Faith n' Fiction Saturday
My Friend Amy, who brought us Book Blogger Appreciation Week has a new carnival in the works, the Faith 'n Fiction Saturday.
Each week she will post a blogging prompt, which participating bloggers will answer on their own blogs. Then they head back to the original post and sign Mister Linky! This way we can all come to know each other more closely.Today's Question:
We all come to faith in Jesus at different times in our lives and we all come to Christian fiction at different times, too! What's the first book in the Christian fiction genre you can remember reading? What was your impression of it? Did it make you want to read more or less?
I can't remember the first overall Christian fiction book I read, it might have been the Mandie series by Lois Gladys Leppard. I can however remember the first adult Christian fiction book. It was Love Comes Softly by Janette Oke. I was 7. And I remember I didn't like it very much. Not because I was too young (I was a very advanced reader). It was because I couldn't understand the prairie dialect that was used in the book. Too many abbreviations and slang and I just could not get into the story. So I remember not finishing it and I didn't pick up the series again til I was about 12 and what a difference 5 years made. I loved the series and went back and read all her books. But that's not to say I stopped reading Christian fiction after that one book. I picked up a Gilbert Morris book when I was 8 and never stopped since. To me, honestly, it really didn't have anything to do that it was Christian. It was just a good story. That and the fact my parents preferred me reading Christian fiction over Baby Sitter Club and Sweet Valley books. It wasn't til I was older that the faith aspect became important to me. But back then, it was just good clean writing. So in all, I've been a Christian fiction reader for 17 years.
I have to say that I am a little jealous. You were able to read good Christian stories in your youth, and honestly I didn't get the chance. I think I came along a little too early for those series. I am glad there are so many great books to choose from now, and I have been able to direct my son to some wonderful stories. :)
ReplyDeleteThat's great you got to read it so early...and that your parents strongly encouraged it. (I'm not fond of the Babysitters Club either).
ReplyDeleteI havent even thought of seeing if my oldest (10 on Monday!) would like some of those like Gilber Morris. She's also an advanced reader. I cant keep her stocked up with books!
Isn't it interesting how the dialect of a book will affect how well you enjoy it?? I grew up reading a lot of Janette Oke, but mostly remember her Canadian West series about a teacher and a Canadian Royal Mounted Police. Loved that series!
ReplyDelete:) Wendi
I was encouraged to read at a young age, but not Christian. So, I did not discover Christian fiction until a few years ago. Look what I missed!
ReplyDeleteI never liked the Oke books, and wonder if I picked them up today if that would change. My daugher loved the Mandi books and the ones that always had someone dying (can't remember the author).
ReplyDelete"To me, honestly, it really didn't have anything to do that it was Christian. It was just a good story."
ReplyDeleteAppreciate your candor. Also a testament to the fact that Christian writing has evolved into really good literature, not just meant for the religious or exclusively those of the Christian faith.
Marvin blogs at Free Spirit: http://inspiritandtruths.blogspot.com/
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My first Christian fiction book was the "Bible". It is a great work of fiction and made me want to read more....lol! i love all the funny stories in there!
ReplyDeleteamy callier
I remember reading the Mandie series too. :) I really liked Morris' Wakefield series and enjoyed Oke's Canadian West books. I like the Canadian ones better than the Love Comes Softly series. I agree with you that the faith aspect didn't matter as a child. It was more important that the story was good, and if I learned something along the way, that was okay too. But if the story wasn't good, I wasn't going to finish it. :)
ReplyDeleteIsn't it interesting how many of us were brought up in homes that supplied Christian books without attaching a label to them. Good answer.
ReplyDeleteI love Gilbert Morris's books there is so much history in them and well written. He was the first Author I ever wrote to cos his Appotomox series made such an impact.
ReplyDelete