Book Reviews: Christian Fiction

In my life I’ve read many different genres, but one of my favourites is Christian fiction. I think a lot of people have a lot of thoughts on the genre, but few (non-Christians) have actually read it, which is an absolute shame. To introduce you to the genre, I made a list of some of the books I’ve read and will highlight a few of them. (I will not talk about Christian nonfiction or theological books here, but I read tons of those during my theological studies, so if you are interested you can send me a message and I’ll give you a list of recommended books!) “If they won't write the kind of books we like to read, we shall have to write them ourselves.”

I think the most obvious would be to start with C.S. Lewis, since he’s one of my biggest (Christian) inspirations. The Narnia Chronicles have done a lot to help shape my faith, and Lewis's theological books helped me understand (insofar you can really understand it) a lot of things like the doctrine of the Trinity (without him I seriously would not have passed my test). When most people think of Lewis, they also think of J.R.R. Tolkien. I must admit that I have only read two of his books, but I will definitely read more of them in the future. If you’ve heard of Lewis and Tolkien (who hasn't?) you might have heard of the Inklings as well. They were an informal literary discussion group associated with the University of Oxford between the early 1930s and late 1949 who praised the value of narrative in fiction and encouraged the writing of fantasy (sorry for quoting Wikipedia, but I personally couldn’t have said it better). Both Lewis and Tolkien were part of this group and if you’ve got the time you should google it. I think their discussions (and friendship) are very fascinating.

C.S. Lewis The Chronicles of Narnia (1-7) ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

J.R.R. Tolkien The Fellowship Of The Ring ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ The Hobbit, or There and Back Again ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ “I am especially fond of you.” You might have heard of, or watched the movie The Shack (2017), based on the novel of the same name, written by William Paul Young. The first time I read this book I was immediately captivated by the story. The way Young describes God is very different from most (though it really got some Lewis vibes), yet feels very familiar to what is written in the Bible. I am not going to say that everything he states is correct (I also won’t say it’s not), but you can tell he’s a well-educated theologian and a great storyteller.

So what is it about? The Shack is about a man named Mack, who’s been wrestling with the ‘Great Sadness’ ever since his daughter has been abducted during a family vacation. Evidence has been found in an abandoned shack that she may have been brutally murdered. Four years later he receives a note from God, inviting him to that shack to spend the weekend. He doesn’t believe it’s really from God, but decides to go anyway. I think you might guess what happens next :)

What makes me love it so much? Mostly his view on God and theology. It answers questions many people wrestle with, but it’s also a beautiful and emotional story about love, loss, forgiveness and redemption. William Paul Young The Shack ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Eve ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ Cross Roads ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

“I see a rose in bloom at the sight of you.” I am a huge For King and Country (band) fan and I have always found them to be very inspirational. After the release of their song Priceless, they started “The Priceless Movement” stating that every person should know their worth—that they are priceless and they should be treated with continuous respect. I love this because even though it’s true, most people don’t live by it, so it’s an important reminder to all of us. I think it won’t surprise you that their book is also about this topic, but it’s also about human trafficking. To give you a little synopsis (this one’s from Goodreads, so it’s not mine): James Stevens was, at one time, a good man with a great life. After the tragic death of his wife and losing custody of his little girl, James is at the darkest crossroad of his life. Angry, desperate, and unable to hold down a steady job, he agrees to drive a box truck on a shady, one-time trip cross country for cash—no questions asked. When he discovers what he is delivering is actually a who, the questions in his mind begin haunting him mercilessly. James becomes an unlikely hero who must fight to save the lives of two young women and finds himself falling in love with one of them. Can love, strength, and faith redefine his past and change the course of his future? Joel and Luke Smallbone (For King and Country) Priceless: She’s Worth Fighting For ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ “We’re an entire population with spinach in our teeth—and no one tells us.” In 2018 I read Bo’s Café by Bill Thrall. At first I did not expect to love it, but it turned out to be a page-turner after all.

The story is about the high-powered executive Steven Kerner, who is living the dream in southern California. But when his bottled pain ignites in anger one night, his wife kicks him out. Then an eccentric mystery man named Andy Monroe befriends Steven and begins unravelling his tightly wound world. Andy leads Steven through a series of frustrating and revealing encounters to repair his life through genuine friendship and the grace and love of a God who has been waiting for him to accept it. (Goodreads)

I think it’s a beautiful story about friendship and I love the idea how imperfect people can help other imperfect people become more perfect by simply being there for each other. Just try it, it’ll be worth your time. Bill Thrall Bo’s Café ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

“Do not choose to abandon love because you are afraid that it will crush you. Love is the only true constant in a fragile world.” Susan Meissner is an American author, who is best known for writing historical fiction and fiction with a Christian slant. I think you might already know that I love historical fiction, so for me this is a perfect combination. The first book I read was The Girl in the Glass, and I simply chose it because it’s a little bit about the Medici family and a lot about Florence. I was probably somewhere halfway through when I decided she was going to be one of my favourite authors. After reading Secrets of a Charmed Life as well, I knew it for sure.

Susan Meissner Secrets of a Charmed Life ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ A Fall of Marigolds ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ The Shape of Mercy ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

The Girl in the Glass ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

A Seahorse in the Thames ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

And with that we've arrived at the end of this week’s post. I think I named most of my favourites, but if you want more I can definitely hook you up with a longer list. And if you have recommendations for me, I would love to hear them as well!

I wish you a great week, stay safe and “don't be pushed around by the fears in your mind. Be led by the dreams in your heart.”

Love,

Annabel