book would you recommend to them?

You also have a friend who is not a Christian but wants to read fiction that is considered clean without being too Christian. They have asked you if there are Christian fiction books that might meet their reading needs. They are interested in romance and novels. What book would you recommend to them?

For the first friend...hmm to be honest I cannot think of any one to really recommend... Steeple Hill does have a Women's Fiction line that I would probably suggest. The deal with life issues, sometimes marriage but each is unique. Women of Faith have also introduced a line of fiction titles that I would also consider literary fiction. Anglea Hunt is the author that most pops into my mind...

My answer for the second question...
I would highly recommend Julie Lessman's Daughter of Boston series. (I know I know I always recommend her but well I LOVE this series!) Julie's books deal with the very real subject of passion, in love and in life. The elements that make a great book are all there and Julie's faith is evident in the books but at the same time the books are real and deal with issues that not many Christian authors have delved into. Her books are full of romance, good and bad choices, and redemption...just like life :)

I would also recommend Debra White Smith's Austen Series. Each of the books is sort of a retelling of one of Jane Austen's books with a Christian spin but it is subtle...and if you love Miss Jane then I would suggest these by Mrs Smith :)

I also agree with Amy's assessment of the Love Inspired line...there is a current of Christian themes in the choices of the Character's and their lifestyles but you are not being bombarded by sermonesque type writing.

And even though she is not a Christian author per se Debbie Macomber's Cedar Cove series is so good! The books have reooccuring characters so you really get to know the characters and the town. And each book is different. The characters range in age from 20's to 60's so there is something for everyone. There is an element of faith running through this series and Mrs Macomber herself is a believer and that comes through in this series.

And there you have my suggestions :)

For more Faith 'n Fiction fun visit My Friend Amy!

Comments

[Rel Mollet]

Julie is making a number of lists!!

[Laurie Ann]

I just wanted to stop in and say congratulations for being one of the Internet Cafe’s Top 100 Christian Women’s Blogs of 2008! Your blog truly does bless!

[Holly]

This is a really interesting question. I'm hopeless at recommending books to people though!

[Nise']

Excellent recommendations and not just cause some were the same as mine! LOL I read Debra's Jane Austen series last summer and loved them! Your mentioning the Cedar Cover series reminds me I have 8 Sandpiper Way on my stack.

[Mimi]

Oh, that Julie is making the rounds again! She's on my list as well!!

~Mimi B @ Woven by Words

[marta]

The Jane Austen series sounds great...I'll have to check it out!

[Robin of mytwoblessings]

Yes, great suggestion - steeple hill has some great books. I've been meaning to read Macomber's series - first one going on my wishlist. I decided to join in this week instead of lurk, my answer is up.

Robin

[Bluestocking]

I'll have to check out this Austen series.

Here

[Marvin D Wilson]

Well thought out answers - Auston Series, eh? OK, I'll have to keep those in mind. I got my answers up at Free Spirit also-

http://tinyurl.com/by9guy

[Sally]

Obviously, you enjoy romance novels more, while I enjoy suspense or plot driven novels. So I'll send the #2 person to you for suggestions, and you send the #1 person to me. ;-)
Happy Faith 'n Fiction Day. Here's my answer:
http://bookcritiques.blogspot.com/2009/01/faith-n-fiction-more-recommendations.html

[Amy @ My Friend Amy]

Great choices! Debbie Macomber has some non-fiction Christian books, I think.

I always wonder if people will get tired of me recommending Daughters of Boston, but I love them that much!