As readers of this blog know, I enjoy all sorts of books. But a recent experience reminded me of the wisdom and comforts of Christian fiction.
After seeing several reviews and ads for a secular novel touted as a thriller, I checked out a copy from my public library. I opened the book realizing I’d likely experience characters who weren’t seeing life from a Christian viewpoint or even making an attempt to live by the morality expressed in the Bible. But I do think it’s a good idea for myself, as both a literary agent and as a citizen of the world, to see what’s selling in the general market.
The opening chapters were sexually charged but not salacious. I stuck with it, figuring they were setting the scene wherein the story would reveal itself as a thriller. I kept reading, my interest waning with each page. Finally, I found myself figuratively in bed with the protagonist as she described herself participating in a threesome. The scene made me say, “Blech.” Well, I didn’t say it, but I thought it.
I shut the book then and there and returned it to be consumed by the next victim reader.
Disconcerted, I decided to go back to some of the sites where I learned about the book. I discovered it has been relabeled “erotica.” So now my public library has a record of me checking out an erotic book.
Oh. Yay.
At least I didn’t buy the book on Amazon, so I won’t be subjected to suggestions for similar titles.
Can Christian books be mislabeled by genre? Possibly. But no reader of Christian fiction will be surprised to find herself in the midst of an amoral tale, or a story that totally goes against how our Lord wishes us to live. And we can thank Him – and the wise writers, editors, and publishers working for Him – for that.
Your turn:
Have you ever read a book that you felt was mislabeled? Did you keep reading?
What is your favorite book in your favorite genre?
Sadly, I purchased a kindle version book off Amazon labeled as a Romance. Within the first few pages it dove into an explicit threesome. I shrieked and couldn’t delete it from my kindle fast enough. Now, I do get “suggested” material! Ulg! Wish I could wipe the slate clean!
Wow, your, ahem, “encounter” happened even faster than mine did! Hoping the purchase of a couple of Christian books will redirect the pen on the Amazon slate, Loretta!
I really do wish that romance novels all listed the “heat” levels like you can at least find with Harlequin. I’m in a romance critique group and when we share pages, they know I will only read low heat stories. When someone wants to write an explicit scene, I don’t review the pages that week.
I felt a bit like that when reading The Shack which I put down. I know many Christians appreciated its message, but I felt like it could be highly misleading to those who knew little about Christianity. I am not sure how I would label it though. We did a study on it at church that generated mixed opinions.
This will be long–but might make you feel better.
In Dallas at ACFW (not this year, but the last time in Dallas), I’d had a very full day–got stopped and searched at the airport in KC because they wouldn’t accept that my ‘knee replacement’ card and I set off the buzzer; lot of walking, which made me very aware of that knee replacement; and my ‘much younger’ travel mates wanted to go ‘out’ for supper. I was just plain tired, and opted to stay in, shower, and have a few minutes (hours) just chilling.
I showered, got comfy, and turned on the TV. But what should come up but a porn movie!! AND I had no idea how to turn the crazy thing off. I evidently had chosen the WRONG remote (found a second one later, in the drawer) and there were no buttons on the TV to push. (Believe me, I pushed everything in that room and on that remote than might suggest a way to shut it off) And the worst part–there was a message scrolling along the bottom that this movie would be charged to my room.
GREAT! At a Christian Writers Conference, and this old lady was being charged for a porn movie.
It made for good laughs when my friends called to check on me and I was begging them to tell me how to turn off the stupid TV. AND–we did get the charges taken off (thanks to my roommate and a very nice front desk young lady).
The worst part…pictures, like words, have a way of embedding in one’s mind for a long, long time. I think that is why we MUST, as writers of Christian fiction, be very, very careful of the word pictures we paint. We wield a mighty pen, and it behooves us to do it to the glory of God!
Julane, that’s a great point, and tied in to an excellent reminder, too. Thanks for sharing. You made me chuckle. 🙂
Yes. Just read a book about a co-pilot in WWII. Chuck Swindoll had a quote from the book so we thought it might be a good read. But the author/co-pilot talked about how much he missed his wife and child all the time he was enjoying other women overseas. I thought the story would have a greater emphasis on strategy in bombing Germany. He could have deleted these sections on adultery. Not what I was led to believe.
Bob, I think I would have been taken aback, too.
I hate to say it, but not all books labeled as Christian and released through the Christian market contain a Christian worldview. I’ve read some that clearly reflect something besides living according to Christian teaching. Please know that I’m not referring to the fact that someone may fail and need to repent before getting back on track. That’s life for us redeemed sinners. Nor do I think Christian fiction should be a disguised evangelism tract where the sinner’s prayer must appear at least once. But some of what passes for Christian may not contain anything that specifically speaks AGAINST elements of faith, but the worldview overall does not reflect Christian values in action, placing other things like education or survival above a Christian lifestyle.
Believe it or not, both Amazon & Barnes & Noble will refund a book if you find it offensive. No questions asked. Nice policy.
WOW! That’s such a great policy. I had no idea.
I picked up a western romance at the book exchange in a campground laundromat. The back cover sounded intriguing, the people on the cover were demurely attired, and it was from an award-winning author. It seemed like a good way to see what was successful in the general market.
The plot was excellent, and the characters interesting. I was midway through the book before I hit those two pages the publisher had probably demanded where I didn’t learn anything as a married woman, but I sure wouldn’t want my daughter to read it! The explicit sex scene was a pointless addition to what was otherwise an excellent book. At least I didn’t pay anything for it or get my name linked with it at Amazon.
An aside: Today I’ve linked to my author/history website that I’ve just brought up. I’d love any comments for how to improve it from our community here to be sent to carol@carolashby.com. I’m my own webmaster using WordPress, and that’s been quite a learning experience! Many minds make a better product, and I’d love some feedback and advice. If you want to subscribe at the site, that would be great, too.
Actually, it was labeled as historical, not romance. I wouldn’t have been surprised by the explicit scene if it had the romance label.
Makes sense! Perhaps the romance wasn’t the main plot, but more of a way to add texture to the main plot, hence the labeling.
Wow, Tamela, yuck! I’m surprised that the library would keep something like that on the shelves.
I stay away from secular fiction these days for that very reason. That stuff is not something about which I would like to read.
I stick to memoir, for the most part, and my favourite is David Bellavia’s ‘House To House’, his account of Operation Phantom Fury, the second battle of Fallujah in 2004. It does carry a strong Christian message, distilled through the heart of a man trained to kill.
“House To House” is a rough and violent book about a rough and violent time, and therein is something that we, as Christian writers, should bear in mind. The mainspring of Christianity is John 3:16; the key to all holiness is found there.
It’s NOT found in the “Good Christians don’t smoke, drink, or gamble” manifesto followed by those who want a quick road to holiness. Those three behaviours are vices, not sins; the sin lies in holding oneself above the cigar-smoking card player sipping from a beer mug. That’s pride, and that’s the devil’s favourite sin.
Good insights, Andrew!
HI Tamela:
I haven’t read a mislabeled book but some Christian friends have previously suggested movies that I thought were rated incorrectly. When running into the wrong type of movie, I either threw away the movie (if I had purchased it) or returned it to the rental company right away. It’s good to hear that you shut the book that you borrowed from the library- I would have done the same thing.
Best,
Sheri
Thank you, Sheri. And your friends’ recommendations illustrate the varying levels of tolerance, even among Christians, for different factors in entertainment.
I appreciated reading your blog and all the comments. As Christians living in the world we struggle with how to stay pure and keep a pure reputation, yet, at the same time, know what non-Christians are thinking, feeling, experiencing. Jesus said we have to be as innocent as lambs and as wise as serpents. I personally don’t believe that includes reading porn or erotica [on purpose], or even books noted for their sexuality. I wanted to read “Fifty Shades of Gray” so I could talk with non-Christians about it, but I felt a strong spiritual check not to read it.
That doesn’t mean I stay away from all sexual content and some swearing. I have read many secular books that include some [committed heterosexual] sexual content that were really well written. However I to have stumbled on icky scenes. In my case it was a man-to-man gay sex scene. It was well into the book, the book was well written, it was a suspenseful who-dunnit and I skipped over the sex scene and finished the book. But I’ve never read another book by that [very well known] author.
Diana, you bring up two great points. Early on I struggled with whether or not to read “Fifty Shades of Gray” because even a Sunday school teacher I knew had read it. I decided to ask Steve Laube if I should read it since I’m a literary agent and need to stay informed. He said not to fill my mind with it. That clinched the decision for me, especially since I was leaning toward avoidance anyway. I know I wouldn’t have enjoyed the book. So far I haven’t been put in situations where my deep knowledge of the book would be important. I have no plans to read it. But I am fine with others deciding to read the book. Each person must make the right decision for himself, guided by his personal relationship with Jesus Christ and also the people in his life.
As for skipping over distasteful scenes? That can work!
Sorry that happened to you, Tamela. I don’t enjoy it either when I’m led somewhere yucky in a book or movie.
My favorite book is whatever happens to be the latest one to keep me reading past my bedtime. Right now it’s a memoir (Atlas Girl). I like clean romantic elements in what I read, so if that’s included, I’m in—even genres I don’t usually like can win me over if it has sweet romance sprinkled throughout it.
So of course I include romance in my own fiction writing, as well as in a memoir I’m editing. Love makes the world go round—not money. 🙂
Blessings ~ Wendy
Thanks for the insight, Wendy. I’ll put “Atlas Girl” on my list!
Thank you for this! This is only one reason I keep almost all my reading to Christian fiction, non-fiction or the Bible. So much can enter into our heads and thoughts that is against the scriptures–and turn our thinking on certain subjects. I just read a Christian blog warning against reading too much Christian fiction–the opposite of that would be reading worldly fiction (and that’s better somehow?)
Reading the Word of God, washes stuff from my brain that I pick up on a daily basis just being and working in the world. Praise God for all the Christian writers out there! Don’t let anyone put you down!
Well said, Linda!
I usually read books by my favorite author, or if the cover grabs me, I read the back cover and maybe the first chapter. I rarely give a book more than a couple of pages anymore unless it’s written by a friend.
Favorite genre-Suspense. Stuff by Brandilyn or Terri or Mary Higgins Clark. Sue Grafton, although our values don’t totally line up.
Great recommendations, Kathy!
Well that’s eye opening. Thanks. I was upset last year at the ones they wanted my granddaughter read for tenth grade. The same sexual content but marked as educational required reading. Still upset.
I seem to read about battles like this between schools and parents all the time, Candy. I’m sure your granddaughter displays much better taste and judgment in the books she chooses on her own.
I’ve always loved romantic books, and I start reading the Christian ones at a very young age. It wasn’t long, though, before I’d read through the Christian romance section at my library. So I moved right on into other romance books. That’s when I discovered how dirty some romances were, and I’m sad to admit that I didn’t put those first few down when I got to those parts. Why? Well, I did like the story, but now, I’m a LOT more selective when I read any type of romance.
Those two dirty romance books that I read over a decade ago are still in my memory. After that experience, I had my own lesson in protecting one’s mind.
Barbara, your comment shows the great need for Christian romance novels. I’m glad so many more titles are available today than perhaps in the past. Enjoy!
They have become so misleading, I intentionally avoid reading the cover blurbs. The art also often bears no relation to the story.
Better to read the reaction of trusted friends on sites such as goodreads.com. (Be warned: those sites often extract the “official” synopsis in their listings.)
Best of all, find a book reviewer that you trust.
Excellent point, Ron! Thanks for sharing.
I joined a particular book club because the books chosen each month are not books I’d choose but they broaden me– books like Americanah and Quuen Noor’s book. Both bothered me but I persevered through them. This month’s book is Gone Girl. Profanity abounds and the perspective is so bleak but I read on.
I admire your perseverance, Sherri. I once joined a book club with the same motivation, but month after month, I dreaded each book, and couldn’t even get through most of them. I finally quit the club. Now I choose the books I want to read and still feel broadened. That’s not to say you should do the same. I only mention this because I don’t want you to feel bad later if you decide to make the same decision about your club.
Life is too short to spend your precious leisure time reading books you hate!
Thank you, Rebekah. And praise the Lord for those who write for Him as well!