Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Thoughts on Christian Fiction - reply to Wordstringer

I've been asked what I think about Christian novels that have plots that appear to have very little to do with Christian journeys, but have Christian characters, versus plots that are centred completely around a Christian journey. Essentially, what level of 'Christian content' makes a good Christian novel?

I don't know that there's an answer to that.

Francine Rivers sums it up the difference concisely:
"A Christian who writes may weave Christian principles into the story, but the work can stand when those elements are removed. A Christian writer is called to present a story that is all about Jesus. The Lord is the foundation, the structure, and Scripture has everything to do with the creation and development of the characters in the story. Jesus is central to the theme. If you remove Jesus and Biblical principles from the novel, it collapses."

Both types of novels exist in the Christian fiction industry, both in film and print. I believe that there are many stories that need to be told, whether they are of Rivers's first variety, that they have a bit of a Christian bent, or whether they are of the second, that are, in essence a Christian journey. One is not more worthy than the other, for there are many stories out there to be told, whether they are spiritual/evangelical in nature or not.

However, I wonder at the idea of simply tossing in a Christian bent simply to justify to oneself that one is a 'Chrisitan' writer. There is no shame in being a Christian who writes. There is no shame in writing fiction that does not have a Christian bent. It is, however, decietful to simply throw in a Christian bent in order to sell it to the Christian market. There is a line of Christian romance novels that, more often than not, dances with 'how much can we have our characters compromise God's set-out way of living and still call our novels Christian?' or 'how little Christian content can we get away with, so we can focus on the romance and action angles of the plot?' Not every novel in the line is like that, but too many are. I want to tell those writers to just write for a secular romance line, because that's what they obviously want to do, but are afraid of doing it for danger of being considered 'unChristian'.

So it comes down to this: should novels that are not primarily a journey of faith, but have Christian characters who do Christian things be considered Christian novels? Well, why not? Christian people do Christian things, but there are aspects of their lives that are affected, but not overshadowed or ruled by these things. Does that mean those stories are not worth telling? It would be nice if the publishers could categorize the books for us... actual evangelical, spiritual-journey stories that would collapse without the spiritual elements, versus stories about people who happen to be Christian, but could just as easily be athiests or Unitarians, and still have the same experiences. However, I can't see that happening.

I respect people like Rivers, whose stories are ALWAYS spiritual in nature, in spite of how much action (and BOY does she have action) run through them. There should be a special publisher for writers of her calibre.

On the other hand, if Karen Kingsbury wants to write about her characters living their lives and doing a few Christian things on the side, what right do we have to stop her? She tells stories, too. People buy them for entertainment, not spiritual lessons.

And those of you who know me - if/when I do publish in the evangelical market, if you can take the spiritual elements out of my book and it still stands, burn it. And I intend to publish in the secular industry as well, and will do that proudly. I have other stories to tell.

Monday, February 2, 2009

Ten Thousand Charms - Allison Pittman

New author Allison Pittman has certainly started off with a bang. Not only has she tackled, in her debut novel, one of the more touchy subjects in Christian literature (prostitution), but she's managed to acquire a series deal. Ten Thousand Charms is the first of three novels, entitled the Crossroads of Grace trilogy. Speak Through the Wind and With Endless Sight are also available.

The premise is great. Gloria, a 19th-century prostitute in the Western United States becomes pregnant, is unable to get rid of the child, and meets widower John William who needs her wet-nursing abilities so that his infant daughter does not starve. With the two children, Gloria and John William head west to Oregon, and eventually reconcile their pasts and fall in love.

The details are rich and varied, the dialogue believable, and the description not overdone, but enough to give the reader an understanding of the scene at hand. I can feel the mist-shrouded oregon mountains, the heat of the sunshine in a meadow, the pain of Gloria's tangled hair. Pittman tends to use the same descriptive words over and over, but they are effective.

However, there are a few issues with this book. First, and most painful, is the pacing. Actions happen by rote, one turn after another, but it's so doggedly wooden that it leaves no room for suprises. There's something to be said for steadiness, but there are some points in a story that should move quickly while others are better off being better examined. The ending is rushed, as though Pittman ran out of time or word count. A few more chapters would have been welcomed. I didn't feel that the love story rang true... it seemed more about John William's lust for Gloria than his love. I know there are some that argue the two are one and the same, but in a Christian novel, this should not be. The worst flaw in this text is the 'twist' tragedy at the end that is hardly examined, hardly explored, and given only token attention by the characters. I won't reveal said twist for sake of spoiler, but suffice to say that it just wasn't done well. I was incredibly disappointed.

Like Lori Wick, Pittman starts off with a great premise, then simply fails to deliver. But this is her first novel, so allowances must be made. Hopefully she's learned enough from this to make better the others in the series.

Recommended, but with reservations.

PS - sorry about the delay in posting. Life got in the way, but I'm back at it and ready for more.