Stories that Matter
Here She Goes Again…
At first I thought I’d title this post, “Where Have All The Good Books Gone?” But then I thought, no, that’s not fair. There are a lot of good books out there. I’ve read them. My friends have read them. My friends have written them. I’ve written one book which I’ve been told is good, and I’m working hard on more. But I don’t necessarily mean ‘good’ in the sense of a keep you up all night reading way. I mean good as in virtuously good.
Stay with me here.
As summer is fast approaching, I’m making my reading list. While I do write a lot during my time up in the Canadian north, I also like to read. Last night I scanned Amazon for some books to download to my iPad. And came away wanting. I typed in Romance, since that’s what I write and love to read. First mistake. Then I scanned the Best Seller List. Read some of the reviews of the first three books on that list and simply stared. While I am not opposed to reading secular fiction and I read a lot of it, there are definitely things I won’t read. The books currently on that list…well, let’s just say I won’t be downloading them. Fifty Shades of Gray and its sequels kind of made my eyebrows hit my hairline.
Seriously?
Is this what the average educated (I’m making an assumption here) wants to read? While I did note that the first book has over two thousand five star reviews, it also has half that in one star reviews. So maybe not everybody is fascinated by what is called an ‘erotic novel’ in its description. Maybe I’m not the only one pretty disgusted by this. Maybe there are a few people left in the world who want to read good, wholesome books. Books that don’t keep you up half the night replaying violent or disturbing scenes in your head. Books that put a smile on your face and make you wish you hadn’t just turned that final page.
What happened to Happily Ever After? What happened to ’till death do us part? I don’t know about you, but I love happy endings. I want to foster the belief that true romance still exists. I want to support the sanctity of marriage. I believe in it with all my heart. I’ll be celebrating twenty-six years of marriage with my husband on Wednesday. While it hasn’t all been easy, I wouldn’t change a minute. And I’ll take twenty-six more thank you very much. And twenty-six more after that…if we live that long. You get the picture though. Marriage today has become an endangered species. That makes me sad.
I’ve heard people who don’t read Inspirational fiction say it’s too preachy, too silly, too happy. Okay, maybe there are some books out there that fit that description, but I read a ton of Inspirational Fiction. I talk to a lot of Christian authors. I read their reviews and I listen to what people are saying. And I am hopeful that we are standing in the gap. When readers don’t want what this world is offering, we must step in and give them more. Give them a story to remember. A story that will make them laugh, weep, question, and hope. And perhaps, if we’re doing our job well, bring them just a little closer to God. At the very least, make them wonder if there isn’t more to this whole Jesus thing than they thought.
It is a high calling.
It is why I do what I do.
Thanks for the reminder, Amazon.
If you’re looking for ‘good’ books, I recommend you check out Fiction Finder. This is a search engine put out through American Christian Fiction Writers. If you’ve never read Inspirational Fiction before, give it a try. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.
Let’s talk: How do you feel about the books on the shelves today? Read any good ones lately?
Cathy, your novel definitely counts as good quality fiction. And while I admit there’s weak writing in some of the books in the inspirational market, there’s the same in the mainstream market. I wonder sometimes if people who don’t like inspirationals haven’t found one in their preferred type. That’s where Fiction Finder is so good.
For a long while I’d mostly given up on reading mainstream because it’s given up on me. It’s let profanity, voyeurism and brutality become the norm of acceptability. Which is not to say all mainstream books contain these things! Just enough of them that it’s become too much of a blind chance that I’ll find something I appreciate. And yes, I’ve read a bunch of inspirationals that didn’t satisfy me. Not because they weren’t good, but because they weren’t really in my area of preference. But they didn’t offend, traumatize or leave me feeling soiled, either. That means I came out ahead.
I still find good stuff in the mainstream in speculative or the occasional mystery, and am starting to read more of it as I find new authors I can trust.
I think it’s a shame that so much of the secular market is just too smutty. When I do find authors I love, they can’t write fast enough for me!! I love Kate Morton and read all her books, but don’t think she’s got a new one out yet. I found a few books online last night for the summer, but I’m still looking for the ONE that makes me squeal and can’t wait to start reading – maybe it’s just an off year. 😉
I’ve had a lot of off years lately in terms of finding books I love, even though I’ve still found some that I can enjoy. But this is my year. I keep counting down to release dates. Timothy Zahn has two (!!) Christy Barritt has one, and Louise Penny (profanity issues but she writes so well). Plus I’ve just discovered the joy of reading Terry Pratchett, which leaves me with a mine of new fun reads.
Shades of Gray.
Shudder.
I read about it having long waiting lists in the library. That it was the hottest book for Mother’s Day.
Really?!
Sigh.
Yes, I realize this woman is making millions … and, I as an inspirational romance author, probably will not.
And I am OK with that.
i had one person ask me if my book was “juicy.” Insert giggle.
Um, no.
I write romance. I did try to include sexual tension without dragging the reader all the way into the bedroom, thank you very much. I don’t believe in sanitizing things so much that the hero and heroine seem almost asexual — but neither do I want to promote voyeurism in my novels.
Am I a goody two shoes? I don’t think so. I am a wife and a mom — I am realist. One of the themes in my debut novel is that people make mistakes — and the question is do we really believe God can work in our lives despite of and through our mistakes.
I think we have to decide what we want to write, how we want to write it … and then do just that.
And hope that our readers find us.
Beth, I totally agree. We’re not in it to make millions or to hit the bestseller list anyway, right? Sure that would be great, BUT unlikely. Last year I really did question whether I should stay in CBA to try to break into the secular market. I felt like I was supposed to stay right where I was, and I’m so glad now that I made that choice. For a lot of reasons. I trust God to help my words reach those who need to read them. I can’t do anything about the sales figures so I don’t look at them anymore.
I completely agree, Cathy! I don’t get the allure of “Gray” except for the cheap thrill, I guess. I have no desire to read it…not when there are better stories out there.
It’s gross. I don’t know why anyone would want to read that junk. I don’t.
[…] It’s hard to find good books to read when your definition of good includes “not smutty and perhaps even wholesome”. (For the record, mine does.) Author and reader Cathy West expands on that at This is a Blog About Books. […]