Christian Goodreaders discussion

In the past, I haven't been very faithful about posting all of my reading here; but Raevyn, your example has gotten me motivated to be more inclusive in my posts as well! After all, as a group we discuss books in general (from a Christian perspective), not just books that have some discernible Christian connection; so it doesn't hurt to post about books in general that we're reading here as well.

The main book I'm reading right now (though I hope to finish it today) is another review copy from my friend Andrew, who has a story included. It's the newly-published Legends of Sleepy Hollow, an anthology of scary tales set in the area of New York's Sleepy Hollow, made famous in Washington Irving's classic tale, "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow."

For our recent 35th anniversary, I gave Barb the two volume set of The Complete Adventures Of Senorita Scorpion Volume 1 and Complete Adventures of Senorita Scorpion, Volume 2, by pulp Western author Les Savage Jr. (1922-1958). She's a fan of pistol-packing cowgirls (and would have been one, if she'd lived in the Old West :-) ); since I am as well, we're reading the first volume together as our current "car book."

Does it count if I say I'm also currently reading Jeremiah?

It's also one of my favourites. If you haven't gone through the whole of it yet you should. It's beautiful, the promises in it are wonderful.

Werner wrote: "In the past, I haven't been very faithful about posting all of my reading here; but Raevyn, your example has gotten me motivated to be more inclusive in my posts as well! After all, as a group we ..."

Senorita Scorpion sounds like something my mother would enjoy.

*Races to do an online search for translated copies.*

SgoiltePrais wrote: "Does it count if I say I'm also currently reading Jeremiah?

It's also one of my favourites. If you haven't gone through the whole of it yet you should. It's beautiful, the promises in it are won..."

Yes, Jeremiah is a wonderful book! Interestingly, we've never used this thread to post updates about our Bible reading; and I don't list it on my currently reading shelf, though I try to read in it every day (going gradually from start to finish, than beginning again). I guess I've always assumed that, for Christians, daily Bible reading should be a given that goes without saying; but that might be too optimistic an assumption.

I doubt if there are any non-English translations of the Senorita Scorpion stories, but you can check. The publisher is Altus Press, the arm of Pro Se Press that reprints older pulp works from the earlier decades of the 20th century. Like some other small publishers, they use Amazon's Create Space as their printing service.

Werner wrote: "SgoiltePrais wrote: "Does it count if I say I'm also currently reading Jeremiah?

It's also one of my favourites. If you haven't gone through the whole of it yet you should. It's beautiful, the p..."

I do read the Bible every day but some books, I have to admit even if maybe I shouldn't, I enjoy more than others. Jeremiah is one of those. :)

It's a shame that westerns are so hard to find these days, specially translated ones. I had already checked, thanks, but you're right they only exist in English.

Actually, Westerns (in English) are a fairly popular genre with American readers, so they're not hard to find here. Wal-Mart store's book sections usually carry quite a few of them at any given time, and most libraries stock a number of them. (Some even have a special section for them.) And you can typically locate even out-of-print ones in Amazon's database by doing an author or title search. (My wife, who's a Western fan, got most of hers secondhand through flea markets and yard sales.)

Of course, in other countries, where the Western experience was never part of the national history or consciousness, and hence where the market for these kind of books is much more scanty, the availability of books is probably a lot more restricted. If I'm not being too nosy, SgoiltePrais, what country do you live in, and what's your family's native language? (You write in English very well, BTW --as well as any native speaker, and quite a bit better than some!)

Aww thanks ^_^

My mother is Portuguese, my dad is Brazilian and I was born in Angola LOL

I guess my first/native language is Portuguese, but I've been speaking English for almost as long as I do Portuguese, even if with an obvious accent ;) good thing in doesn't show in my writing lol.

It is a shame that westerns aren't as popular here, and that my parents can't read English. Amazon is a treasure trove but it does have its limitations, it can't sell what doesn't exist lol.

Still reading The Swarm, finished The Hiding Place and getting restarted on something "new" this time, The Chronicles of Pern: First Fall .

After the lovely heart wrenching Hiding Place I need something purely fun, an effortless read.

While waiting to take part in a common read next month in another group, I'm passing the time by reading The Deathcats of Asa'ican and Other Tales of a Space Vet, by one of our own group members, Andrew M. Seddon. (He was kind enough to give me a free review copy.) I've actually beta read these stories years ago; but in order to do them justice in a review, I felt I needed to reread them and freshen my memory somewhat.

This may cause controversy, but I'm rereading Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.

Hey Raevyn, let us know how you like it. I'v thought about reading that series (or at least starting it for a long time). My daughter enjoyed them (which I think is pretty good praise).

BTW, I'm in the middle of The 5th Wave. I'm seeing a bit of a Christian worldview in the story. Nothing overt, just little hints. I'm enjoying so far. It seems a little dark for a YA.

Banner wrote: "Hey Raevyn, let us know how you like it. I'v thought about reading that series (or at least starting it for a long time). My daughter enjoyed them (which I think is pretty good praise).

BTW, I'm ..."

I like it already. :)

The only controversy you would get from me about reading Harry Potter is why you haven't done it earlier. ;)

It's a great series and the Harry Potter books are some of the few I keep on my bookshelf to possibly re-read at some point, I don't do that with many books.

Oh, and I just finished reading Someone Has to Die by Jim Baton. A couple of people from my Sunday school class recommended it and one lent it to me.

I enjoyed it. Now reading The Last Invisible Boy.

Raevyn wrote: "This may cause controversy, but I'm rereading Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone."

The Harry Potter series is one of my all-time favorite supernatural fiction reads (for the most part, my wife and I love the movie adaptations, too!). Series author J. K. Rowling is a practicing member of the (Presbyterian) Church of Scotland, BTW.

Raevyn wrote: "This may cause controversy, but I'm rereading Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone."

You only just read it? :O

Well, at least you won't have to go through the torture of having to wait for the next one to be published ;)

I read Harry Potter for the first time (have reread it a lot since) because someone from my congregation was talking so badly about the books and when I asked her if she had actually read them she was offended "Of course I haven't, I'm a Christian!" was her response.

Most of the members of my congregation said the same. I asked them if they at least knew someone who had actually read the book and they all said no.

After this I HAD to read it. Specially when they started affirming that the story would make kids want to be witches and wizards. I couldn't see how that could happen...

I went to the library the next day.

I agree with Werner when he says that we should know what the other side is reading :) I wanted to see what was so horrible in this kids book.

To my surprise I did not find anything appalling in the tale of Harry Potter, so I kept reading.

SgoiltePrais wrote: "Raevyn wrote: "This may cause controversy, but I'm rereading Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone."

You only just read it? :O "

:) no, this is my fifth or sixth time reading them.

Ooops :3 I misread rereading lol.

That's what happens when you need reading glasses but forget them on your dresser ;) hee hee.

I can't make up my mind between The Chronicles of Narnia and Harry Potter lol, can't decide which I like best.

Yesterday I was going to say that "I am currently reading The Girl with All the Gifts" but then I started reading it and now I'm not reading it anymore lol. Just finished and enjoyed it immensely.

Must have been good, Nena

I'm reading Funny in Farsi by Firoozeh Dumas.
I'm re-reading Life on the Vine by Philip D. Kenneson - we're doing a sermon and small group series on the fruit of the Spirit.

Janelle wrote: "Must have been good, Nena"

It really was Janelle.
A better word to describe it would be gripping :)

Haven't enjoyed a new read so much in a long while.

Every year, one of my other groups, Supernatural Fiction Readers, does a common read in the month of October. This year, the book the group picked was Haunted, by mega-bestselling British author James Herbert (1943-2013). Although Herbert was a major figure in contemporary British supernatural fiction and has an enormous following (including Stephen King, apparently), I actually hadn't heard much about him until his book was picked for this read; so he's a new-to-me author. But I'm enjoying the book so far!

Banner wrote: "Hey Raevyn, let us know how you like it. I'v thought about reading that series (or at least starting it for a long time). My daughter enjoyed them (which I think is pretty good praise).

BTW, I'm ..."

I am a children's librarian, so I have also read all of the Harry Potter books and enjoyed them immensely. I also listened to them on CD.
I have also read The 5th Wave a couple of years ago. But long before 5th Wave was published, Christian author Terri Blackstock wrote the Restoration series (4 books), which starts with Last Light. This is also a series in which an EMP destroys all electronic devices on Earth and everyone is deprived of modern, computer-driven technology. I have read the first 2 books so far, and like them much better than 5th Wave. There is also a mystery to solve in each book. And in the case of Blackstock's novels, the EMP was caused by an astronomic event, rather than by extra-terrestrials.

I am currently reading a children's novel: The Unicorn Thief. The main character occasionally stops to pray, which was a happy surprise.

I'm currently reading The Enchanted Barn by Grace Livingston Hill. It's just delightful and faith is one of the major themes. I know not all of her books include so much Christianity, so it's been lovely to experience it here.

Beverly, I've had a couple of people recommend the Restoration series recently. I'm going to have to check it out.

During the upcoming visit from my daughter and son-in-law (they live in Australia, so we don't see them very often), I don't expect to either read or be online much, if at all. So I don't want to start reading any book I can't easily put aside unfinished. These are the times that a book of short stories is tailor-made for.

So, I've started The Collected Short Stories of Louis L'Amour, Volume 1: Frontier Stories (there are three volumes of Western, or "Frontier" stories, but Goodreads only has records for the individual volumes, not the set). My wife Barb has all three volumes (he's her favorite author, and I like his work, too), so that should give me a pool of short stories to dip into as needed for a long time to come!

I just started Dreaming Spies in the Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes series. This one is #13. I love this series; very well-written mysteries, with a lot of substance.

I'm reading The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch.

I don't generally read a lot of Christian books, but sometimes I criticize characters' actions based on my personal beliefs. I've never read a book where the characters have sex outside of marriage and give it 4 or 5 stars, though other factors often add to that (The Tsarina's Daughter is an example).

I am currently reading The Fault in Our Stars, The Romanovs: The Final chapter, Tiger's curse, and Aurelia.

I haven't posted here for a while.
Reading The Miserable Mill.

Like Raevyn (above), I haven't posted here for awhile either; we've been pretty wrapped up in our company from Australia, so I haven't been online much nor done any reading. But now that they've left, I'm getting back into a normal routine. Yesterday, I started on a free review copy of my Canadian Goodreads friend Shane Joseph's new novel, In the Shadow of the Conquistador. (I greatly enjoyed his story collection, Paradise Revisited.)

Our own Guy S. Stanton III offered all of his works for free in e-format, for a limited time, earlier this fall; so I downloaded the first book of his The Agents for Good series, Agent with a History, to my Kindle app. I started reading it over the weekend; if I like it, I'll buy a print copy, and continue with the series. (There are also a copy of short e-stories waiting for me on that app, but I hope to read those in the next few weeks, when I'll have time to review them.

My book club runs using monthly themes; this month is Horror. I just finished (and liked) Treachery and Betrayal at Jolly Days, but are there any Christian horror books that you would recommend? Do you think The Society fits in that genre?

Raevyn, good question! I'm personally not familiar with The Society, nor with any of Myers' Forbidden Doors series. But you might want to check out this thread for some ideas: www.goodreads.com/topic/show/179418-c... .

Willow, by Wayland Drew, is the novelization of the 1988 high fantasy movie with the same title. I'd read it back in ca. 1990, but in the ensuing years, I've forgotten a good deal of plot detail; so when I recently decided to review it for the first time, here on Goodreads and elsewhere, I realized that I'd need to reread it in order to do a serious review. So, that's what I'm reading now. (And I also want to watch the movie again, to compare the two.)

Willow, the movie, sure brings back memories! I took my then young children with me to see it. In the scene where the 2-headed dragon suddenly erupted out of the moat, my 6 year old son buried his head in my side and said, "I want to go home! I want to go home now!" over and over, while my 4 year old daughter simply sat staring at the screen, mesmerized by the action.

I'm reading Bad Girls Don't Die.

I just finished reading the final book in Terri Blackstock's Restoration series: Dawn's Light. It was an excellent ending to an excellent series.

Reading Invasion of the Overworld: A Minecraft Novel because I enjoy Minecraft AND because I want to give the book to my half-sister.

The author obviously payed attention in English class--the grammar is nearly perfect--but at the same time, it's not well-written at all...
The plot is good, but has no appeal to non-Minecrafters*

Minecrafters--a term for the players of Minecraft. ;)

ETA: I've read it before, and so I know that (view spoiler)[the main characters dies, but 'comes back' to be the chosen one/hero (hide spoiler)]. I'd be surprised if that's not an allusion to the Bible. After all, Jesus died and rose again in real life...

Seems like a lot of writers draw on Biblical themes as their inspiration.
A lot of books based on games and tv are second rate. I think there's a lot of pressure to get them onto the market quickly.

Dangerous Duty of Delight: The Glorified God and the Satisfied Soul

Lately, I've been trying to follow up more diligently on series that I've started and liked. One of the latter is Madeleine E. Robins' Sarah Tolerance historical mystery series; and I've just recently finished the second installment, Petty Treason.

One of our members, Andrew Seddon, has a story included in the new speculative anthology Misunderstood He recently gifted me with a copy, and I started reading it over the weekend.

I'm currently reading Hidden Treasures in the Book of Job by Hugh Ross.

My Goodreads friend Seeley James praised Taylor Stevens' debut novel The Informationist on his blog, which prompted me to try to read it at the public library in Harrisonburg, VA a couple of years ago, when I was visiting in the area. But since I'm not a local resident there, I couldn't check it out; and the intervals between disjointed reading sessions proved to be too long to retain details; that just isn't the way to read a novel. Having started it, though, I wanted to know the ending! I was fortunate enough to snag a free copy from BookMooch last year; so I started reading it on New Year's Day. It's sort of a matter of tying up a loose end. :-)

I've been trying to finish the greatest series of all times; Warriors. you should check it out!

Kate, what's the author's name for that series?

I'm reading two novels:
1. The Boy at the End of the World, which is a reasonably good adventure/sci-fi story that mentions evolution a lot (just be warned).
2. Holes, which is a modern classic.