Christian Fiction Devourers discussion

Alegna, I know you asked Wendy, but just a note...profanity is technically taking God's name in vain: G*, L*d, b*y, etc...

Expletives are taking other liberties with language, d*, h*, "heavens", etc

I don't believe either are suited for Christian use, but if the book is secular I don't hate it for a few minor expletives. Profanity is a no-no for me in any book.

Here is how my June turned out.

5 stars:


4.5 stars:


4 stars:


3.5 stars:


3 stars:


favourites were The Screwtape Letters- although it was written such a long time ago it still applies today. It was a very eye-opening read.
True to You- Good clean Christian contemporary fiction! love her books!

Just a note on Becky Wade. Not all of her books are fully clean. I have found expletives in at least four of them (all within the Porter Family series). I have not read her new series, though, so perhaps she's worked on that.

Hannah wrote: "Alegna, I know you asked Wendy, but just a note...profanity is technically taking God's name in vain: G*, L*d, b*y, etc...

Expletives are taking other liberties with language, d*, h*, "heavens", e..."

Thank you for the clarification between expletives and profanity Hannah. This clears up why some might say there is no profanity and I still find h* and d* in books. I don't want to find either profanity or expletives in my books and I have enough books on my tbr pile to be extremely choosy. I am finding it does mean that I won't be reading very many secular books though.

Jolyn...you're welcome! I'm getting more and more picky every year because I keep getting new favorite authors...and when previous favorites start including questionable words or too much sensuality, they're going to slide off my favorites list really fast. But what most turns me off is the overt sensuality nowadays...

Andrea wrote: "Just a note on Becky Wade. Not all of her books are fully clean. I have found expletives in at least four of them (all within the Porter Family series). I have not read her new series, though, so p..."

The only thing in "True to You" was using "heavens" as an expletive. Better than some, I suppose, but still bothersome. The sensuality was a lot lower than the fourth Porter Family one, also.

Angie H wrote: "Here is how my June turned out.

5 stars:


4.5 stars:


4 stars:
[bookcover:Forensic..."

Angie, I loved True to You as well! :) I think it's my favorite book by Becky so far (although I have yet to read two of her previously published books - have to fix that soon).

Hannah wrote: "Alegna, I know you asked Wendy, but just a note...profanity is technically taking God's name in vain: G*, L*d, b*y, etc...

Expletives are taking other liberties with language, d*, h*, "heavens", e..."

Thank you for clearing up this distinction. I don't appreciate either, though I can stand one or two if that's all. I guess I have learned to be slightly more lenient if it's not a specifically Christian book, just like I do with movies and TV shows. But I really appreciate it when a Christian will let me know that there is profanity & expletives before I read them.

Beth wrote: "Angie H wrote: "Here is how my June turned out.

5 stars:


4.5 stars:


4 stars:
[bo..."

I think My Stubborn Heart remains my favorite, but True to You is a close second. It was good! I need to get my review written...

My Stubborn Heart is my favorite too. I haven't read True To You yet.

See, I haven't read My Stubborn Heart yet, so...technically, my mind could change. :)

Just picked up and have started reading it- so far so good :)

Beth wrote: "See, I haven't read My Stubborn Heart yet, so...technically, my mind could change. :)"

Hm. If I get paired with you in Hidden Gens sometime, my choice will be easy! ;)

Cheryl wrote: "Just picked up and have started reading it- so far so good :)"

Oh, yay! Hope you love it. :)

Hannah wrote: "Beth wrote: "See, I haven't read My Stubborn Heart yet, so...technically, my mind could change. :)"

Hm. If I get paired with you in Hidden Gens sometime, my choice will be easy! ;)"

Hannah, definitely! Now if I could just get back to where I can participate in HG again, sigh!

Hannah wrote: "Alegna, I know you asked Wendy, but just a note...profanity is technically taking God's name in vain: G*, L*d, b*y, etc...

Expletives are taking other liberties with language, d*, h*, "heavens", e..."

Thanks for the explanation of the differentiation between the two. I am with you Hannah as I prefer for neither to be in a book that I am reading.

Glad more than one person found that helpful...sometimes I just can't resist the inner word lover popping out... ;)

I must admit that I never looked up the difference in the two terms. Thanks for teaching me, Hannah!

Hannah wrote: "Glad more than one person found that helpful...sometimes I just can't resist the inner word lover popping out... ;)"

I love words too Hannah and my son has become a wordsmith because of that and my grandson at age 5 is already a lover of words and uses them correctly. Many people have commented about his vocabulary:) But everyone has read to him since he was born and we've always explained words when he doesn't know them. HIs tongue still gets twisted occasionally and the funniest is he tells everyone he is going to be a "vetacanarian" when he grows up.

Beth wrote: "Angie, I loved True to You as well! :) I think it's my favorite book by Becky so far (although I have yet to read two of her previously published books - have to fix that soon).
.."

I've read all her books, and enjoyed each and every one. She is the one author I buy a book from each year, (actually one of two, I buy Melissa Tagg's new book each year too!!)
I think my favourite so far is Meant to be Mine because I loved the witty back and forth banter between the two characters. True to You was really good as well, but it definitely had some deeper subjects than some of her other books!

Beth wrote: "See, I haven't read My Stubborn Heart yet, so...technically, my mind could change. :)"

Another really good one! First one I read of her books! Come to think of it, It is the only one I don't own...hmmm I might have to change that, it deserves a re-read.

Angie H wrote: "Beth wrote: "Angie, I loved True to You as well! :) I think it's my favorite book by Becky so far (although I have yet to read two of her previously published books - have to fix that soon).
.."

..."

Oh, totally book-twinning with you about Melissa Tagg! I am always so eager to read her latest release - so excited about All this Time!

I agree about True to You - it was heavier in some ways than her other novels, and I thought it was a very honest story about human struggles and emotions. I loved the twist at the end!

All of the novels that I have read: for myself and to my children!
[Just in June!]

So, *cough*, June was not very productive reading wise, but the two novels I did read were really good!



And I also to a few audiobooks: .

Beth wrote: "Angie H wrote: "Beth wrote: "Oh, totally book-twinning with you about Melissa Tagg! I am always so eager to read her latest release - so excited about All this Time!

I agree about True to You - it was heavier in some ways than her other novels, and I thought it was a very honest story about human struggles and emotions. I loved the twist at the end!

I know what you mean! I've been waiting a year for her new book! I've never read any of her Christmas Novella's. Are they worth a read?

Oh yes that twist! I didn't see that one coming either! that is another difference her new book had from other ones. I wish she published book faster than once a year! I'm excited to read about the other two sisters!! =)

Anne wrote: "So, *cough*, June was not very productive reading wise, but the two novels I did read were really good!



And I also to a few ..."

Hey, quality over quantity beats the reverse every time! :)

Angie H wrote: "Beth wrote: "Angie H wrote: "Beth wrote: "Oh, totally book-twinning with you about Melissa Tagg! I am always so eager to read her latest release - so excited about All this Time!

I agree about Tru..."

Personally, I love her Christmas novellas. They are sweet without being cheesy, in my opinion. There's just something cozy about them, too, which I loved.

Beth wrote: "Angie H wrote: "Beth wrote: "Angie H wrote: "Personally, I love her Christmas novellas. They are sweet without being cheesy, in my opinion. There's just something cozy about them, too, which I loved. "

Good to know!! Maybe I will have to read one of her freebies this month, make it a Christmas in July! =)

AlegnaB ✝️ wrote: "Wendy wrote: "...Sadly I'm finding more & more inappropriate words or scenes creeping into Christian stories..."

I see that you're in the UK. Do you consider the d-word to be profanity? I just read a "Christian" book by someone in the UK, and some form of the d-word was used eleven times. Of course, the KJV-version of the Bible uses some form of the d-word several times, but the word is used differently in the Bible than the way it was used in the book I just read and the way it's used by most people today. In a British-produced French language program I have, a French word is translated with the d-word in English, but there's a note saying that it's not a curse word."

Sorry for the delay in the reply, Alegna. I’ve been a little distracted with the tennis coverage over the last fortnight!

I consider it to be a curse word, and therefore don’t use it. I was brought up with that mindset, so have never used it. Actually, most Christians I know don’t use it and I know many from various denominations, and from all 4 countries of the UK as well as Ireland.

The only thing I will say is that it is considered here by secular society as a mild word. I have heard it used by some Christians, but they are also the ones who though don’t generally swear, when under pressure will let other swear words loose. I also think sometimes some Christians use that word instead of using a “stronger” word, so maybe that author decided to use the “milder” word instead of others for her characters. (I don’t know whether the characters in that book were Christian or not, but I know some authors want to use curse words to reflect reality – not that I agree with that!) I work in a school, and while that word is used a lot in the staffroom (along with others!) it is not a word considered suitable to be used in front of the children, therefore in my opinion is a good measure as to why it shouldn’t be used by Christians at all.

The only thing I can say about the French program is that maybe in France that is how the word translates into English, but in France isn’t considered a curse word. (With the implication there being that in English it is, therefore that is why they needed to leave the note. Not being an expert in French culture and what is considered clean or not, that is just my thought. I have no idea if that is actually true.)

Jolyn wrote: "I was just checking out the INSPY award (didn't know what it was and was checking out the website) and the website says that for a book to qualify "The book must not have excessive profanity or explicit sex scenes." That means it can have some profanity and some sex scenes and still qualify to receive a Christian book award?"

:( Very sad and disappointing!

Wendy wrote: "Sorry for the delay in the reply, Alegna...The only thing I can say about the French program is that maybe in France that is how the word translates into English, but in France isn’t considered a curse word. (With the implication there being that in English it is, therefore that is why they needed to leave the note..."

No problem. I don't always reply quickly, either.

Thanks for the info. The French language program was written by a British person. He was saying that in French the word isn't a curse word, but he translated it with the d-word (which is a curse word in America) and a note was added. The author or editor must have figured that some people would consider the d-word a curse word even though many people wouldn't. If the program were published by French people, perhaps that could explain the use of the d-word, but I doubt that French people translating it into English that way would cause a British person to translate it that way if he knows the French word is not a curse word but he considers the d-word to be one.

Note: I use "curse word" broadly, just like I use "profanity" and "cussing" broadly, because that's what's used in my area of the country. "Swearing" is another term used broadly, but it's not as common. "Expletive" is not a commonly used word. In fact, I can't recall ever hearing anyone use the word.

As a Christian, and an author of Christian fantasy novels, I don't use the 'd' word either. I'm also very keen that none of my characters say 'O God' or 'Jesus' UNLESS it's meant as a quick prayer. Actually, the use of the Lord's name in vain bothers me more than the 'd' word.

As a Christian, can you explain a little what you mean when you say, none of your characters say, 'God' or 'Jesus'? I never use His name in vain. But if I say something that will include his name. I don't consider that as using his name in vain. I just want to understand what you mean.

I mean when people say 'Oh my G**!' or 'J**** C*****!' as a turn of phrase when coming across something unexpected.

Chrys, would you please edit your comment to not have the profanity shown? Such as "I mean when people use God's name as a turn of phrase..." Thank you!

Hi Andrea

Sorry, I was trying to show the questioner what I meant. I trust what I've done above is acceptable?

Yes, thank you. We try to avoid using profanity in the group, even in explanations, though I think using the asterisks helps in that particular case. Thanks for tweaking that! I really appreciate your understanding and working with me on that.

No problems!

I have read some that l really enjoyed in June some of the best were...

June's round-up (how did August sneak up so fast??):
and

I know how you feel!