Shlog Section-f

I don’t read fiction generally.  Essays like those by David Sedaris, I’ll read but not novels.  It reminds me of having to read for school.  But I’d like to start up again in 07.  A boring resolution I know but…

What do you suggest?

you should read Ishmael by Daniel Quinn my teacher says its a great read but you dont really know if its fiction or not.
-----anna

I’m reading “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho right now.  I just got it for my birthday and read about a third of it last night.  So far, it’s really really good and interesting.  I’ll let you know how it is after I finish it.  I put it on my birthday/Christmas list after it was recommended to me by my flute teacher a couple of years ago.

Frank E. Peretti!! I heart his books. The Oath, This Present Darkness, and Piercing the Darkness are muy favorites.
CS Lewis: Screwtape Letters and The Great Divorce.

Not found in a Christian bookstore:
Anita Diamant: The Red Tent. Great book about Dinah from Genesis 34. It’s got some parts in it that my mom would frown at me for reading but other than that it’s a really good book.
Richard Preston: The Hot Zone
Also you may wanna check out John Grisham, Tom Clancy, Dan Brown, and Michael Crichton.

Also you may wanna read Ann Coulter’s Godless: The Church of Liberalism. It’s not fiction but it’s a suggestion.

Amy, you read the Red Tent?  That book was very interesting.

The Alchemist is a good quick read if you’re looking to start light (on actual text, not light in the idea department)

I read a lot of fluff, but I recently finished The No. 1 Ladies Detective Ageny which is about a woman in Botswana who uses her inheritance money to open up a detective agency.  It’s a good read.

If you’re looking to laugh I cannot recommend the Adrian Mole Diaries enough.

I’m happy to hear you want to return to fiction.  I personally love it.  And it can be just as life changing as non-fiction.  (which incidentally reminds me of having to read!)

Yep I read the Red Tent and I loved it. I still read it from time to time. It’s one of the books I took with me to TFC.

how did you feel about her portrayal of Dinah’s “rape” and portrayal of Joseph?

Her “rape” was interesting. I mean it wasn’t at all like rape. She was quite a willing participant. I somewhat agree with the details of what Diamant portrayed. I find verse 3 in the chapter of 34 interesting. Talking about after the “rape” it says this in verse 3:"His heart was drawn to Dinah daughter of Jacob, and he loved the girl and spoke tenderly to her.” Ahhh he loved her. Makes all the difference in the world if he loves ya.

Joseph’s character as a boy I liked. The older version of him was okay but wasn’t one of my favorite characters.
I liked how Diamant did the whole Ruben fell in love with Bilha thing.

I don’t get to read nearly as much as I’d like these days.  Lately my reading has consisted of tax books and instructor manuals along with LOTS of manager training materials!

I love Tom Clancy, John Grisham and Frank Peretti.  I recently discovered Ted Dekker (I know, I’m slow) and LOVED “Obsession” and “Three.” Both great reads and they really kept me guessing right until the end.  I’d like to start his trilogy while we’re away for Christmas, but may have to wait for cruise time in May.

Beth

Amy,

I know what you mean.  When I went back and read the Biblical passages after reading that book, I was like...it totally could have been that way!!  and tender doesn’t speak of rape.  I was also really fascinated by how much of the old religion the women held onto.  In fact, it seemed they didn’t really believe in our God at all.  Joseph as an adult, I felt was a bit off.

Have you ever read The mark of the Lion trilogy by Francine Rivers?  Those books also really brought to life the early church time period for me. 
I can’t recommend them enough.  (well not so sure guys would like it...but...)

Shaun, since you liked Anne Lamott’s Bird by Bird, I recommend checking out some of her novels.  My favorite is Blue Shoe.  Steven King’s The Stand is another one of my favorites.

The main thing I do when looking for novels to read is try and stay as far away as possible from christian bookstores.

Brian read Blue Shoe and didn’t dig it.  Maybe I should give it a try and see who’s right.  I definitely like her non-fiction.

Thanks for the recommendations, everyone.  That’s a stack.

Stephen @ Rebelling Against Indifference - 15 December 2006 02:15 PM

Shaun, since you liked Anne Lamott’s Bird by Bird, I recommend checking out some of her novels.  My favorite is Blue Shoe.  Steven King’s The Stand is another one of my favorites.

The main thing I do when looking for novels to read is try and stay as far away as possible from christian bookstores.

I think there are some very talented Christian writers.  But I also think that they probably mostly cater to female readers.

I had to read Ishmael in school and didn’t care for it.  Way to preachy and boring.  Not a novel, but non-fiction disguised as a novel.

If you are looking at Christian fiction, I highly recommend most stuff by Brock and Bodie Thoene and anything by Sigmund Brouwer.  Yes, even his kid’s books are well worth reading.

I’ll admit, most of my reading these days are cozy mysteries (think Murder, She Wrote), but if you’re interested, I could give you a list.

Sigmund is Cindy Morgan’s husband I believe.  Haven’t read his stuff but that connection alone makes me curious.

i LOVE reading (outside of school that is)!  i could sit and read all day.

i agree with amy - frank peretti has some of the best books i have ever read.  you can try any of them, this present darkness, piercing the darkness, the visitation*, monster, prophet, the oath... they are SO good and very suspenseful!

*the visitation is one of my favorites

he also has a good kids series called the cooper kids series (i think anyway) for those of you with children (probably ages 10+).

other than that, the novels i read are usually sappy girlie books, or the left behind series by tim lahaye and jerry jenkins.