VT Christian Reading Challenge discussion

If you are someone who prefers to only read missionary biographies and John Piper books, this isn't the discussion for you. ;)

Let me preface this by saying that I'm not asking for books that glorify sin, just for suggestions other than most I've seen around here. I like to read theology books. They're great. I love practical theology books. They're great. I've read tons of Puritan Paperbacks.

But I also like reading funny books. I also like reading novels that are thrillers. I also am okay with reading non-fiction books about cults or school shootings or biological warfare. I loved The Martian and enjoyed Ready Player One, even though both contained curse words. I read books from heavy charismatics and those who are Armenian. I don't mind reading books from Catholics. I'm not threatened by other worldviews and enjoy reading about them.

I don't read books with sex scenes in them, or at least ones I can't skip easily. Reading about violence doesn't affect me because I don't picture anything, and I am not easily offended by curse words. I like good stories. And that may be Gilead or it may be The Great Train Robbery or it may be The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. I've seen a lot of suggestions in this forum that seem to be narrowly focused on "good, proper Christian books" and I wanted some suggestions for those who don't just read Christian books.

So any suggestions from my fellow varied readers out there, either of novels or non-fiction?

[And please, if this offends you, just avoid the discussion. I don't feel like getting into an argument about whether or not my reading habits are sin or not. I believe this falls under Christian freedom and I am not convicted about them. If a book is too much, I will put it down, not finish it, or return it to the library. I walk with the Spirit and I'm willing to listen to what He says.]

Some books I've added to my bookshelf. "The Sound of Gravel", "Big Little Lies", "Call the Midwife" (already read so so good), "13 Hours" (has a longer title but is the story of Benghazi, "Murder on the Orient Express", and "It is About Islam". I also want to read some Sherlock Holmes!! Would love to hear some of your suggestions.

I enjoyed "the Invention of Wings" by Sue Monk Kidd. It probably has a teeny bit of sex in it. If you like thrillers, I enjoyed "the Girl on the Train." I liked it better than "Gone Girl."
I highly recommend "I know why the Caged Bird Sings," especially if you can listen to the audio book read by the author. I could also make some recommendations if you like fantasy or magical realism.

I read a lot of Christian non-fiction books but hardly any of my fiction would qualify. I like good stories and quality writing, those are my main criteria, and I like a good bit of the fantasy genre thrown in though lately I have been leaning toward historical fiction or magical realism.

I thought "Gone Girl" was awful. Bad writing, bad plot, bad people. Total waste of time!!! :D

"Either novels or non-fiction" is a huge category! :-D I was introduced to Orson Scott Card's writing a couple years ago, and have enjoyed what I've read so far. I'm not generally into sci-fi, but Ender's Game was really good. Card is a Mormon, and his books aren't about theology, but apparently there are elements of it there for those who can find it. I enjoyed "Enchantment" by him too... it was a fantasy/love story that's probably not squeaky clean enough for a "Christian romance," but not totally racy either.

Cormac McCarthy has some good stuff. I really liked The Road and No Country for Old Men. I've heard Blood Meridian is really good but very violent.

I just picked up furiously happy and couldn't put it down. A little crass for my taste but I felt it gave me real insight to mental illness as to what my friend is going through. But it was really funny and real

Erin wrote: "I just picked up furiously happy and couldn't put it down. A little crass for my taste but I felt it gave me real insight to mental illness as to what my friend is going through. But it was really ..."

This was the same suggestion I was going to make!

Actually I was going to suggest either book by Jenny Lawson - Let's Pretend This Never Happened: A Mostly True Memoir or Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things. Though there is some crass language, the message that comes across for anyone who struggles with (or loves someone who struggles with) mental illness is great.

I'm currently listening to The Fountainhead, and given that Ayn Rand mentions being an atheist in the preface of this edition, you can imagine how much spirituality plays in the book. I'm nearly finished and I'm really enjoying it.

If you check out my challenge bookshelf, there is a good mix of Christian and secular books, if you're looking for more suggestions. I'm of the same mind with this challenge, so my list is probably 50/50.

I recently enjoyed, 'The Prize Winner of Defiance, Iowa'.
For a bit of fantasy, anything by N.D. Wilson. 'Lepike Ridge' was my favorite.

Danette wrote: "I recently enjoyed, 'The Prize Winner of Defiance, Iowa'.
For a bit of fantasy, anything by N.D. Wilson. 'Lepike Ridge' was my favorite."

Danette - my mom LOVED that first book, and I listened to it in HS with her as an audiobook. Really fun one.

I second the recommendation for Card. I read both the Ender's Game series and the Ender's Shadow series last year. They were both great reads. I especially loved the book Speaker for the Dead, but that's the nerd in me--it's more idea-driven and less plot-driven than the rest of the books, and I've had people look at me like I'm crazy when I say that was my favorite.

You should check out the podcast What Should I Read Next by Anne Bogel. She has tons of book recommendations and the format of the podcast really helps me to get an idea for whether I would enjoy a certain book or not. My "to read" list tripled in size after I started listening to her podcast. Her podcast is clean and I get the idea that she's at least a nominal Christian, but she definitely doesn't stick to Christian works. However, she will usually give a caveat if a book has a lot of objectionable elements.

I was listening to a different podcast today, actually, where the hosts and guests were discussing Stephen King. I got the feeling that I would love his writing, but I don't think I could handle the horror aspects (although not all of his stuff is horror). I'm not planning on trying to read him any time soon, but there's a possible suggestion, for what it's worth.

I second the recommendation for Card. I read both the Ender's Game series and the Ender's Shadow series last year. They were both great reads. I especially loved the book Speaker for the Dead, but that's the nerd in me--it's more idea-driven and less plot-driven than the rest of the books, and I've had people look at me like I'm crazy when I say that was my favorite.

You should check out the podcast What Should I Read Next by Anne Bogel. She has tons of book recommendations and the format of the podcast really helps me to get an idea for whether I would enjoy a certain book or not. My "to read" list tripled in size after I started listening to her podcast. Her podcast is clean and I get the idea that she's at least a nominal Christian, but she definitely doesn't stick to Christian works. However, she will usually give a caveat if a book has a lot of objectionable elements.

I was listening to a different podcast today, actually, where the hosts and guests were discussing Stephen King. I got the feeling that I would love his writing, but I don't think I could handle the horror aspects (although not all of his stuff is horror). I'm not planning on trying to read him any time soon, but there's a possible suggestion, for what it's worth.

I enjoyed reading "Dracula" by Bram Stoker (I started keeping a journal afterwards). That'd be good for a classic or a book that's over 100 years old.

I also liked "Life of Pi" and "The Book Thief" both of which have movies, as well.

I read "Outcasts United" as my book on a current topic.

"The Goldfinch" by Donna Tartt was a quick 600+ page book.

I am just finishing Ender in Exile. I've really enjoyed it, and I will be looking for other books by this author.

Melinda wrote: "I am just finishing Ender in Exile. I've really enjoyed it, and I will be looking for other books by this author."

I would recommend Orson Scott Card's Worthing Saga it is probably my favorite. Though I love the Ender series too. Have you read Speaker for the Dead?

I would recommend Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury if you haven't already read it. It is one I've reread many, many times. Here's one of my favorite quotes:

Do you know why books such as this are so important? Because they have quality. And what does the word quality mean? To me it means texture. This book has pores. It has features. This book can go under the microscope. You'd find life under the glass, streaming past in infinite profusion. The more pores, the more truthfully recorded details of life per square inch you can get on a sheet of paper, the more 'literary' you are. That's my definition, anyway. Telling detail. Fresh detail. The good writers touch life often. the mediocre ones run a quick hand over her. The bad ones rape her and leave her for the flies. So now do you see why books are hated and feared? They show the pores in the face of life. The comfortable people want only wax moon faces, poreless, hairless, expressionless. we are living in a time when flowers are trying to live on flowers, instead of growing on good rain and black loam. (83)

Becky wrote: "Melinda wrote: "I am just finishing Ender in Exile. I've really enjoyed it, and I will be looking for other books by this author."

I would recommend Orson Scott Card's Worthing Saga..."

The part of Ender's Game that I hated was the part about speaking for the dead. I liked the action, liked the twists, but hated that the end of the book just seemed to be a vehicle for Card's own worldview. It was dull and plodding and I felt like the book would have been five times better without it. ;)

I've been reading a lot of thrillers by Steven James and they're fantastic. A little gory, but no sex scenes, and he's a believer.

Becky wrote: "Melinda wrote: "I am just finishing Ender in Exile. I've really enjoyed it, and I will be looking for other books by this author."

I would recommend Orson Scott Card's Worthing Saga..."

No, actually the only one I've read (actually audiobook) is Ender in Exile. My sister and I listened to it together, and she had already read Ender's Game. After hearing Ender in Exile though, I'm thinking about going back and reading Ender's Game.

Sarah wrote: "If you are someone who prefers to only read missionary biographies and John Piper books, this isn't the discussion for you. ;)

Let me preface this by saying that I'm not asking for books that glor..."
Anything by Erik Larson! I've read all of his books since January (4, I think) and two of them are to be made into movies. That of course doesn't mean a lot but definitely read his stuff. Non-fiction and meticulously researched. He doesn't go with secondary sources but insists on the ones of the time he's writing about, unless he needs expert advice on something, such as his book Isaac's Storm which is about the worst hurricane in US history.