tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55532501364780143.post4984321343607635380..comments2023-12-18T17:32:03.325+00:00Comments on Kindred of the Quiet Way: A Gem of a Yarn - a publisher describes the development of a Christian fiction listUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55532501364780143.post-47018332987728096652011-06-24T13:48:55.328+01:002011-06-24T13:48:55.328+01:00Nice one! Thanks Julie! xNice one! Thanks Julie! xPen Wilcockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13818227904371811230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55532501364780143.post-54064274169883218742011-06-24T13:02:20.165+01:002011-06-24T13:02:20.165+01:00May I add my two cents, Ember? I agree with what y...May I add my two cents, Ember? I agree with what you and those who commented said about what makes a good Christian fiction book. For me, I also appreciate these things: I want a book to give me something to think about long after I've put it down. I want to be able to keep turning it over and over in my mind, revisiting parts that stood out. I want to learn something. I want to learn new words, new information, things that can't be found in just any old book. I want some detail. I don't need tons of details, but I want the author to paint a picture with his/her words so something memorable unfolds as I read. I want to read something that asks me to come up higher in life. To be as kind as that character, or to persevere as steadfastly as this one. I want a book that shows flawed people working through messy life with God's principles, even if the characters don't really know they're doing it. The book doesn't even have to say they're God's principles...but a husband being faithful when he could easily not be, a child finding pleasure in obeying his parents, a woman learning satisfaction and peace in faithfulness. I want to visit places I've never been in a book. They don't have to be exotic and foreign, but the setting and surroundings should be part of the story too. I don't mind sin portrayed in a book (as long as it's not explicit and not cruel torture as you mentioned, Ember), but I would like for it to be portrayed correctly - as something that never satisfies and eventually undermines and breaks things down in a life. I love a book that transports. I like surprises in a book too. I prefer a book that assumes the reader is highly literate - I like to look the meanings of words up and also don't want to be talked down to. I want a book that is hard to put down (don't we all?) and one that is so memorable we want to buy ten copies to have on hand to give as gifts. This might seem like a tall order, but there are books out there that are all these things - I think of Hugo's Les Miserables, of Penelope Wilcock's The Hawk and the Dove series, of Leif Enger's Peace Like A River, and (perhaps surprisingly for some) Jan Karon's Mitford Series. One of life's joys is finding a book you want to read over and over....they're worth searching for and investing in.Julie B.https://www.blogger.com/profile/14372718712032820169noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55532501364780143.post-14266042960132844832011-06-24T11:45:44.404+01:002011-06-24T11:45:44.404+01:00I'll check out Kate Atkinson, Sarah - I haven&...I'll check out Kate Atkinson, Sarah - I haven't read her books.<br /><br />Adrienne - I told Tony about your comment and he says he'll pass that on to Mel :0)Pen Wilcockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13818227904371811230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55532501364780143.post-10703121075335894992011-06-23T22:53:00.806+01:002011-06-23T22:53:00.806+01:00How interesting, I thought. I had a history teach...How interesting, I thought. I had a history teacher in high school who was named Mel Starr. So I googled the author. :) And what do you know, the author is indeed my history teacher. :) He was a great teacher, I'm so glad he has met with success after his retirement. <br /><br />And I'm glad to have read about him on your blog.Adriennehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09987448865569188898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55532501364780143.post-43942574629914454852011-06-23T21:03:18.895+01:002011-06-23T21:03:18.895+01:00Thanks! :) I am totally with you on what you like ...Thanks! :) I am totally with you on what you like and don't like.<br /><br />My taste in books changed dramatically after I became a mother, now I just won't read anything too upsetting or bleak.<br /><br />I've recently discovered Kate Atkinson, and am racing through her books while trying to avoid the TV adaptation.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55532501364780143.post-31471059445409889412011-06-23T15:37:25.770+01:002011-06-23T15:37:25.770+01:00:0) Hi Sarah!
The short answer to your question...:0) Hi Sarah! <br />The short answer to your question is 'No.'<br />I guess it depends on the Christian. There are likely to be quite strong gender differences here too, I imagine.<br />Speaking for myself alone - but I suspect I am fairly typical, here are the things I look for in a novel (or a film or TV drama):<br /><br />1) To be well-written; bad writing really annoys me.<br /><br />2) To be edifying; I like a story that will uplift me, strengthening my faith, my sense of purpose, and my belief in the goodness of life.<br /><br />3) A happy ending. I've known too much sorrow and struggle in real life to find it entertaining in a book.<br /><br />4) Characters who are believable, human but GOOD. I am fed up of books where everyone is into adultery or pulling mean tricks on each other or spiteful or jealous or even plain rude. I like reading about kindness and good intentions and faith and decency and hope.<br /><br />Who writes this kind of book? I enjoy reading books by Alexander McCall Smith, Patricia Cornwell, Margery Allingham and Jan Mark. I liked 'The Secret Life of Bees', 'The Buddha, Geoff and Me', 'The Scarlet Pimpernel','The Wizard of Earthsea' trilogy, and 'Torrie'. I liked some of Dorothy Sayers work, but think she took it too far with Lord Peter Wimsey. <br /><br />What I do NOT want to read about is cruelty, violence, explicit sex, schadenfreude, horror or any other frightening things.<br /><br />And, if I think a book has anything, but anything, that could be called a graphic description of torture, I won't even have it on a shelf where I can see it. I prevailed upon my husband to get rid of - completely - Mary Doria Russell's book 'The Sparrow' and its sequel 'Children of God' because, having read some of 'The Sparrow', even the sight of it on the shelf upset me. He protested, quite accurately, that they are excellent, brilliant books. 'I don't care,' said I: 'Get it out of the house (please)'.<br /><br />That's just one Christian's taste!<br /><br />A lot of Christians I know really like Terry Pratchett.Pen Wilcockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13818227904371811230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55532501364780143.post-81478949177604717092011-06-23T14:47:03.657+01:002011-06-23T14:47:03.657+01:00Hello Pen! Haven't had a chance to read Tony&#...Hello Pen! Haven't had a chance to read Tony's words properly yet but do you know if any research has been carried out into what kind of secular fiction Christians enjoy?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55532501364780143.post-1889685397390371202011-06-11T09:32:06.894+01:002011-06-11T09:32:06.894+01:00I think Monarch is going with *mainly* romance or ...I think Monarch is going with *mainly* romance or murder mysteries at the moment, Buzz. But I would think the main criterion is excellence. I can imagine you writing a cracking good murder mystery! Er . . . just saying . . . not that your soul lacks romance or anything . . .Pen Wilcockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13818227904371811230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55532501364780143.post-88295866231648480182011-06-11T09:26:00.310+01:002011-06-11T09:26:00.310+01:00I hope that the new fiction list does well. I had ...I hope that the new fiction list does well. I had a little poke around on Lion's site to see what books they had. I'm interested in the mystery ones.<br /><br />Naturally, after reading this, I can't help but start to wonder what I would write if I were going to write a Christian fiction book! I do find it hard to get away from fantasy and sci fi though. But then, their metaphoric language is perhaps less necessary when one can openly acknowledge the realms of ethics and spirituality under discussion.<br /><br />Thanks, Tony, for a helpful couple of articles, and Ember for posting them. My verification word is 'spire'!Buzzfloydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10907833292561328868noreply@blogger.com