Do you have any good book suggestions for someone of the [fundamental] Christian persuasion? What do you think of Lawhead?
Well, I really enjoy Lawhead, personally. His Pendragon cycle is one of the best Arthurian series I've ever read, and I've read a lot. Two reasons: one, the Christianity is there and seems very real, and two, no Lancelot. Also it's a more Celtic than Roman Arthur; Arthur the warleader, and his knights fights Saxons, not giants. Defintely if you like Arthurian stuff, read it. His other stuff is good, too. Byzantium is an incredible story, not fantasy but historical fiction about a Celtic monk journeying to Constantinople during the days of the Muslim advances. Some of Lawhead's other stuff can be weird, but rewarding. The Celtic Crusades set that he's writing now is very good, though I'm not entirely sure where he's going with it, and it's a little - how should I say this? Catholic? for me, but I can overlook that.
Otherwise there are very few Christian writers out there, or even writers who don't blatantly attack Christianity. I disagree with you about Harry Potter, as I find it harmlesss, but that's ok; I read a lot of stuff that isn't Christian at all. Usually as long as the heroes are fairly heroic, and the story doesn't directly attack Christianity, I will read it.
One author I have enjoyed is Connie Willis. I'm not sure if she's a Christian - some of her stuff could be read that way - but I would recommend without reservation Doomsday Book and To Say Nothing of the Dog. Both are time-travel stories, the first set mostly in the 1300s, in England (Black Death time), the second skips all over the place but is set mostly in the Victorian Era, again England. To Say Nothing... is comedy, very funny; the other is definitely not. I understand some of Connie Willis' other stuff is questionable, but those two novels are excellent.
Hope this helps a little...
I guess it was a rant. Next time I will try to remember to put the < /rant > when I’m done. ;^)
There is very little Christian science fiction or fantasy these days. The surest way I know to get upset is to visit a Christian bookstore and look at the hundreds of identical prairie romances, westerns, and "Left Behind" novels. Are Christians really that lousy in our reading tastes? But I knew it was the bookstore's fault when I discovered that to find anything by C. S. Lewis other than "Narnia" or "Mere Christianity", it was necessary to visit Borders.
I know how you feel. If someone were to judge the tastes of the modern day Christian by looking in a “Christian” bookstore they would come away thinking that we only like pap. It irks me that people think that all they have to do in order to sell stuff of dubious quality is to slap a “Christian” label on it. < /rant > (how was that? ;^) )
As far as the “Left Behind” books go, I’ve read them. When I pick up a new one and start reading it, for some reason I don’t put it down until I’m finished. I don’t know why I do that, the writing isn’t all that great, there isn’t any real character development per se, and many of the things that happen plotwise are entirely implausible. Maybe it’s like driving by a car wreck, you don’t want to look, but you just have to.
Well, I really enjoy Lawhead, personally. His Pendragon cycle is one of the best Arthurian series I've ever read, and I've read a lot. Two reasons: one, the Christianity is there and seems very real, and two, no Lancelot. Also it's a more Celtic than Roman Arthur; Arthur the warleader, and his knights fights Saxons, not giants. Defintely if you like Arthurian stuff, read it. His other stuff is good, too. Byzantium is an incredible story, not fantasy but historical fiction about a Celtic monk journeying to Constantinople during the days of the Muslim advances. Some of Lawhead's other stuff can be weird, but rewarding. The Celtic Crusades set that he's writing now is very good, though I'm not entirely sure where he's going with it, and it's a little - how should I say this? Catholic? for me, but I can overlook that.
Thank you for your reviews of Lawhead’s work. Those sound like books that I would enjoy reading. I know what you mean about the Catholic thing, me being a Baptist, but as long as it’s a good story I would be ok with that.
Otherwise there are very few Christian writers out there, or even writers who don't blatantly attack Christianity. I disagree with you about Harry Potter, as I find it harmlesss, but that's ok; I read a lot of stuff that isn't Christian at all. Usually as long as the heroes are fairly heroic, and the story doesn't directly attack Christianity, I will read it.
I agree with your observations here, other than HP. Although I have not actually read Rawlings stuff, I may sit down one day and read the first one to see if it is as bad as I’ve been told. Until then I will steer my kids towards books that I KNOW are alright.
My oldest is 11 years old. We are reading through LOTR together. Right now we are on Chapter 3 of Book 4, “The Gates of Mordor” I think is the name of the chapter. Frodo, Sam, and Gollum have just come out of the marshes. She loves these books and that makes me a happy pappy. ;^)
One author I have enjoyed is Connie Willis. I'm not sure if she's a Christian - some of her stuff could be read that way - but I would recommend without reservation Doomsday Book and To Say Nothing of the Dog. Both are time-travel stories, the first set mostly in the 1300s, in England (Black Death time), the second skips all over the place but is set mostly in the Victorian Era, again England. To Say Nothing... is comedy, very funny; the other is definitely not. I understand some of Connie Willis' other stuff is questionable, but those two novels are excellent.
I have never head of Willis, I will check her books out one of these days. Thanks again for taking the time to help me out on this.
Hope this helps a little...
It does, a lot. Thanks.
-ksen